Amazon Aurora version support
If your Amazon Aurora DB has complex dependencies on specific database engine behavior, we recommend that you engage in extensive testing before you upgrade to newer database engine versions. There are long-term support options so that you can maintain your DB clusters on select Aurora engine versions even after they have been superseded by newer versions. The following sections explain the long-term support options for your Aurora DB clusters.
Long-term support for selected Amazon Aurora minor versions
For each Aurora major version, certain minor versions are designated as long-term-support (LTS) versions, and made available for at least three years. That is, at least one minor version per major version is made available for longer than the typical 12 months. We generally provide a reminder six months before the end of this period. We do so to communicate the detailed upgrade process. Details include the timing of certain milestones, the impact on your DB clusters, and the actions that we recommend that you take. Notifications with less than six months notice are used when there are critical matters, such as security issues, that necessitate quicker action.
LTS minor versions include only critical fixes (through patch versions). An LTS version doesn't include new features released after its introduction. Once a year, DB clusters running on an LTS minor version are patched to the latest patch version of the LTS release. We do this patching to help ensure that you benefit from cumulative security and stability fixes. We might patch an LTS minor version more frequently if there are critical fixes, such as for security, that need to be applied.
Note
If you want to remain on an LTS minor version for the duration of its lifecycle, make sure to disable automatic minor version upgrade for your DB instances. To avoid automatically upgrading your DB cluster from the LTS minor version, clear the Enable auto minor version upgrade check box on any DB instance in your Aurora cluster.
For the version numbers of all Aurora LTS versions, see Aurora MySQL long-term support (LTS) releases and Using an Aurora PostgreSQL long-term support (LTS) release.
Amazon RDS Extended Support for selected Aurora versions
With Amazon RDS Extended Support, you can continue to run your database on a major engine version past the Aurora end of standard support date for an additional cost. During RDS Extended Support, Amazon RDS will supply patches for Critical and High CVEs as defined by the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) CVSS severity ratings. For more information, see Amazon RDS Extended Support with Amazon Aurora.
RDS Extended Support is only available on certain Aurora versions. For more information, see Amazon Aurora major versions.
