This following policy is in effect starting with Rational ClearCase v4.2 and Red Hat Linux kernel 2.4.7.
In the currently shipping Rational ClearCase release, Rational will support all kernel versions which Red Hat supports for the operating system versions supported by the release. This includes not only the initial kernel version supported by Red Hat for an OS version, but also kernels for which Red Hat subsequently announces support on that OS version. In addition, this includes support in the currently shipping ClearCase release for new Red Hat OS versions which become available during the time the current ClearCase release is shipping, and for all kernels which are supported by Red Hat for this OS version.
For example, with ClearCase 4.2, the currently shipping release for Red Hat Linux, Rational will be supporting Red Hat 7.2 for the 2.4.7 and 2.4.9 kernels and all future Red Hat supported kernels for Red Hat 7.2. In addition, since Red Hat 7.1 is also supported by ClearCase 4.2, Rational will support the Red Hat supported kernels starting with 2.4.7 for Red Hat 7.1 and all future Red Hat supported kernels for Red Hat 7.1.
Support for new kernels will be provided in the currently shipping ClearCase release. However, in the case where a new release of ClearCase running on clients is incompatible with the previous release of ClearCase running on servers, Rational will also provide support in the previous release for new kernels supported by Red Hat for those OS versions supported by the previous ClearCase release. Support for NEW Red Hat OS versions will NOT be provided in the previous ClearCase release.
For example, ClearCase 4.2 servers are not compatible with ClearCase v2002 clients, so Rational will continue to provide support for new kernels in ClearCase 4.2 while ClearCase v2002 is the currently shipping release. However, new Red Hat OS versions will not be supported in ClearCase 4.2 while ClearCase v2002 is the currently shipping release.
Rational ClearCase support for new kernels will be available through the normal patch process and is expected to be delivered within 90 days of Red Hat's announced support.
Rational reserves the right to drop support for old kernels which Rational feel no longer warrant our support effort. This would generally apply to kernels which have long been superceded by more desirable versions. Users would not be required to move off these kernels, but Rational will no longer test against them for future patches and releases.
RedHat Linux kernels which have been modified by third parties and which are not officially supported by RedHat themselves are not supported in ClearCase at this time.
This Red Hat Linux kernel support policy is still subject to our existing Rational ClearCase support policy that states:
It is Rational's intention to support each release of the Rational ClearCase Family for two years following its general availability date and to provide maintenance support during that period. Support for the last release of the previous release set (e.g., 3.x is the previous release set to 4.x) may be extended beyond the intended two-year period because of migration considerations.