End of Server 2003?

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Hi all.

According to the MS website, mainstream support for Server 2003 seems to be ending in July this year, with extended support ongoing until 2015.

I was wondering if anyone had any plans to upgrade their server technology any time soon?

Also, what do you think the implications are for those just starting out on an MCSE?

 

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Hi JonnyMX

As an organisation we are starting to see a lot of companies moving to Server 2008 R2 and Exchange 2010 with a view to move to SharePoint 2010 once released.

MCSE is an excellent qualification and I have upgraded my own 4 times now NT > 2000 > 2003 > MCITP Ent Admin. Not saying MCSE's are done and gone but anyone who has started their MCSA/MCSE should look at the upgrade paths to stay current and not be left behind. As you have not started your MCSE yet I would strongly recommend that you look at becoming an MCITP Server Administrator.

Please contact me on here if you have any more questions.

Regards

Gareth Jone
Chief Instructor

 

Thanks for that, but I'm not thinking of doing any certs for the moment. MCSE never really was my bag.
Just asking out of interest...

 

Smaller companies are even less likely to have the budgets available for server 08 upgrades, I'm working in one and we certainly haven't, we're still running server 2k!

We do also have 2k3 and 2k8 running but we only tend to end up with new server software when the business requires for a specific purpose.

 

I think it depends on what improvements the new software offers them that 2003 doesn't.

There are some nice things that are only offered in 2008 (NAP for instance) and the idea of Exchange 2010 etc.

I am currently working on a project to roll users out to Vista (from 2000 and XP), the move to Win 7 for some of them are going to happen over the summer (minority rather than majority of users).
They are running a mix of 2008 and 2003 servers however.

As far as Tech goes, it's better to be a version behind than living on the Bleeding Edge (unless you're an Investment Bank, at which point they just throw more money at it).

As far as MCSE goes, it will still be a good cert to have, I actually advise people to go for that over the MCITP at the moment because it gives them a better understanding on the whole 2003\2008 platform (rather than just the 2008 platform).

2003 will slowly dwindle out, much like XP is starting to now.

 

I guess a lot of pressure is going to come onto companies who outsource their IT support to Microsoft Partners who are going to want to start shipping 2008 to get their point up!