anchor.diff:  [discrete]
   == candidate-{product-version} channel
   
  -The `candidate-{product-version}` channel contains candidate builds for a z-stream ({product-version}.z) release. Release candidates contain all the features of the product but are not supported. Use release candidate versions to test feature acceptance and assist in qualifying the next version of {product-title}. A release candidate is any build that is available in the candidate channel, including ones that do not contain link:https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html#spec-item-9[a pre-release version] such as `-rc` in their names. After a version is available in the candidate channel, it goes through more quality checks. If it meets the quality standard, it is promoted to the `fast-{product-version}` or `stable-{product-version}` channels. Because of this strategy, if a specific release is available in both the `candidate-{product-version}` channel and in the `fast-{product-version}` or `stable-{product-version}` channels, it is a Red Hat-supported version. The `candidate-{product-version}` channel can include release versions from which there are no recommended updates in any channel.
  +The `candidate-{product-version}` channel contains candidate builds for a z-stream ({product-version}.z) and previous minor version releases. Release candidates contain all the features of the product but are not supported. Use release candidate versions to test feature acceptance and assist in qualifying the next version of {product-title}. A release candidate is any build that is available in the candidate channel, including ones that do not contain link:https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html#spec-item-9[a pre-release version] such as `-rc` in their names. After a version is available in the candidate channel, it goes through more quality checks. If it meets the quality standard, it is promoted to the `fast-{product-version}` or `stable-{product-version}` channels. Because of this strategy, if a specific release is available in both the `candidate-{product-version}` channel and in the `fast-{product-version}` or `stable-{product-version}` channels, it is a Red Hat-supported version. The `candidate-{product-version}` channel can include release versions from which there are no recommended updates in any channel.
   
   You can use the `candidate-{product-version}` channel to upgrade from a previous minor version of {product-title}.
   
  
positive.code: [discrete]
  == fast-{product-version} channel
  
  The `fast-{product-version}` channel is updated with new {product-version} versions as soon as Red Hat declares the given version as a general availability release. As such, these releases are fully supported, are production quality, and have performed well while available as a release candidate in the `candidate-{product-version}` channel from where they were promoted. Some time after a release appears in the `fast-{product-version}` channel, it is added to the `stable-{product-version}` channel. Releases never appear in the `stable-{product-version}` channel before they appear in the `fast-{product-version}` channel.
  
  You can use the `fast-{product-version}` channel to upgrade from a previous minor version of {product-title}.
  endif::openshift-origin[]
  
negative.code: [id="understanding-upgrade-channels_{context}"]
  = {product-title} upgrade channels and releases
  
  In {product-title} 4.1, Red Hat introduced the concept of channels for recommending the appropriate release versions for cluster upgrades. By controlling the pace of upgrades, these upgrade channels allow you to choose an upgrade strategy. Upgrade channels are tied to a minor version of {product-title}. For instance, {product-title} 4.8 upgrade channels recommend upgrades to 4.8 and upgrades within 4.8. They also recommend upgrades within 4.7 and from 4.7 to 4.8, to allow clusters on 4.7 to eventually upgrade to 4.8. They do not recommend upgrades to 4.9 or later releases. This strategy ensures that administrators explicitly decide to upgrade to the next minor version of {product-title}.
  
  Upgrade channels control only release selection and do not impact the version of the cluster that you install; the `openshift-install` binary file for a specific version of {product-title} always installs that version.
  
  ifndef::openshift-origin[]
  {product-title} {product-version} offers the following upgrade channels:
  