Is my distribution supported by KernelCare, and for how long?

Issue

KernelCare provides live kernel patches for a wide range of Linux distributions. Whether your distribution is covered and how long that coverage will last depends on its lifecycle status, which TuxCare maintains and publishes for every supported distribution.

Environment

• TuxCare
• KernelCare

Solution

Supported distributions are listed here. Distributions are grouped by family, and each version is tagged with its cloud image, architecture, and any special kernel line (for example, Oracle UEK or ARM builds).

Each distribution branch is in one of three states:

- Actively patched: full KernelCare for every in-scope CVE, on an SLA. This is the normal state for supported distributions.
- Paused: no new patches, but existing ones stay installable, and patching can resume if needed.
- Retired: no new patches; existing ones remain installable, but the branch is no longer maintained.

Coverage is predictable by design. You get at least six months' notice before any branch moves from Actively patched to Paused or Retired, and lifecycle changes are announced at most once per quarter. If you rely on a branch that's been paused or retired, contact your Account Manager: the bar to extend or resume coverage is intentionally low.

To confirm coverage for a specific server, run the kernel checker on it:

curl -s -L https://kernelcare.com/checker | python3

Useful links

https://patches.kernelcare.com/supported-distros.html