This topic describes the lifecycles of MySQL community versions and ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL.
Lifecycles of major engine versions
When a major engine version reaches its end-of-life (EOL) date in the MySQL community, the major engine version will no longer receive any updates from the MySQL community. However, you can still purchase and use RDS instances that run the major engine version. For more information about purchasing RDS instances that run the major engine version, see Alibaba Cloud official announcements.
ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL extends the support periods of major engine versions based on the lifecycles of MySQL community versions. During the extension period, ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL continuously releases new versions only to fix issues that severely affect the security and stability of your ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instances. However, the new versions cannot fix all these types of issues because MySQL community versions keep some security issues confidential.
The extension period provides you sufficient time to upgrade the major engine versions of your RDS instances. During the extension period, upgrading the major engine versions of RDS instance is the best choice. For more information about how to upgrade the major engine version, see Upgrade the major engine version.
The following table describes milestones of MySQL community versions and ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL.
In the table, some dates are estimated. The estimated dates may be modified before EOL date of a MySQL community version and the end-of-support date of ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL. The actual dates prevail.
Major engine version | Release date in the MySQL community | Release date in ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL | EOL date in the MySQL community | End-of-support date in ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL |
MySQL 8.0 | April 19, 2018 | May 2019 | April 2026 (estimated) | April 19, 2027 (estimated) |
MySQL 5.7 | October 21, 2015 | November 2016 | October 21, 2023 (estimated) | October 21, 2024 (estimated) |
MySQL 5.6 | February 05, 2013 | December 2014 | February 05, 2021 | February 5, 2024 (estimated) |
MySQL 5.5 | December 08, 2010 | February 2012 | December 08, 2018 | December 08, 2021 |