VMware provides software releases to provide new functionality and to fix problems uncovered in current products. If your problem relates to a software bug in VMware as acknowledged by VMware with a bug tracking number associated with a support request, our TSE will work with you to determine the appropriate release mechanism for a fix based on the technical severity of the bug and the business impact it has on your organization.
VMware uses three mechanisms to provide enhancements and bug fixes:
A Major Release, also known as an Upgrade, is a generally available release of the Software that contains functional enhancements and extensions, fixes for high severity and high priority bugs, and is designated by VMware by means of a change in the digit to the left of the first decimal point (e.g., Software 5.0 >> Software 6.0).
A Minor Release is a generally available release of the Software that introduces a limited amount of new features, functionality and minor enhancements, fixes for high severity and high priority bugs identified in the current release, and is designated by VMware by means of a change in the digit to the right of the decimal point (e.g., Software 5.0>>Software 5.1).
A Maintenance Release is a generally available release of the Software that typically provides maintenance corrections only or high severity bug fixes, designated by VMware by means of a change in the digit to the right of the second decimal point (e.g. Software 5.0 >> Software 5.0.1), or for certain Software, by means of a change in the digit of the Update number (e.g. Software 5.0 Update 1).
VMware Product Lifecycle Policies specify software support timelines to assist customers with long-term change-management decisions and release strategies.