14 DAY TRIAL // Customers leveraging older releases of Microsoft’s data platform should be aware of imminent end of support deadlines and act accordingly by upgrading their IT infrastructure to the latest versions of SQL Server. Companies still running SQL Server 2008 RTM now have just three months to make the jump to the most recent release, namely Service Pack 1. At the same time, business users that haven’t upgraded to SQL Server 2005 SP2, need to know that for them time has virtually ran out.
“SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2 support ends next week January 12, 2010. You should upgrade to SQL 2005 SP3 or SQL 2008 SP1 immediately. SQL Server 2008 RTM support ends on April 13, 2010. You should make plans to upgrade to SQL Server 2008 SP1 soon,” revealed Bob Ward, a member of Microsoft Customer Service and Support (CSS) SQL Support.
Both SQL Server 2005 SP3 and SQL Server 2008 SP1 are currently available for download at no charge to existing customers. But, while SQL Server 2005 is offering little choice as far as upgrades are concerned, those running SQL Server 2008 RTM have one extra option. Microsoft is currently gearing up to make available the final development milestone of SQL Server 2008 R2. Although SQL Server 2008 R2 General Availability is only expected no later than the start of May 2010, CTP versions are already up for grabs, and customers in advanced stages of planning could make the jump directly to the new iteration of Microsoft’s data platform.
“What does this “end of support” mean to you? You cannot call or open a case with CSS for technical support if you are running these versions after the respective dates above. There are only 2 exceptions to this: You are contacting CSS to get help with an upgrade to a supported version. You have a Premier Support Agreement and have purchased something called a Custom Support Agreement (CSA) (contact your Technical Account Manager if you want to consider this option). Microsoft won’t produce any hotfixes or security updates for these specific versions (Custom Support Agreement customers are the exception),” Ward added.
SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1 (SP1) is available for download here. SQL Server 2008 R2 November CTP is available for download here.