Microsoft is gearing up to pull the plug on Windows 2000 Server and Windows 2000 Professional. At the same time, the Redmond giant is preparing to signal the beginning of the end for Windows Server 2003. As of July 13, 2010, Microsoft will no longer offer support for Windows 2000 Server and Windows 2000 Professional, while Windows Server 2003 will enter the Extended support stage. In this context, Microsoft has offered an early heads-up for existing customers to plan ahead, and look to replacements to Windows 2000 Server and Windows 2000 Professional.

“All editions of Windows 2000 Server and Windows 2000 Professional will reach the end of the Extended Support phase on July 13, 2010. After this date, Windows 2000 will no longer be publicly supported. This means that Microsoft will no longer provide any assisted support and will no longer provide security updates for this product. Self-Help Online Support (including the knowledge base and other articles on Microsoft Support) will continue to be available for a minimum of 12 months after this date,” revealed Jared Proudfoot, Group Program Manager, Microsoft Support Lifecycle.

The notification related to the end of support for Windows 2000 Server and Professional is tailored to corporate customers, as transition plans in corporate environments and then the actual migration can take as much as a year and a half. The situation is less severe for companies still running Windows Server 2003. The precursor of Windows Server 2008 will move from Mainstream support to Extended support also on July 13, 2010, namely the same transition that Windows XP will make as of April 14, 2009.

“All editions of Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2003 R2 will transition from the Mainstream Support phase to the Extended Support phase on July 13, 2010. These products will continue to be publicly supported in the Extended Support phase through July 14, 2015. Please keep in mind that customers without Software Assurance, who wish to enroll for Extended Hotfix Support, must do so within 90 days of the end of Mainstream Support,” Proudfoot added.