Product lifecycle
Introduction
The document describes RAIDIX software life cycle, guidelines for numeration of software releases and stages of software releases support.
Software Releases
Release Structure
- Generation
- Major Release
- Minor Release
- Maintenance Release
Release Numbering
- Software Generation — RAIDIX 3, RAIDIX 4, RAIDIX 5, etc.
- Major Release — RAIDIX 3.2, RAIDIX 4.6, RAIDIX 5.0, etc.
- Minor Release — RAIDIX 3.2.1, RAIDIX 4.6.1, RAIDIX 5.0.1, etc.
- Maintenance Release — RAIDIX 3.2.1.1, RAIDIX 4.6.1.1, RAIDIX 5.0.1.1, etc.
Product Life Cycle
Product life cycle is defined by RAIDIX Company for every software generation. Every software generation might include several software releases. Each software release undergoes three stages of product support:
- Full Support
- Maintenance Support
- End-of-Life
Full support is available only for the latest software release. Issue of the next major/ minor/ maintenance software release automatically moves the prior release from the Full Support stage to the Maintenance Support stage.
RAIDIX company provides access to perform update of RAIDIX software up to the latest software release (as part of one software generation) within the Full Support stage.
At its discretion, RAIDIX company is able to provide upgrade to the newest generation from the last release of the previous generation. (For instance, RAIDIX 3.3.1 can be updated to the first major release of the next generation — RAIDIX 4.2.) RAIDIX company reserves the right to restrict updates of functionality between the software generations.
Product Support Stages
Full Support Stage
Software release under the Full Support stage is available for sale and it obtains technical support services according to the actual Technical Support Guide.
All system errors revealed within the Full Support stage can be fixed in the upcoming major/ minor/ maintenance release. Decision on including the fixes into particular release is made by RAIDIX company. At its discretion, RAIDIX company can also issue system fixes for the earlier software releases.
Maintenance Support Stage
Software release under the Maintenance Support stage is not available for sale, but it still obtains technical support services according to the actual Technical Support Guide.
In order to resolve system errors revealed in software release within the Maintenance Support stage, the system must be updated to software release under the Full Support stage. If the current issues are not fixed by the updates, RAIDIX company might decide to include system error fixes into the next major/ minor/ maintenance release.
End-of-Life Stage
Software release during its End-of-Life stage is not supported by RAIDIX company. Customers also cannot buy technical support services for this stage releases.
Support periods for RAIDIX software
Table 1 contains end dates of Full and Maintenance Support stages for each software release.
Table 1
| Software Release | Release Date | Expiration Date of Full Support | Expiration Date of Maintenance Support |
| 3.x | September 30, 2012 | December 11, 2014 | September 30, 2019 |
| 4.2.х | October 06, 2014 | December 11, 2014 | September 30, 2020 |
| 4.3.x | December 11, 2014 | December 10, 2015 | September 30, 2020 |
| 4.3.3 | December 10, 2015 | May 16, 2016 | September 30, 2020 |
| 4.4 | May 16, 2016 | November 11, 2016 | September 30, 2021 |
| 4.4.1 | November 11, 2016 | December 12, 2016 | September 30, 2021 |
| 4.4.2 | December 12, 2016 | April 28, 2017 | September 30, 2021 |
| 4.4.3 | April 28, 2017 | August 31, 2017 | September 30, 2021 |
| 4.4.4 | August 31, 2017 | October 5, 2017 | September 30, 2021 |
| 4.5 | October 5, 2017 | January 17, 2018 | September 30, 2021 |
| 4.6 | January 17, 2018 | May 18, 2018 | September 30, 2021 |
| 4.6.1 | May 18, 2018 | October 01, 2018 | September 30, 2021 |
| 4.7 | October 01, 2018 | December 10, 2019 | September 30, 2022 |
| 4.7.2 | December 10, 2019 | April 30, 2020 | September 30, 2022 |
| 5.0.1 | April 30, 2020 | June 24, 2021 | September 30, 2025 |
| 5.1 | June 24, 2021 | June 10, 2022 | September 30, 2026 | 5.2 | June 10, 2022 | the date of the next release | September 30, 2027 |
RAIDIX Software Update Scenarios
Table 2 contains current update scenarios for RAIDIX software releases.
Table 2
| Software Release | Next To-Update Software Release |
| 4.2 | 4.2.1 |
| 4.2.1 | 4.3 |
| 4.3 | 4.3.1 |
| 4.3.1 | 4.3.2 |
| 4.3.2 | 4.3.3 |
| 4.3.3 | 4.4 |
| 4.4 | 4.4.1 |
| 4.4.1 | 4.4.2 |
| 4.4.2 | 4.4.3 |
| 4.4.3 | 4.4.4 |
| 4.4.4 | 4.5, 4.7 |
| 4.5 | 4.6 |
| 4.6 | 4.6.1 |
| 4.6.1 | 4.7 |
| 4.7 | 4.7.2 |
| 4.7.2 | 5.0.1 |
| 5.0.1 | 5.1 |
| 5.1 | 5.2 |