SIXE UP: Ubuntu Pro with 24/7 support for your whole infrastructure
SIXE UP includes and extends Canonical’s Ubuntu Pro. Beyond the operating system, we cover storage, networking, backups and migrations, with 24/7 support and a single contract.
We are a Canonical partner.
Ubuntu Pro keeps the operating system up to date. SIXE UP protects your entire infrastructure: storage, networks and backups, with 24/7 support.
What Ubuntu Pro is and what it leaves out
Ubuntu Pro is Canonical’s subscription that extends the life of each Ubuntu LTS release and adds security and compliance tooling. It is free for personal use on up to five physical machines.
What it includes
- Expanded Security Maintenance (ESM). Ten years of fixes for critical, high and selected medium vulnerabilities in the main and universe repositories, counted from the release of each LTS.
- Kernel Livepatch. Kernel patches applied without rebooting.
- Compliance. CIS benchmark automation with Ubuntu Security Guide and FIPS 140-2 and 140-3 certified modules.
- Landscape. Centralised management of your Ubuntu machines.
- Extendable with the Legacy add‑on. A separately paid add‑on that adds five more years of patches, up to fifteen per release.
What it does not include
- Technical support. Ubuntu Pro on its own gives access to the knowledge base. Canonical’s support is purchased separately as Ubuntu Pro + Support.
- Third-party applications and services. They require additional services.
- Migrations and deployment. Moving to Ubuntu from another distribution or converting virtual machines is not part of the subscription.
- On-site support. There is no intervention at your premises.
How long each Ubuntu LTS release is supported
Each LTS release gets five years of free standard support. After that, security patches only arrive with Ubuntu Pro (ESM) and, five years later, with the Legacy add‑on.
| Release | Standard support | With Ubuntu Pro (ESM) | With Legacy add‑on | 201520202025203020352040 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | May 2031 | May 2036 | May 2041 | |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | May 2029 | May 2034 | May 2039 | |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | May 2027 | May 2032 | May 2037 | |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | May 2025 | May 2030 | May 2035 | |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | May 2023 | May 2028 | May 2033 | |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | April 2021 | May 2026 | May 2031 | |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | April 2019 | May 2024 | May 2029 |
Dates from Canonical: ubuntu.com/about/release-cycle. If a release is already out of its window, SIXE UP includes assistance with migrating between releases and compatibility validation.
Comparison: Ubuntu Pro vs. SIXE UP
Row by row: what Ubuntu Pro covers with Canonical support, and what SIXE UP adds. Plans are tailored to each environment.
The Ubuntu Pro column refers to the subscription with Canonical support (Ubuntu Pro + Support). Without that support, Ubuntu Pro only gives access to the knowledge base.
| Feature | Ubuntu Pro + Support | SIXE UP |
|---|---|---|
| General features | ||
| Security and compliance | ✓Included. | ✓Additional guidance on best practices and reinforcement of critical systems. |
| Expanded Security Maintenance (ESM) | ✓Long-term patches and updates. | ✓Identical scope, adding specific recommendations to minimise disruption. |
| Fix & Patch (OS incident resolution) | ✓Official support from Canonical. | ✓Extra follow-up to reduce downtime. |
| Kernel Livepatch | ✓Included. | ✓Same access, with help implementing it in production environments. |
| Support for Ubuntu LTS releases | ✓Included. | ✓Included, with hands-on assistance in migrations between releases and compatibility validation. |
| Real-time kernel access | ✓Included; free for everyone from 26.04. | ✓Additional advice for environments with low-latency and high-availability requirements. |
| CIS benchmark automation (Ubuntu Security Guide) | ✓Part of Ubuntu Pro. | ✓Same access, with specific advice for sensitive infrastructures. |
| FIPS 140-2 and 140-3 (Level 1) certified modules | ✓Included: 140-2 up to 20.04 and 140-3 on 22.04. | ✓Configuration guidance and review, reinforcing security. |
| Certified hardware support | ✓Compatible with Canonical. | ✓We help you integrate any hardware and component of your infrastructure with Ubuntu, whether certified by Canonical or not. |
| Technical support | ✓Break-fix and bug-fix for Ubuntu packages (main and universe). | ✓Extended coverage in English, Spanish and French, also covering storage, networking and backup components. |
| Support and tools | ||
| Support for Kubernetes, OpenStack, Ceph, MAAS, LXD and MicroCloud | ✓Official assistance from Canonical. | ✓Same level of support, plus our expertise. |
| Access to Landscape | ✓Centralised management. | ✓Same access, with help to manage and monitor your infrastructure end to end. |
| 24/7 technical support in Spanish and French | ✕In English unless another language is agreed. | ✓Uninterrupted response in English, Spanish or French, easing communication and shortening incident times. |
