Microsoft extends Windows Server 2008 support

Sysadmins can plan a more relaxed schedule for 2013, after Microsoft extended support for Windows Server 2008 to January 15th, 2015.

Redmond initially planned to send the OS to the graveyard, at least in terms of provision of official support, on July 9th, 2013. Microsoft has now decided, in its Support Lifecycle Quarterly Lifeline (Redmond’s italics used throughout), that the following regime now applies:

The Microsoft policy provides a minimum of five years of Mainstream Support or two years of Mainstream Support after the successor product ships, whichever is longer. Windows Server 2008 was originally scheduled to transition to Extended Support on July 9, 2013. Modifications to the expiration dates for Windows Server 2008 are a result of the launch of Windows Server 2012, giving customers the additional 2 years of support.

All of which means that Windows Server 2008 migration project that loomed large in your project plans can be put off for a while. If, of course, you can tolerate its lightweight virtualisation implementation and general non-cloudiness.

It’s not all good news, however, as the move to Extended Support sees Microsoft withdraw three rather useful services, namely:

• Non-security hotfix support, unless you pay for it;
• No-charge incident support; and
• Warranty claims.

The Microsoft missive also points out that several products reach the end of their supported life on October 9th. Those products are:

• BizTalk Accelerator for RosettaNet 2.0 Enterprise Edition
• BizTalk Accelerator for RosettaNet 2.0 Standard Edition
• Class Server 2.0 Standard Edition
• FRx Financial Reporter 6.5
• Project 2002 Professional Edition
• Project 2002 Standard Edition
• Project Server 2002
• Windows Services for UNIX 3.0 Standard Edition

Just how it will be possible to plan an orderly Windows 2008 migration without Project Server 2002 is anyone’s guess. ®