Not Just XP, you need to migrate from Windows Server 2003 and 2003 R2

Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2003 R2 reach the end of extended support on July 14 2015. By this stage everyone is aware that the Windows XP end of life is just around the corner. Even though people are aware of it, there are still many computers out there running the “soon to be unsuported” OS.

When talking with Windows systems administrators, I’m given the impression that there are also a very large number of servers running Windows Server 2003 or Windows Server 2003 R2 in service. Just as you should have already migrated away from XP, you should also have firm plans in place to migrate away from Windows Server 2003.

In some cases, this will mean upgrading products such as Exchange and SQL Server that may have been deployed on Windows Server 2003. Upgrading client operating systems is challenging, upgrading Exchange, SQL Server, and the host operating system even more so.

Even though all the attention at the moment is on Windows XP, you need to at least be starting to look at your plans around retiring the Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2003 R2 servers in your environment. Procrastinate any longer, and you’ll find that a date that seemed to be comfortably far in the future has crept much closer.