WINDOWS AND SQL SERVER 2008 END OF SUPPORT

Extended Support for SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2 will end on July 9, 2019.
Extended Support for Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 will end on January 14, 2020.

With many companies still running programmes of work to migrate from Windows Server 2003 news that the end of ES for Windows Server 2008 is less than 18 months away is sure to cause some angst, and more so if you're also reliant on SQL Server 2008 which ends in 10 months!

What will 'end of support' mean? ... it will mean the end of regular security updates, and with the extent of hacks and attacks going on at any time - and the (legitimately) tough regulatory position on data protection - that would be a concern to all.

Now there are of course some options available at this stage to address this exposure:

1. If you are an Azure customer, Extended Security Updates will be available for free in Azure for 2008 and 2008 R2 versions of SQL Server and Windows Server to help secure your workloads for three more years after the end of support deadline.
2. If you run on-premise installations, you will be able to purchase Extended Security Updates for three more years as long as you have Software Assurance or Subscription licenses under an Enterprise Agreement enrollment.​ 

So if it's free for Azure customers, what does it cost if I'm not? ... 

75 percent of the full license cost of the latest version of SQL Server or Windows Server,  purchased annually to cover only the servers that require the updates.

Ouch.

But wait, there's more. If you happen to run any IBM software under Windows Server, and you also run those servers in a virtualised environment, you need to be aware of an often overlooked limitation under IBM's sub-capacity rules. And that relates to 'Eligible Technologies'.

A quick glance through the regularly updated table by our ILMT development friends could come as a bit of a shock if you happen to still be running Windows Server 2003 - it's no longer an eligible technology - take a look at the snippet below under VMware:

You can view the entire list here. 

And if it's 'not eligible', what does that mean? Basically that you'll need to revert to manual counting for that environment, and for which IBM provides a particularly onerous method and template as an Excel workbook downloadable here.

So taking the Windows Server 2003 omission as an example it's fair to expect that we'll see Windows Server 2008 drop off in equally quick time. Not only then is there a compelling cost imperative due to Extended Support, but an equally expensive overhead with IBM sub-capacity tracking and reporting as well (remember - you need to generate your sub-cap domain usage quarterly).

​Time to act!

Microsoft have an advisory page here that is worth checking which also provides links to their end of support resource center for further advice and assistance. And if you're looking for a better tool than perhaps a spreadsheet for you IBM sub-cap reporting we have just the ticket with our ComplianceWare application - we recommend you check it  out here!