Microsoft: SQL Server 2008 RTM Support Ends April 13, 2010

Customers running older releases of SQL Server should start preparing to migrate to more recent releases of the data platform or risk using the product with no support from Microsoft. Christina Gendrano, program manager, SQL Server Sustained Engineering, has provided a heads-up to the imminent support retirement for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2 (SP2) and SQL Server 2008 RTM. Microsoft is pulling the plug on the two products as an integral part of its Service Pack support policy. In this regard, the company will kill support for SQL Server 2005 SP2 on January 12, 2010 and for SQL Server 2008 RTM on April 13, 2010.

“Both SQL Server 2005 SP2 and SQL Server 2008 RTM will no longer receive assisted support or security updates from Microsoft after their respective end of support dates. Self-Help online support will continue to be available for a minimum of 12 months after the product reaches the end of support,” Gendrano noted.

Neither SQL Server 2005 SP2 nor SQL Server 2008 RTM will benefit from extended support, this even if SQL Server 2000 SP4 will benefit from extended support until 2013. The Redmond company is strongly encouraging affected customers to start preparations for the upgrade to supported SQL Server releases, or to make sustained engineering plans. As noted in the Support Lifecycle policy, only installing the latest iteration of the data platform, such as SQL Server2008  SP1, ensures the continuation of support.

“For Premier Support customers who anticipate they will not be able to complete their migration for these products by the transition date and need additional support from Microsoft, Custom Support is also available for purchase. Please contact your Technical Account Manager, Account Representative or Application Development consultant for details,” Gendrano added.

SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1 (SP1) is available for download here.