BANGALORE, INDIA: Microsoft has warned its customers that it would retire Windows Server 2003 support starting from July 13, 2010 and move to extended support.

Referred to as Win2K3, Windows Server 2003 is a server operating system developed and launched by Microsoft on April 24, 2003.

According to a mail sent by server and managed server hosting services provider to its customers who are running Windows Server 2003 operating system, “Starting July 13, 2010 Microsoft will end 'Mainstream Support' for Windows Server 2003 and enter into 'Extended Support'.”

During the Extended Support phase the customers will get the following:

• Microsoft will continue to provide paid support (i.e. Premier and Essential support, per-incident telephone/web support, etc.) at the supported service pack level

• Customers will continue to have access to all security updates and Self-help Online Support options (i.e. Knowledge Base articles, online product information, FAQs, etc.) at no additional cost

• Non-security hotfixes developed in the Extended Support phase would be provided only to customers who sign-up for an Extended Hotfix Support (EHS) agreement.

The above support transition dates are in accordance with the Microsoft support lifecycle policy which is designed to provide customers with transparent and predictable information regarding the support lifecycle of Microsoft products.

According to the support website of Microsoft, the company plans to provide security updates for Windows Server 2003 but would no longer provide non-security related hot-fixes, no-charge incident support, warranty claims, design changes, or feature requests.

Windows Server 2003 will remain in Extended Support until July of 2015, at which time all updates for Windows Server 2003 will be discontinued, it added.

Windows Server 2003 includes all the functionality that customers need today from a Windows Server operating system to do more with less, such as security, reliability, availability, and scalability. In addition, Microsoft has improved and extended the Windows server operating systems to incorporate the benefits of Microsoft .NET for connecting information, people, systems, and devices.