Vates Announces the General Release of XCP-ng 8.3
An overview of XCP-ng 8.3: updated Xen and kernel stack, security and performance improvements, LTS direction, install/upgrade notes, and what to check before you move.
XCP-ng 8.3 shipped on October 7, 2024. It is the current 8.x release and sets the direction for teams running Xen-based virtualization without Citrix licensing.
Key features and enhancements
Updated base system
XCP-ng 8.3 is partly based on XenServer 8, which succeeded Citrix Hypervisor 8.2 CU1. The control domain (dom0) uses CentOS 7 as its base, with security fixes backported by the XCP-ng Security Team. That combination is meant to keep a stable, secure foundation for the hypervisor.
Xen and Linux kernel updates
The release includes Xen 4.17.4 with patches for performance and security. The Linux kernel in the control domain has been updated to 4.19, with additional drivers and patches for broader hardware support.
Long-term support (LTS)
Features will continue to land for now, but XCP-ng 8.3 is expected to transition to a Long-Term Support posture, receiving primarily bug and security fixes after a period of active feature work. That path is aimed at operators who want maximum stability.
Security improvements
Security work in 8.3 includes improved isolation between virtual machines, updated security patches, and better Secure Boot support, all intended to harden the virtualization environment.
Improved performance
Optimizations in the Xen hypervisor and Linux kernel are intended to improve resource utilization, reduce latency, and improve overall VM performance.
New visual theme
Reflecting Vates’ updated visual identity, XCP-ng 8.3 introduces a refreshed theme for a more modern look and a clearer day-to-day interface.
Installation and upgrade
Installation
Download the installation ISO from the official XCP-ng 8.3 release documentation. The install process is straightforward when you follow the release notes.
Upgrade
Upgrading to XCP-ng 8.3 is supported from an up-to-date XCP-ng 8.2.1, 8.0, or 8.1, but only via the installation ISO. In-place upgrades using yum are not supported.
Read the release notes carefully before upgrading, especially deprecations, removals, and known issues.
Deprecations, removals, and known issues
- Deprecated features: Review the release notes for anything you still depend on that may be on the way out.
- Removed features: Some capabilities were removed entirely in 8.3 (for example, the legacy paravirtualization option). Confirm your workloads do not require removed options before you upgrade.
- Known issues: As with any major release, review documented issues and workarounds in the official notes before you cut over production hosts.
Conclusion
XCP-ng 8.3 offers an updated base, stronger security posture, performance improvements, and a clearer LTS direction for teams that want a durable open-source hypervisor platform.
For installation steps, upgrade guidance, and the full change list, see the official XCP-ng 8.3 release notes.