Updated: July 9, 2020 (May 7, 2012)

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Important Dates for SQL Server

Rob Helm by
Rob Helm

As managing vice president, Rob Helm covers Microsoft collaboration and content management. His 25-plus years of experience analyzing Microsoft’s technology... more

SQL Server 2005, updated with the release of SP4 in Dec. 2010, left Mainstream support in Apr. 2011. Shown here are important upcoming support dates for recent versions of SQL Server.

Hotfixes or other support for SQL Server 2005 will requires a paid support contract. With the release of SQL Server 2012, it will probably become progressively more difficult to maintain SQL Server 2005; new Microsoft application versions will probably not be compatible with it, and newly discovered security vulnerabilities might go unpatched, as has happened with older versions of Windows and Exchange. Consequently, organizations running SQL Server 2005 should ideally have migration plans in place now.

Customers running SQL Server 2008 R2 should also now have Service Pack 1 applied, as it is required for support after July 2012, and customers running SQL Server 2008 should have SP3 applied, as it will be required for support after Oct. 2012.

Date Version Event
July 10, 2012 SQL Server

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