| Proactive technical support | ✕Limited. | ✓Constant monitoring to anticipate possible failures in storage, networking and backups. |
| Customised support plans | ✕Generally standardised. | ✓Tailored to each environment, taking contingency and high-availability needs into account. |
| On-site technical support | ✕Not included. | ✓On-site intervention when needed, speeding up incident resolution. |
| Support for third-party applications and services | ✕Requires additional services. | ✓Integration of external solutions. |
| Migration services | ✕Not included in the basic subscription. | ✓Help throughout the process, including virtual machine conversion and compatibility checks. |
| Deployment and configuration services | ✕Outside standard support. | ✓Hands-on support adapted to system reliability and infrastructure protection. |
| System integration services | ✕Not included in the base plan. | ✓We connect different environments (on-premises, private clouds, etc.). |
| Optimisation and management | ||
| Application optimisation | ✕Generally not covered. | ✓Guidance to adapt them to your infrastructure, without neglecting security and performance. |
| Current infrastructure analysis | ✕Not part of basic support. | ✓Detailed review of your environment, identifying areas for improvement in storage, networking and backups. |
| Customised migration plan | ✕Requires external services. | ✓Included: we design and oversee the roadmap, ensuring compatibility at every phase. |
| Virtual machine conversion | ✕Not included. | ✓Assistance migrating from VMware, Citrix, Xen or Proxmox to Ubuntu. |
| Integration with security environments (SOC, SIEM, XSIAM, NDR, XDR, etc.) | ✕Not contemplated. | ✓We connect Canonical systems with threat detection and response tools, strengthening infrastructure protection. |
| Performance tuning | ✕Focused on the operating system. | ✓Global optimisation of resources, processes and licensing, maximising efficiency. |
| Cost and licensing optimisation | ✕Not included. | ✓Analysis of your configuration to reduce costs and improve return on investment. |
| Technical Account Manager (TAM) | —As an add-on service. | ✓You will always have an assigned expert who knows your environment and continuously coordinates escalations and improvements. |
Not everything in your environment is Ubuntu?
We also support Debian, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux and SUSE, including environments where several of them run side by side.
Why choose SIXE UP
As well as Ubuntu, we cover storage, networks and backups.
One contract and one point of contact for your whole environment.
A response at any hour, in English, Spanish or French.
We monitor storage, networks and backups to anticipate failures.
We design the roadmap and validate compatibility at every phase, including when converting virtual machines.
We review resources, processes and licensing to reduce costs and improve performance.
An engineer who knows your environment and coordinates escalations and improvements.
Questions about Ubuntu Pro and SIXE UP
What is Ubuntu Pro?
It is Canonical’s subscription that extends security patching for each Ubuntu LTS release from five to ten years (ESM) and adds Kernel Livepatch, CIS tooling, FIPS modules and Landscape. With the Legacy add-on, coverage reaches fifteen years.
Is Ubuntu Pro free?
For personal use, yes, on up to five physical machines.
Does Ubuntu Pro include technical support?
No. Ubuntu Pro on its own gives access to Canonical’s knowledge base. Technical support is purchased separately as Ubuntu Pro + Support, on weekdays or 24/7, and covers the operating system and the Canonical stack.
What happens when my Ubuntu release leaves standard support?
It stops receiving free security patches. To keep receiving them you need Ubuntu Pro (ESM) or a migration to a newer LTS. Ubuntu 20.04 reached the end of standard support in May 2025, and 22.04 reaches it in May 2027.
What does SIXE UP add to Ubuntu Pro?
SIXE UP includes and extends Ubuntu Pro: it also covers storage, networks and backups, third-party applications, migrations, on-site support and an assigned Technical Account Manager. All with 24/7 support and under a single contract.
Do you support the rest of the Canonical stack?
Yes. For LXD, MicroCloud, MicroStack or OpenStack we also offer Canonical technical support.
Can you migrate my servers to Ubuntu?
Yes. We design and oversee the migration plan, assist you in converting virtual machines from VMware, Citrix, Xen or Proxmox and ensure compatibility at every phase. We also migrate from Red Hat and SUSE.
Do you support servers that are not Ubuntu?
Yes. We also support Debian, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux and SUSE, including environments where several distributions run side by side.
I want 360º support for Ubuntu
Tell us what you are running and we will explain what SIXE UP would cover in your case, under a single contract.
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Our mission
SIXE ensures that your infrastructures based on IBM®, Red Hat®, Canonical®, and SUSE® technologies remain stable, secure, and optimized for as long as you need them.
At SIXE, we are committed to sustainability. That’s why we help you design, implement, and maintain durable and efficient technological solutions.
