Key Points
- NVIDIA JetPack 4 hit end-of-life (EOL) in November 2024, stopping security updates, bug fixes, and support.
- Ubuntu Pro offers last-chance security patches for legacy JetPack 4 systems with its Long Term Security Support (LTSS).
- Jetson Orin hardware is fully supported by Ubuntu Pro, enabling seamless upgrades for edge AI deployments.
NVIDIA’s JetPack 4 software stack, a foundational tool for edge AI development on Jetson hardware, reached end-of-life (EOL) in November 2024. This means NVIDIA will no longer provide security updates, bug fixes, or technical support for all JetPack 4.x versions and their linked Jetson Linux releases. While the stack powered millions of edge computing devices across industries—from healthcare to robotics—its retirement now exposes users to serious security risks. Devices relying on unmaintained software become easy targets for cyberattacks, as vulnerabilities can’t be patched, and compliance with modern standards grows harder.
For developers and businesses embedded with JetPack 4, the shift is both urgent and critical. NVIDIA’s EOL policy leaves users fully responsible for maintaining system security. But open-source tools like Ubuntu Pro (developed by Canonical) offer a lifeline. Ubuntu Pro, a commercial service designed for Linux systems, bridges the gap by providing critical security updates for legacy components. This is especially relevant for Ubuntu users running older software stacks on Jetson hardware, as it ensures their edge devices remain protected—even as NVIDIA’s direct support ends.
Canonical, a leading open-source platform provider, has long collaborated with NVIDIA to enhance edge computing solutions. Ubuntu Pro’s Long Term Security Support (LTSS) specifically addresses aging or unsupported software. For example, if a JetPack 4-based device uses the older Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (Focal) kernel, LTSS can still offer security hotfixes for up to 10 years, significantly lowering risks for deployments that can’t upgrade hardware immediately. This partnership underscores the interoperability of open-source ecosystems—Ubuntu Pro isn’t just a substitute for lost NVIDIA support but a robust, vendor-agnostic security layer for Linux-based edge workloads.
However, the ideal path is to modernize hardware and software. The NVIDIA Jetson Orin series—launched as the next-gen edge AI platform—is now fully certified to work with Ubuntu Pro. This integration ensures users benefit from timely kernel security fixes, ARM64 architecture optimizations, and open-source tools like Snap Store for streamlined application management. For businesses, this means investing in Orin hardware gets them access to Canonical’s 10-year LTSS plan and NVIDIA’s updated libraries for AI, machine learning, and robotics frameworks.
The EOL announcement also highlights ongoing tensions between proprietary hardware stacks and open-source sustainability. JetPack 4, while powerful, bundled NVIDIA drivers, SDKs, and libraries tightly with hardware-specific versions. This locks users into rapid upgrade cycles. In contrast, Ubuntu Pro emphasizes flexibility—supporting both legacy and new systems without vendor dependency. Linux users accustomed to control over their software lifecycle may find this approach more aligned with long-term goals.
Canononical’s ecosystem is now a critical player for Jetson edge users. By adding security coverage for NVIDIA software post-EOL, Canonical helps bridge the transition period for teams caught offline by rapid vendor shifts. For Ubuntu users already integrating Jetson with their workflows, the update reinforces the value of open-source infrastructure in managing IoT and AI edge devices securely.
So what’s next? If you’re still using JetPack 4, audit your deployments immediately to identify unpatched systems. For short-term protection, extend the life of your current hardware with Ubuntu Pro’s LTSS. In the long run, plan for a migration to Jetson Orin, where Ubuntu Pro’s full security features can be leveraged. By April 2025, NVIDIA will deprecate JetPack 4’s documentation and software repositories entirely, leaving legacy systems entirely exposed. Act now to avoid disruptions—or risk falling behind in edge AI innovation.
Ubuntu Pro’s pricing varies based on workload size and scope, but it’s positioning itself as a cost-effective alternative to bearing all security and compliance costs independently. For more details, developers can explore Canonical’s Jetson Orin certification notes and Ubuntu Pro documentation. The clock is ticking: your edge systems’ future depends on your next move.
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