By now, almost everyone is aware of Microsoft’s Windows XP’s official end-of-life, which took place last year. This year, another popular Windows version is also going to have its support dropped.
Windows Server 2003 is the “bigger brother” to Windows XP, and is designed to run on all kinds of servers, ranging from a simple file server for a small business to clusters of servers in a datacenter. Microsoft will officially end support for all versions of Server 2003 and 2003R2 on July 14, 2015; you can see Microsoft’s official migration help here. Remember that just like the end-of-life for Windows XP, any computers running Server 2003 will continue to function, but will cease receiving security updates and patches, making it highly at risk to viruses and hackers, especially if it is connected to the internet. However if you’re looking for the detailed windows 2012 r2 end of life, click there.
You may ask “What does this mean for me as a home user?” The answer is: not much. However, if you, your employer, or someone you know has a server, make sure it is running at least Windows Server 2008, which will be supported until 2020.
If you’d like to find out more about why it is so important to move way from Windows Server 2003, the following article from ComputerWorld goes into more detail: http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/560000/windows-server-2003-end-life-guide/
And Remember: if you still have or use a computer running Windows XP, PJ Networks can certainly assist you with migrating to a more secure operating system. We have refurbished desktops and laptops for sale, most of which even have Windows 7 for those folks who don’t like Windows 8. We can also help you move your data to a brand new computer, or copy it to a DVD or USB drive. Alternatively, if you use a server with Windows Server 2003, our engineers can determine the best plan of action for moving forward, whether it’s upgrading your operating system, replacing the server, or moving to cloud-based platforms.
Happy computing! 🙂
-PJ
