Windows Server End of Life Date: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:09, 30 March 2023

Windows Server, formerly known as Windows NT Server, is a series of operating systems created by Microsoft, first released in 1991 with "Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server". As the name suggests, these are the server variations of Microsoft Windows, and are intended for mission critical tasks.

Stable releases of Windows Server are typically every 3-4 years, and versions of Windows Server are typically supported for about 10 years. Certain versions of Windows Server allow users to purchase a paid support plan which will extend the updates by up to 4 years. This plan is included with Microsoft Azure purchases.

EOL dates

Legend:

Red = Unsupported version
Yellow = Supported version, EOL coming soon (within 6 months)
Green = Supported version, EOL not for at least 6 months

Supported

Version	Released	Active Support	Security Support	Latest Release
Windows Server 2022 (LTSC)	August 18, 2021; 3 years ago (2021-Error: Invalid time.-18)	October 13, 2026; 22 months' time (2026-Error: Invalid time.-13)	October 14, 2031; 6 years' time (2031-Error: Invalid time.-14)	10.0.20348
Windows Server 2019 (LTSC)	October 2, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-Error: Invalid time.-02)	January 9, 2024; 10 months ago (2024-Error: Invalid time.-09)	January 9, 2029; 4 years' time (2029-Error: Invalid time.-09)	10.0.17763
Windows Server 2016 (LTSC)	October 15, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-Error: Invalid time.-15)	January 11, 2022; 2 years ago (2022-Error: Invalid time.-11)	January 12, 2027; 2 years' time (2027-Error: Invalid time.-12)	10.0.14393
Windows Server 2012 R2 (LTSC)	August 27, 2013; 11 years ago (2013-Error: Invalid time.-27)	October 9, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-Error: Invalid time.-09)	October 10, 2023; 13 months ago (2023-Error: Invalid time.-10)	6.3.9600
Windows Server 2012 (LTSC)	August 1, 2012; 12 years ago (2012-Error: Invalid time.-01)	October 9, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-Error: Invalid time.-09)	October 10, 2023; 13 months ago (2023-Error: Invalid time.-10)	6.2.9200
Windows Server 2012 R2 (Extended Security Updates)	August 27, 2013; 11 years ago (2013-Error: Invalid time.-27)	October 9, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-Error: Invalid time.-09)	October 13, 2026; 22 months' time (2026-Error: Invalid time.-13)	6.3.9600
Windows Server 2012 (Extended Security Updates)	August 1, 2012; 12 years ago (2012-Error: Invalid time.-01)	October 9, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-Error: Invalid time.-09)	October 13, 2026; 22 months' time (2026-Error: Invalid time.-13)	6.2.9200
Windows Server 2008 R2 (Extended Security Updates for Azure Customers)	July 22, 2009; 15 years ago (2009-Error: Invalid time.-22)	January 13, 2015; 9 years ago (2015-Error: Invalid time.-13)	January 9, 2024; 10 months ago (2024-Error: Invalid time.-09)	6.1.7601.17514
Windows Server 2008 (Extended Security Updates for Azure Customers)	February 4, 2008; 16 years ago (2008-Error: Invalid time.-04)	January 13, 2015; 9 years ago (2015-Error: Invalid time.-13)	January 9, 2024; 10 months ago (2024-Error: Invalid time.-09)	6.0.6003

