Advanced Content Management: Extended Update Support
Sometimes software product installations are straightforward - you want to install a Community Enterprise Linux server, so you install Community Enterprise Linux. However, products can have dependencies with each other (product B is only worthwhile if product A is also installed) or products can interact with each other to provide extended functionality. There are two categories of these kinds of product interactions:
- Dependencies, where one product requires or relies on another product directly
- Modifiers, where a product provides enhanced functionality or services for existing products
Dependencies are common and can be handled directly when processing content through tools like yum.
Modifiers can be more subtle. A modifier subscription extends another entitlement and provides different repository access and support than the product entitlement alone.
If the system is subscribed to that product entitlement or combination of products, then the modifier subscription brings an enhanced content set for that product. The content set can include additional new products, new functionality, or extended service and support, depending on the product being modified.
One simple example of a modifier is extended update support (EUS), which extends support for a minor release of Community Enterprise Linux from six months to 24 months. An EUS subscription provides an enhanced support path, rather than a new product. EUS works only in conjunction with another product, to extend its support profile; it does not stand alone.
Community Enterprise Linux Add-ons and EUS Subscriptions
Community Enterprise Linux add-ons have access to EUS streams as long as the underlying Community Enterprise Linux product has an EUS subscription. For example, if an administrator has a Community Enterprise Linux 2 Socket subscription, a File System subscription, and a Community Enterprise Linux 2 Socket EUS subscription, then the system can access both non-EUS and EUS content for both the Community Enterprise Linux server and the File System product.