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SearchStax Managed Search – Solr Version Lifecycle Policy
Last Revision Date: May 20, 2026
This section describes our version policy for SearchStax-hosted Apache Solr. SearchStax reserves the right to update or change this policy from time to time.
SearchStax is committed to providing a secure, stable, and high-performing Managed Search platform. This policy defines the lifecycle stages and support levels for Apache Solr versions within the SearchStax Managed Search service.
SearchStax aligns its support for Apache Solr versions with the Apache Software Foundation’s community lifecycle. Each Solr version progresses through defined support phases within Managed Search:
These phases determine the level of support, feature availability, and operational flexibility for customers.
EOL dates and releases are not scheduled in advance by the Apache Solr community. The above graph depicts the approximate version life cycle schedule based on previous Major versions’ durations as a stable version.
1. Full Support
SearchStax provides Full Support for all Apache Solr major versions that are actively supported by the open-source community and available in the Managed Search platform.
Duration
From initial availability in Managed Search until the version reaches Apache Solr Community End-of-Life (EOL).
Scope of Support:
- Full feature support, including new feature development
- Bug fixes related to the SearchStax platform
- Security updates and patching
- Technical Support
2. Maintenance Support
Once a Major Solr version reaches Community EOL, it transitions from Full Support to Maintenance Support. The date is not
Duration:
Up to 24 months following the end of the Full Support phase.
Scope of Support:
- Continued support for existing features
- Limited availability of new features at SearchStax’s discretion
- Bug fixes related to the SearchStax platform
- Security updates and patching
- Technical Support
Customer Guidance:
Customers may continue to run production workloads during this phase but are strongly encouraged to plan and execute an Self-Managed upgrade to a newer supported version prior to the end of Maintenance Support or contact SearchStax if they are interested in purchasing a SearchStax Managed Upgrade service. Customers should plan accordingly as feature deprecations and schema incompatibility are common and should be expected during a Major version upgrade. Customers should refer to the official Solr Upgrade Notes for breaking changes across Solr versions.
3. Extended Life
After the Maintenance Support period ends, the Solr version enters Extended Life.
Duration:
Up to 36 additional months, available only through purchase of an Extended Lifecycle Support plan.
Scope of Support:
- Support for existing features only (no new features)
- Critical and high-priority bug fixes only
- Security updates and patching
- Technical Support
Subscription Fee:
Depending on how long a Managed Search deployment has been in the Extended Life phase determines the additional subscription fees which are added automatically to the next applicable subscription term. The fee is determined based on a percentage of the cost for the deployment’s subscription.
- Extended Life Year 1: +20%
- Extended Life Year 2: +20%
- Extended Life Year 3: +40%
Deployment Restrictions:
- New deployments on Extended Life versions are not permitted by default
- Customers with an Extended Lifecycle Support plan may request new deployments via support ticket
Upgrade Requirement:
If a customer does not elect to purchase Extended Life support, or if the Extended Life phase period has elapsed, then customer deployments running on the outdated Solr version will be decommissioned.
4. General Policy Notes
- SearchStax reserves the right to define support timelines in alignment with platform stability, security requirements, and operational considerations
- Solr versions available for new deployments currently are listed here – https://www.searchstax.com/docs/searchstax-cloud-solr-versions/
- Customers are responsible for planning upgrades in accordance with lifecycle timelines
- SearchStax reserves the right to upgrade a deployment immediately and without notice in advance if there is a critical security or stability issue. Such upgrades happen only within Minor versions of the Major version the deployment is running on. A force upgrade might become necessary in a situation that:
- bypasses any authentication or security measures, where knowing only the deployment endpoint is sufficient to gain access to data
- disrupts our ability to effectively manage a deployment in a disaster scenario
- impairs stability to the point where we cannot guarantee deployment node or data integrity
- Impairs or risks impairing our infrastructure
- SearchStax notifies you of a new version release which you are able to upgrade to. You’ll need to decide whether to upgrade to the new version with new features and bug fixes or to stay with a version you know works for you a while longer.
- SearchStax gives you six months advance notice before a Major version nears its end of Maintenance Support, effectively providing you with six month’s time to upgrade to a newer version yourself. Notice is given by email to the contacts registered in the SearchStax Dashboard.
- Pricing and eligibility for Extended Lifecycle Support plans are available through SearchStax account management. Contact support@searchstax.com if you are unsure who your account manager is.
Last Updated: May 20, 2026
Previous versions of our SearchStax Managed Support Policy can be found below: