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| 1 | +# PowerShell Core Support Lifecycle |
| 2 | + |
| 3 | +PowerShell Core is a distinct set of tools and components that is shipped, installed, and configured separately from Windows PowerShell. |
| 4 | +Therefore, PowerShell Core is not included in the Windows 7/8.1/10 or Windows Server licensing agreements. |
| 5 | + |
| 6 | +However, PowerShell Core is supported under traditional Microsoft support agreements, including [Premier][], [Microsoft Enterprise Agreements][enterprise-agreement], and [Microsoft Software Assurance][assurance]. |
| 7 | +You can also pay for [assisted support][] for PowerShell Core by filing a support request for your problem. |
| 8 | + |
| 9 | +We also offer [community support][] on GitHub where you can file an issue, bug, or feature request. |
| 10 | +Alternatively, you may find help from other members of the community on the general [Microsoft Community][] or the Microsoft [PowerShell Tech Community][]. |
| 11 | +We offer no guarantee there that your issue will be addressed or resolved in a timely manner. |
| 12 | +If you have a problem that requires immediate attention, |
| 13 | +you should use the traditional, paid support options. |
| 14 | + |
| 15 | +## Lifecycle of PowerShell Core |
| 16 | + |
| 17 | +PowerShell Core is adopting the [Microsoft Modern Lifecycle Policy][modern]. |
| 18 | +This support lifecycle is intended to keep customers up-to-date with the latest versions. |
| 19 | + |
| 20 | +The version 6.x branch of PowerShell Core will be updated approximately once every six months (e.g. 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, etc.) |
| 21 | + |
| 22 | +> [!IMPORTANT] |
| 23 | +> You must update within six months after each new minor version release to continue receiving support. |
| 24 | +
|
| 25 | +For example, if PowerShell Core 6.1 is released on July 1st, 2018, |
| 26 | +you would be expected to update to PowerShell Core 6.1 by January 1st, 2019 to maintain support. |
| 27 | + |
| 28 | +![PowerShell Core branch lifecycle][lifecycle-chart] |
| 29 | + |
| 30 | +The Modern Lifecycle Policy also requires that Microsoft give customers 12 months notice before discontinuing support for a product (i.e. PowerShell Core). |
| 31 | + |
| 32 | +Eventually, we expect PowerShell Core will adopt the "long-term servicing" approach where we would require only servicing and security updates to stay in support on a specific branch/version of 6.x. |
| 33 | + |
| 34 | +## Supported platforms |
| 35 | + |
| 36 | +PowerShell Core is officially supported on the following platforms: |
| 37 | + |
| 38 | +* Windows 7, 8.1, and 10 |
| 39 | +* Windows Server 2008 R2, 2012 R2, 2016 |
| 40 | +* [Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel][semi-annual] |
| 41 | +* Ubuntu 14.04, 16.04, and 17.04 |
| 42 | +* Debian 8.7+, and 9 |
| 43 | +* CentOS 7 |
| 44 | +* Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 |
| 45 | +* OpenSUSE 42.2 |
| 46 | +* Fedora 25, 26 |
| 47 | +* macOS 10.12+ |
| 48 | + |
| 49 | +Our community has also contributed packages for the following platforms, |
| 50 | +but they are not officially suppported: |
| 51 | + |
| 52 | +* Arch Linux |
| 53 | +* Kali Linux |
| 54 | +* AppImage (works on multiple Linux platforms) |
| 55 | + |
| 56 | +## Notes on licensing |
| 57 | + |
| 58 | +PowerShell Core is released under the [MIT license][]. |
| 59 | +Under this license, and in the absence of a paid support agreement, |
| 60 | +users are limited to [community support][]. |
| 61 | +With community support, Microsoft makes no guarantees of responsiveness or fixes. |
| 62 | + |
| 63 | +## Windows PowerShell Module |
| 64 | + |
| 65 | +Support for PowerShell Core does not extend to other product modules unless those modules explicitly support PowerShell Core. |
| 66 | +For example, using the `ActiveDirectory` module that ships as part of Windows Server is an unsupported scenario. |
| 67 | + |
| 68 | +However, modules that do not explicitly support PowerShell Core may be compatible in some cases. |
| 69 | +By installing the [`WindowsPSModulePath`][] module, |
| 70 | +you can append the Windows PowerShell `PSModulePath` to your PowerShell Core `PSModulePath`. |
| 71 | + |
| 72 | +First, install the `WindowsPSModulePath` module from the PowerShell Gallery: |
| 73 | + |
| 74 | +```powershell |
| 75 | +# Add `-Scope CurrentUser` if you're installing as non-admin |
| 76 | +Install-Module WindowsPSModulePath -Force |
| 77 | +``` |
| 78 | + |
| 79 | +After installing this module, run the `Add-WindowsPSModulePath` cmdlet to add the Windows PowerShell `PSModulePath` to PowerShell Core: |
| 80 | + |
| 81 | +```powershell |
| 82 | +# Add this line to your profile if you always want Windows PowerShell PSModulePath |
| 83 | +Add-WindowsPSModulePath |
| 84 | +``` |
| 85 | + |
| 86 | +[Premier]: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftservices/support.aspx |
| 87 | +[enterprise-agreement]: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/licensing/licensing-programs/enterprise.aspx |
| 88 | +[assurance]: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/licensing/licensing-programs/software-assurance-default.aspx |
| 89 | +[community support]: https://github.com/powershell/powershell/issues |
| 90 | +[Microsoft Community]: https://answers.microsoft.com/ |
| 91 | +[PowerShell Tech Community]: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/PowerShell/ct-p/WindowsPowerShell |
| 92 | +[assisted support]: https://support.microsoft.com/assistedsupportproducts |
| 93 | +[modern]: https://support.microsoft.com/help/30881/modern-lifecycle-policy |
| 94 | +[lifecycle-chart]: ./images/modern-lifecycle.png |
| 95 | +[semi-annual]: https://docs.microsoft.com/windows-server/get-started/semi-annual-channel-overview |
| 96 | +[MIT license]: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/blob/master/LICENSE.txt |
| 97 | +[`WindowsPSModulePath`]: https://www.powershellgallery.com/packages/WindowsPSModulePath/ |
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