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Software Support Phases#

The software support lifecycle of an NVIDIA vGPU software product release consists of a number of distinct phases.

There are three software support phases:

  1. Phase I: Full Support (FS)

  2. Phase II: Extended Full Support (EFS), which lasts for 3 years

  3. Phase III: Maintenance Support (MS), which lasts for 3 years

Phase I: Full Support (FS)#

Phase I: Full Support starts at the release of the version of NVIDIA vGPU software on which the NVIDIA GPU is supported when the GPU is released. Each GPU is supported by a specific version of NVIDIA vGPU software when the GPU is released.

Phase I: Full Support entails the following software support:

  • New features

  • Bug fixes

  • Security updates

  • Performance improvements

  • Support for new hypervisors and guest OSes

  • Other improvements and enhancements that can be technically supported by the hardware

Phase II: Extended Full Support (EFS)#

Phase II: Extended Full Support (EFS) starts when NVIDIA publishes a notification of the start of Phase II (EFS) of NVIDIA vGPU software support on a particular NVIDIA GPU. Phase II (EFS) lasts for 3 years.

This notice typically happens on or around the end of OEM availability of the affected GPU. During the Extended Full Support phase, the GPU is supported in the same way as during Phase I: Full Support. However, in publishing start of Phase II, NVIDIA is giving customers extended notification of the final lifecycle of the NVIDIA vGPU software on that particular GPU.

Phase III: Maintenance Support (MS)#

Phase III: Maintenance Support (MS) starts when Phase II: Extended Full Support (EFS) ends. Phase III (MS) is the final phase of NVIDIA vGPU software support on a particular GPU. Phase III (MS) lasts for 3 years after the end of EFS.

When a GPU moves into the MS Phase, an NVIDIA vGPU software branch is identified as the last supported branch on the GPU. No future branches will be supported on that GPU.

Phase III: Maintenance Support entails only the following software support for the GPU at NVIDIA’s choice:

  • Maintenance

  • Bug fixes

  • Security updates

Phase III: Maintenance Support does not entail new features or technical support, and there is no ability to update or upgrade software.

At the conclusion of Phase III, the NVIDIA vGPU software enters the end of service life (EOSL). After the GPU enters EOSL, no active software support is provided by NVIDIA, except that self-help may still be available to users for a limited period.