The information can be found here. You may still want extended support if you just simply cannot upgrade... but at least you're going out with one final update. This is a copy and paste from the link listed above, "We are planning to ship one last Service Pack for both SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2. Because of the maturity of SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2, these Service Pack(s) will be an exception in terms of timing and will ship after mainstream support of these releases ends on July 8th 2014."
This is awesome! Of course, but why is this awesome!?
Obviously we will love having one final Service Pack, that much is given. What I personally thing is so fantastic about this is that the community requested that they give us one more Service Pack. Glen Berry requested one through connect and got almost 900 votes here. Christoph Muthmann put in the same request specific to SQL Server 2008 R2 here. Brent Ozar even did a post asking just the simple question, "Did Microsoft stop releasing SQL Server Service Packs?"
I guess it means we won, but what did we win?
Ok, yes it's more about them just finishing off their products life cycle with one final update to close the door with a happier feeling all around... but it's more than that. Here's where I'll step off the ledge and just give an opinion. It's felt like Microsoft hasn't been listening to anyone who actually buys their product... Look at the numbers of people that just wanted a start menu option that has hurt windows 8 so bad. Yes, I know it's there now... that's not the point. Well, I guess it is the point? If they're finally listening to us, now is the perfect time to start asking for things back like the MCM, some sort of higher level training or cert, or just various requests that would help out the community as a whole.
A bit far fetched, I know...
That doesn't mean we shouldn't try. It appears someone is listening now. Let's take advantage while the ears are open. The one thing I'd like to see is either the return of the MCM or at least open up the MCM testing and labs so we can at least see these famed tests. (I hope this link works... it was giving me fits today)
I guess it means we won, but what did we win?
Ok, yes it's more about them just finishing off their products life cycle with one final update to close the door with a happier feeling all around... but it's more than that. Here's where I'll step off the ledge and just give an opinion. It's felt like Microsoft hasn't been listening to anyone who actually buys their product... Look at the numbers of people that just wanted a start menu option that has hurt windows 8 so bad. Yes, I know it's there now... that's not the point. Well, I guess it is the point? If they're finally listening to us, now is the perfect time to start asking for things back like the MCM, some sort of higher level training or cert, or just various requests that would help out the community as a whole.
A bit far fetched, I know...
That doesn't mean we shouldn't try. It appears someone is listening now. Let's take advantage while the ears are open. The one thing I'd like to see is either the return of the MCM or at least open up the MCM testing and labs so we can at least see these famed tests. (I hope this link works... it was giving me fits today)
I still don't have a start menu in Windows 8....
ReplyDeleteHa, not really I guess. They have something in place that sorta works... or just annoys you. I personally use Start8. There are a few other programs that do something similar and possibly for free. Start 8 even makes server 2012 R2 happy.
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