As part of our ongoing commitment to keep your infrastructure secure and compliant, we want to inform you about the upcoming End-of-Life (EOL) status for several Linux distributions that may impact your cPanel or Plesk environments.
Operating Systems Reaching EOL
The following distributions will no longer receive upstream vendor updates or security patches:
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CentOS 7 & CloudLinux 7 – EOL on June 30, 2024
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Debian 10 – EOL on June 30, 2024
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Ubuntu 18.04 – EOL since May 2023
- Ubuntu 20.04 LTS - EOL since May 2025
Once these dates pass, systems running these OS versions will become increasingly vulnerable due to the lack of security updates. It's important to act promptly to protect your servers.
How to Check If You Are Affected
For Plesk Servers:
Log in to the Plesk UI. On the home page, under System Overview, check the Operating System line. If your server is listed as one of the versions above, migration or action is required.
For cPanel Servers:
Log in to WHM. The OS version is displayed at the top of the dashboard. Cross-check it with the EOL list above.
Why You Should Upgrade Now
Migrating to a supported OS ensures continued access to:
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Security patches and updates
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New features and improvements
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Official technical support from Plesk and cPanel
See support policies here:
Recommended Migration Tools
To assist in transitioning to newer OS versions, the following tools are available:
Plesk:
cPanel:
Our Recommendation:
Whenever possible, set up a fresh VM or hardware with a supported OS and use the official migration tools to move your data. While in-place upgrades (Elevate, Dist-Upgrade) are available, they carry risks such as potential downtime or failed upgrades and require advanced sysadmin skills.
Extended Lifecycle Support (ELS) Program
If migration is not immediately feasible, the ELS program offers a temporary safety net to continue receiving critical security patches and support for legacy systems:
Supported OS for ELS:
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CentOS 7
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CloudLinux 7
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Ubuntu 18.04 & 20.04 LTS
(Note: Debian 10 is not supported by TuxCare. Only Plesk product updates—not OS patches—will be provided.)
Plesk and cPanel, in partnership with TuxCare, will begin providing ELS starting July 1, 2024, with the first month (July) offered free.
Beginning October 1, 2024, ELS fees will be applied to any license running on an EOL operating system. Licenses under our management will be automatically enrolled unless migrated to a supported OS.
ELS Pricing Overview
Plesk ELS Charges (per license/month)
| Period | Web Admin | Web Pro | Web Host VPS | Web Host Dedicated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct–Dec 2024 | $1.60 | $2.40 | $4.30 | $7.00 |
| Jan–Jun 2025 | $3.30 | $5.70 | $10.60 | $14.20 |
| Jul–Dec 2025 | $4.90 | $8.60 | $15.90 | $21.40 |
| Jan-Dec 2026 | $5.40 | $9.50 | $20.00 | $22.00 |
cPanel ELS Charges (per license/month)
| Period | Admin Cloud | Pro Cloud | Premier Cloud | Premier Metal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct–Dec 2024 | $3.30 | $4.90 | $7.30 | $7.30 |
| Jan–Jun 2025 | $7.20 | $10.50 | $15.70 | $15.70 |
| Jul–Dec 2025 | $10.70 | $15.80 | $23.50 | $23.50 |
| Jan-Dec 2026 | $11.30 | $18.50 | $25.00 | $25.00 |
For cPanel Premier (Cloud/Metal), even if you exceed 100 accounts, the ELS fee is capped at $23.50/mo
Billing and Monitoring
We will automatically review your license status monthly. If your server has been upgraded to a supported OS, the ELS fee will be removed, and you will not be charged for subsequent months. As each Linux distribution OS reaches its EOL, ELS will be activated for your Plesk/cPanel subscription.
You may also reach out to us via our Support Portal to confirm your server’s eligibility and stop ELS billing once upgraded.
There is no opt-out option for the ELS program if your license is issued through a Plesk or cPanel partner account (such as ours). This is a mandatory requirement enforced by Plesk and cPanel, where all licenses running on End-of-Life (EOL) operating systems will be automatically enrolled in ELS to ensure continued security coverage.
This policy is in place to protect your environment from unpatched vulnerabilities and aligns with the vendor's commitment to maintain infrastructure integrity.
The only way to avoid ELS billing is to migrate your server to a currently supported operating system. Once your server is on a supported OS, the ELS add-on will be removed, and billing will cease from the next renewal cycle.
Final Recommendations
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Plan your migrations early to avoid unnecessary ELS charges and reduce security risk.
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Use a supported OS for all new server deployments. Refer to Plesk LifeCycle Support for the list of Operating System with its EOL date.
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Consider ELS only as a temporary fallback, not a long-term solution.
We understand that these transitions can be complex, especially when legacy applications are involved. Our team is here to support you every step of the way. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for personalized guidance or questions.
References:
Thank you for trusting us with your licensing and infrastructure needs.
