> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://mariadb.com/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://mariadb.com/docs/release-notes/enterprise-server/about/enterprise-server-lifecycle.md).

# Enterprise Server Lifecycle

## Enterprise Server Builds

MariaDB Enterprise Server incorporates enhancements that are not present in MariaDB Community Server, including

* Premium features meet enterprise scaling and operations requirements.
* Priority bug fixes are available first to enterprise customers.
* Increased the code stability through restricted release of new functionality.
* Risk reduction from untested or incompatible features through the inclusion of only features with level 3 support (engineering code-level support) from MariaDB Corporation.
* Optimized the configuration defaults.

For details on features added to enhance, harden, and secure MariaDB Enterprise Server, see the following pages:

* [What's New in MariaDB Enterprise Server 11.8](/docs/release-notes/enterprise-server/11.8/whats-new.md)
* [What's New in MariaDB Enterprise Server 11.4](/docs/release-notes/enterprise-server/11.4/whats-new.md)
* [What's New in MariaDB Enterprise Server 10.6](/docs/release-notes/enterprise-server/10.6/whats-new.md)

## Enterprise Server Releases <a href="#enterprise-server-releases" id="enterprise-server-releases"></a>

Releases of MariaDB Enterprise Server are predictable because,

* Major releases are delivered on a schedule.
* The minor releases are focused on small, incremental defect remediation.
* Critical fixes from newer release series are selectively backported.
* Enterprise-grade testing drives a low defect rate.
* Specific changes present in each release are communicated.

Additional information on the release cycle for MariaDB Enterprise Server can be found in [MariaDB Corporation Engineering Policy](https://mariadb.com/engineering-policies/).

### Upcoming Minor and Maintenance Releases <a href="#upcoming-minor-and-maintenance-releases" id="upcoming-minor-and-maintenance-releases"></a>

Planned releases of MariaDB Enterprise Server are [scheduled](/docs/release-notes/enterprise-server/about/enterprise-server-release-schedule.md).

### Obtaining MariaDB Enterprise Server <a href="#obtaining-mariadb-enterprise-server" id="obtaining-mariadb-enterprise-server"></a>

MariaDB Enterprise Server is available to MariaDB subscription customers via the [MariaDB Customer Portal](https://customers.mariadb.com/).

If you are not yet a MariaDB subscription customer, [contact MariaDB Corporation](https://mariadb.com/contact) for more information.

MariaDB Enterprise Server binary and source code is delivered over secure protocols from MariaDB Corporation-maintained infrastructure as detailed in the [Deployment Guide](broken://pages/BbZ3TNWsYNwHXVyiSQ6z).

### Enterprise Server Release Identifiers <a href="#enterprise-server-release-identifiers" id="enterprise-server-release-identifiers"></a>

Releases of MariaDB Enterprise Server are given an identifier such as 'MariaDB Enterprise Server 10.5.8-5,' whose components are,

* The product name (MariaDB Enterprise Server).
* Release series (10.5, spoken "ten-five").
* The point release of MariaDB Community Server used as the base of this Enterprise Server release (.8, spoken "ten-five-eight").
* The release postfix of MariaDB Enterprise Server starts with '-1' and is incremented for subsequent releases in that release series (-5, spoken "ten-five-eight-dash-five").
* On the Debian and Ubuntu platforms, the release postfix contains a period instead of a dash, such that release postfixes start with .1 and increment for subsequent releases in that release series (.5, spoken "ten-five-eight-dot-five").

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** The release postfix (for example, the `-4` in `11.8.6-4`) increases consecutively with each new Enterprise Server release in a series, but the Community Server point release it is based on does not. As a result:

* An Enterprise Server release can **skip** a Community Server point release. For example, `11.8.6-4` is followed by `11.8.8-5`, skipping `11.8.7`.
* Two consecutive Enterprise Server releases can be based on the **same** Community Server point release. For example, `11.8.6-3` is followed by `11.8.6-4`.

The release postfix — not the point release — is the reliable indicator of release order.
{% endhint %}

Additional information on the release numbering for MariaDB Enterprise Server can be found in [MariaDB Corporation Engineering Policy](https://mariadb.com/engineering-policies).

## Enterprise Server Support <a href="#enterprise-server-support" id="enterprise-server-support"></a>

MariaDB Corporation offers vendor support for MariaDB Enterprise Server, including,

* Customer support as detailed in the [Subscription Services Policy](https://mariadb.com/subscription-services-policies)
* [Professional services](https://mariadb.com/services), including migration services, remote DBA services, and consulting
* Customer communications, managed via the [MariaDB Customer Portal](https://customers.mariadb.com/)
* [Training](https://mariadb.com/services/training)
* [Documentation](https://mariadb.com/docs/)

<sub>*This page is: Copyright © 2025 MariaDB. All rights reserved.*</sub>

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