This has always been the case with Ubuntu. Ubuntu only ever supported its main repository with security updates. Now they offer (paid) support for the universe repository in addition, which is a bonus for Ubuntu users, as they now have a greater selection of packages with security updates.
If you don’t opt-in to use Ubuntu Pro, nothing changes and Ubuntu will be as secure (or insecure) as it has always been. If you disable universe and multiverse you have a Ubuntu system where all packages receive guaranteed security updates for free.
Please note: I still don’t recommend Ubuntu due to snapd not supporting third-party repositories, but that’s no reason not to get the facts right.
Debian has always been the better choice if you required security updates for the complete package repository.
Personally I have my doubts if Debian actually manages to reliably backport security updates for all its packages. Afterall Eclipse was stuck on version 3.8 for multiple Debian releases due to lack of a maintainer …
It is entirely untrue. Where as you made the claim, and I am merely calling you a liar while making no claim of my own, it would seem that you must prove your claim with say a sales promotion or some other solicitation plus a credible report that these updates would otherwise exist without the charge from those whose business use case depends upon them.
If you wish to hate upon ubuntu do so, but don’t lie about it.
In both Debian and Ubuntu, only the main repo gets official security updates for free. Ubuntu has a paid option for universe whereas Debian doesn’t have that option and relies on the package maintainer to provide any updates.
I’d still recommend Debian over Ubuntu though, for various reasons.
Package maintainers can be slow to update packages though. Debian have a separate security team that get patches out ASAP, and those packages go into a separate security repo. I imagine Ubuntu does the same. It’s that security team that only deals with “official” packages, meaning anything that’s not in contrib, non-free, or non-free-firmware.
Looks like Canonical is trying to sell me security updates I would be getting for free on Debian.
Debian 12 likely isn’t that different, but I don’t want to follow a Debian 11 setup guide then run into issues.
This has always been the case with Ubuntu. Ubuntu only ever supported its
main
repository with security updates. Now they offer (paid) support for theuniverse
repository in addition, which is a bonus for Ubuntu users, as they now have a greater selection of packages with security updates.If you don’t opt-in to use Ubuntu Pro, nothing changes and Ubuntu will be as secure (or insecure) as it has always been. If you disable
universe
andmultiverse
you have a Ubuntu system where all packages receive guaranteed security updates for free.Please note: I still don’t recommend Ubuntu due to
snapd
not supporting third-party repositories, but that’s no reason not to get the facts right.Debian has always been the better choice if you required security updates for the complete package repository.
Personally I have my doubts if Debian actually manages to reliably backport security updates for all its packages. Afterall Eclipse was stuck on version 3.8 for multiple Debian releases due to lack of a maintainer …
debian’s repo is massive. there are holes here and there from time-to-time as is likely the case in any distro–paid updates or not.
Thank you for the information.
I’ll still be going with Debian because Ubuntu keeps telling me I have 2 security updates locked behind their paywall.
Nope. Not accurate at all.
Really? Why?
Because the updates are not anyone “trying to sell me security updates I would be getting for free on Debian.”
Really? Which part isn’t true, the selling me updates or that they’re available on Debian?
Come on man, use your words lol.
It is entirely untrue. Where as you made the claim, and I am merely calling you a liar while making no claim of my own, it would seem that you must prove your claim with say a sales promotion or some other solicitation plus a credible report that these updates would otherwise exist without the charge from those whose business use case depends upon them.
If you wish to hate upon ubuntu do so, but don’t lie about it.
Lol, okay buddy.
Debian
contrib
doesn’t get official security updates, the same as Ubuntuuniverse
. https://www.debian.org/security/faq#contribIn both Debian and Ubuntu, only the main repo gets official security updates for free. Ubuntu has a paid option for
universe
whereas Debian doesn’t have that option and relies on the package maintainer to provide any updates.I’d still recommend Debian over Ubuntu though, for various reasons.
Do users get the package maintainer’s updates for free?
Definitely on Debian, and I think on Ubuntu too.
Package maintainers can be slow to update packages though. Debian have a separate security team that get patches out ASAP, and those packages go into a separate security repo. I imagine Ubuntu does the same. It’s that security team that only deals with “official” packages, meaning anything that’s not in contrib, non-free, or non-free-firmware.