| Apr. 11, 2005 |
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The adjacent chart summarizes Microsoft's four life-cycle phases and options—Mainstream, Extended, Custom Support, and Online Self Help—as they apply to enterprise software.
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Life-Cycle Phases and Options
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Normal Duration
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Product Support Options
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Software Updates
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| Mainstream Support Phase |
Five years from the date of general availability, or two years after the release of a successor version, whichever is greater |
- Free incident support (per warranty)
- Online support information
- Fee-based support options (Professional Support, Essential Support, Premier Support, Microsoft Services Partner Advantage, Software Assurance)
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- Security updates and hotfixes (free)
- Nonsecurity updates and hotfixes (free)
- Service packs or update rollups (free)
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| Extended Support Phase |
Five years from the end of the Mainstream phase or until two years after the second successor version (e.g., Windows 2000 Extended support ends two years after Longhorn's release) |
- Fee-based support options (Professional Support, Essential Support, Premier Support, Microsoft Services Partner Advantage, Software Assurance)
- Extended Hotfix Support Agreement (EHSA)
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- Security updates and hotfixes (free)
- Nonsecurity hotfixes (requires EHSA)
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| Custom Support Option |
- No fixed duration
- Available for certain products only
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Custom Support Agreement (requires a Premier or Essential Support agreement) |
- Critical and important security updates
- Hotfixes
- Workarounds
- New bug fixes (additional fee)
- Advisory services, e.g., migration (fee)
- Problem resolution (fee)
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| Online Self-Help |
Ten or more years from product release |
Online support information |
For certain products with large installed bases, Microsoft might continue to offer security hotfixes during this phase |
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