If something worked fine, used to be that you would endure its minor glitches and idiosyncrasies that came with many years of faithful service until it just rusted out, fell apart, or blew up. Unfortunately, software isn’t like that. Case in point: those trusty Windows 2000 servers chugging along, hosting our apps from accounting to terminal services. Problem is that Microsoft dropped free support for Win 2K licenses two years ago, and paid support will go black in June 2010. In other words, we are halfway to no support whatsoever.

Those workhorse servers should be upgraded to Windows Server 2003. Soon. Especially if they are hosting mission critical applications like accounting or document management. Quite simply, the cost of supporting them will outweigh the benefits, as any issue that requires Microsoft’s involvement will likely cost you. The greater danger is that the equipment that the Win 2K Server sits on is aging as well.

Drop us a line in the comments or e-mail us if you have questions about moving specific server applications from Windows 2000 Server to Windows Server 2003. BTW, free support for Windows XP will expire in January 2008!