Operating system (OS) support
We aim to ensure the security and integrity of the Departmental network and wider CUDN by encouraging the installation and use of modern operating systems which are supported by maintenance contracts (where applicable) and which may be kept up-to-date with security patches.
It is assumed that all operating systems have had patches and service packs applied. Some operating systems or versions thereof cannot be patched and made secure so do not connect machines running them to the Departmental network.
This following list is not intended to be exhaustive. If you have a particular need or requirement to run an OS that is not listed, please contact the Computer Officers preferably by email to support@ch.cam.ac.uk to discuss the situation.
The following operating systems are either currently supported, or were previously supported but have now become obsolete within the Department of Chemistry:
- Windows (Intel platform):
- Windows 2003 Server family (O - 14/07/2015)
- Windows 2008 Server family (R - 14/01/2020)
- Windows 8 or older (O - 10/01/2023 - only under special circumstances, network access will be limited or blocked)
- Windows 10 (R)
- Windows 11 (N)
- Unix/Linux:
- Ubuntu 18.04 or older (O - April 2028)
- Ubuntu 20.04 (M)
- Ubuntu 22.04 (R)
- Ubuntu 24.04 (N)
- Debian/GNU Linux stable (R)
- FreeBSD 10 or older (O)
- Non-Ubuntu desktops - not supported by Computer Officers
- Macintosh:
- Mac OS 11 and older [10.6] (O)
- Mac OS 12 (M)
- Mac OS 13 & 14 (R)
- Mac OS X Server - not supported by Computer Officers