End of Life

Version	Released	Active Support	Security Support	Latest Release
Windows Server 2008 R2 (Extended Security Updates)	July 22, 2009; 15 years ago (2009-Error: Invalid time.-22)	January 13, 2015; 9 years ago (2015-Error: Invalid time.-13)	January 10, 2023; 22 months ago (2023-Error: Invalid time.-10)	6.1.7601.17514
Windows Server 2008 (Extended Security Updates)	February 4, 2008; 16 years ago (2008-Error: Invalid time.-04)	January 13, 2015; 9 years ago (2015-Error: Invalid time.-13)	January 10, 2023; 22 months ago (2023-Error: Invalid time.-10)	6.0.6003
Windows Server 20H2 (SAC)	October 20, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-Error: Invalid time.-20)	August 9, 2022; 2 years ago (2022-Error: Invalid time.-09)	August 9, 2022; 2 years ago (2022-Error: Invalid time.-09)	10.0.19042
Windows Server 2004 (SAC)	May 27, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-Error: Invalid time.-27)	December 14, 2021; 2 years ago (2021-Error: Invalid time.-14)	December 14, 2021; 2 years ago (2021-Error: Invalid time.-14)	10.0.19041
Windows Server 1909 (SAC)	November 12, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-Error: Invalid time.-12)	May 11, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-Error: Invalid time.-11)	May 11, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-Error: Invalid time.-11)	10.0.18363
Windows Server 1809 (SAC)	November 13, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-Error: Invalid time.-13)	November 10, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-Error: Invalid time.-10)	November 10, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-Error: Invalid time.-10)	10.0.17763
Windows Server 2008 R2 (LTSC)	July 22, 2009; 15 years ago (2009-Error: Invalid time.-22)	January 13, 2015; 9 years ago (2015-Error: Invalid time.-13)	January 14, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-Error: Invalid time.-14)	6.1.7601
Windows Server 2008 (LTSC)	February 4, 2008; 16 years ago (2008-Error: Invalid time.-04)	January 13, 2015; 9 years ago (2015-Error: Invalid time.-13)	January 14, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-Error: Invalid time.-14)	6.0.6002
Windows Server 2003 R2 (LTSC)	December 6, 2005; 18 years ago (2005-Error: Invalid time.-06)	July 13, 2010; 14 years ago (2010-Error: Invalid time.-13)	July 14, 2015; 9 years ago (2015-Error: Invalid time.-14)	5.2.3790
Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 (LTSC)	March 5, 2006; 18 years ago (2006-Error: Invalid time.-05)	October 16, 2011; 13 years ago (2011-Error: Invalid time.-16)	October 9, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-Error: Invalid time.-09)	5.2.3790
Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 (LTSC)	September 1, 2006; 18 years ago (2006-Error: Invalid time.-01)	April 12, 2011; 13 years ago (2011-Error: Invalid time.-12)	April 12, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-Error: Invalid time.-12)	5.2.3790
Windows Server 2003 SP2 (LTSC)	May 28, 2003; 21 years ago (2003-Error: Invalid time.-28)	July 13, 2010; 14 years ago (2010-Error: Invalid time.-13)	July 14, 2015; 9 years ago (2015-Error: Invalid time.-14)	5.2.3790
Windows Storage Server 2003 SP2 (LTSC)	May 3, 2003; 21 years ago (2003-Error: Invalid time.-03)	October 16, 2011; 13 years ago (2011-Error: Invalid time.-16)	October 9, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-Error: Invalid time.-09)	5.2.3790
Windows Small Business Server 2003 SP2 (LTSC)	December 16, 2003; 20 years ago (2003-Error: Invalid time.-16)	April 12, 2011; 13 years ago (2011-Error: Invalid time.-12)	April 12, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-Error: Invalid time.-12)	5.2.3790
Windows Server 2003 SP1	March 30, 2005; 19 years ago (2005-Error: Invalid time.-30)	Unknown	April 14, 2009; 15 years ago (2009-Error: Invalid time.-14)	5.2.3790
Windows Server 2003 RTM	May 28, 2003; 21 years ago (2003-Error: Invalid time.-28)	Unknown	April 10, 2007; 17 years ago (2007-Error: Invalid time.-10)	5.2.3790
Windows 2000 Server (LTSC)	December 15, 1999; 24 years ago (1999-Error: Invalid time.-15)	June 30, 2005; 19 years ago (2005-Error: Invalid time.-30)	July 13, 2010; 14 years ago (2010-Error: Invalid time.-13)	5.0.2195
Windows NT 4.0 Server (LTSC)	July 31, 1996; 28 years ago (1996-Error: Invalid time.-31)	June 30, 2003; 21 years ago (2003-Error: Invalid time.-30)	December 31, 2004; 19 years ago (2004-Error: Invalid time.-31)	4.0
Windows NT 4.0 Server (Extended Security Updates)	July 31, 1996; 28 years ago (1996-Error: Invalid time.-31)	June 30, 2003; 21 years ago (2003-Error: Invalid time.-30)	December 31, 2006; 17 years ago (2006-Error: Invalid time.-31)	4.0
Windows NT 3.51 Server (LTSC)	May 30, 1995; 29 years ago (1995-Error: Invalid time.-30)	September 30, 2000; 24 years ago (2000-Error: Invalid time.-30)	September 30, 2002; 22 years ago (2002-Error: Invalid time.-30)	3.51 Build 1057
Windows NT 3.5 Server (LTSC)	September 21, 1994; 30 years ago (1994-Error: Invalid time.-21)	Unknown	December 31, 2001; 22 years ago (2001-Error: Invalid time.-31)	3.5.807
Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server (LTSC)	July 27, 1993; 31 years ago (1993-Error: Invalid time.-27)	Unknown	December 31, 2000; 23 years ago (2000-Error: Invalid time.-31)	3.1.528

Servicing channels

Windows Server has the following release channels available. They are:

Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC)
Semi-Annual Channel (SAC)

The Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel (SAC) is no longer available as of August 9, 2022 - there will be no future SAC releases for Windows Server.

Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC)

The Long-Term Servicing Channel is the release cycle most Windows Server releases follow. Typically, the LTSC channel sees a new major release every 2-3 years. Users are entitled to 5 years of mainstream support, and 5 years of extended support, for a total of 10 years of support.

Semi-Annual Channel (SAC)

The Semi-Annual Channel was intended to allow Windows Server customers to take advantage of newer operating system capabilities at a faster pace, focused mainly on containers and microservices. Each release in the SAC was supported for 18 months from the initial release. As of August 9, 2022, this channel has been retired and no future releases will be made.

@@ Line 97: / Line 97: @@
 | bgcolor=#f5c6cb|{{Date|2023|01|10}}
 | 6.0.6003
+|-
+| Windows Server 20H2 (SAC)
+| {{Date|2020|10|20}}
+| bgcolor=#f5c6cb|{{Date|2022|08|09}}
+| bgcolor=#f5c6cb|{{Date|2022|08|09}}
+| 10.0.19042
+|-
+| Windows Server 2004 (SAC)
+| {{Date|2020|05|27}}
+| bgcolor=#f5c6cb|{{Date|2021|12|14}}
+| bgcolor=#f5c6cb|{{Date|2021|12|14}}
+| 10.0.19041
+|-
+| Windows Server 1909 (SAC)
+| {{Date|2019|11|12}}
+| bgcolor=#f5c6cb|{{Date|2020|05|11}}
+| bgcolor=#f5c6cb|{{Date|2020|05|11}}
+| 10.0.18363
+|-
+| Windows Server 1809 (SAC)
+| {{Date|2018|11|13}}
+| bgcolor=#f5c6cb|{{Date|2020|11|10}}
+| bgcolor=#f5c6cb|{{Date|2020|11|10}}
+| 10.0.17763
 |-
 | Windows Server 2008 R2 (LTSC)
@@ Line 157: / Line 181: @@
 | 5.2.3790
 |-
-| Windows 2000 Server
+| Windows 2000 Server (LTSC)
 | {{Date|1999|12|15}}
 | bgcolor=#f5c6cb|{{Date|2005|06|30}}
@@ Line 163: / Line 187: @@
 | 5.0.2195
 |-
-| Windows NT 4.0 Server
+| Windows NT 4.0 Server (LTSC)
 | {{Date|1996|07|31}}
 | bgcolor=#f5c6cb|{{Date|2003|06|30}}
@@ Line 175: / Line 199: @@
 | 4.0
 |-
-| Windows NT 3.51 Server
+| Windows NT 3.51 Server (LTSC)
 | {{Date|1995|05|30}}
 | bgcolor=#f5c6cb|{{Date|2000|09|30}}
@@ Line 181: / Line 205: @@
 | 3.51 Build 1057
 |-
-| Windows NT 3.5 Server
+| Windows NT 3.5 Server (LTSC)
 | {{Date|1994|09|21}}
 | bgcolor=#ececec rowspan=2|Unknown
@@ Line 187: / Line 211: @@
 | 3.5.807
 |-
-| Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server
+| Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server (LTSC)
 | {{Date|1993|07|27}}
 | bgcolor=#f5c6cb|{{Date|2000|12|31}}
@@ Line 193: / Line 217: @@
 |-
 |}
+==Servicing channels==
+Windows Server has the following release channels available. They are:
+*Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC)
+*Semi-Annual Channel (SAC)
+The Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel (SAC) is no longer available as of August 9, 2022 - there will be no future SAC releases for Windows Server.
+===Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC)===
+The Long-Term Servicing Channel is the release cycle most Windows Server releases follow. Typically, the LTSC channel sees a new major release every 2-3 years. Users are entitled to 5 years of mainstream support, and 5 years of extended support, for a total of 10 years of support.
+===Semi-Annual Channel (SAC)===
+The Semi-Annual Channel was intended to allow Windows Server customers to take advantage of newer operating system capabilities at a faster pace, focused mainly on containers and microservices. Each release in the SAC was supported for 18 months from the initial release. As of August 9, 2022, this channel has been retired and no future releases will be made.
 [[Category:End of Life Dates]]