[English]Another addendum for administrators of Windows Server 2008 systems who need extended support. Microsoft has already released the update KB4528081 for Windows Server 2008 SP2 on November 8, 2019, which is intended to check the eligibility for the Extended Security Updates.
Advertising
German blog reader Gero H. has made me aware of this update (thanks for that). Gero wrote me in an e-mail:
for Windows Server 2008 SP2 the update KB4528081 was released.
This update should check the compatibility of the system, if support is possible after 14.01.2020 and if ESU updates are available.
However, this update is only available for the 64bit version. The Itanium and 32bit versions are not available.
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 and Windows 7 SP1 also do not receive this update.
In fact, the Microsoft Update Catalog contains only a 64-bit version of this update with a release date of November 5, 2019. The support article for Update KB4528081 (Update to verify that eligible Windows Server 2008 SP2 devices can get Extended Security Updates) reads:
This optional nonsecurity update will help you verify that your eligible Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (SP2) devices can continue to get Extended Security Updates (ESUs) after the end of support date of January 14, 2020.
With this optional, non-security update, administrators can check whether their eligible Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (SP2) devices can continue to receive Extended Security Updates (ESUs) after the support date expires on January 14, 2020.
It is therefore only an update to test whether everything is ok with the update supply from January 2020 onwards. The optional update KB4528081 is available in the Microsoft Update Catalog and in WSUS, but not via Windows Update. Microsoft states that the update cannot be used for the following platforms:
This update is not applicable for Windows 7 Virtual Desktop (WVD) and Windows 7 Embedded OS.
So Windows 7 and Windows 7 Embedded are left out. Within the KB article the preconditions for installing this update (SHA-2 update and the current SSUs) are mentioned. Blog reader Gero is surprised that no such update has been released for Windows 7 SP1 and has asked himself the following questions.
Advertising
1. did the update KB4528081 just accidentally get released and the other variants get one in December etc?
2. don't the other versions like 2008 R2 SP1 / Win7 SP1 / 2008 SP2 x86 & ia64 need any? And if yes
3. Then why does Server 2008 SP2 x64 need one?
Gero installed the Update on Windows Vista Ultimate x64 and was able to receive follow up updates. But this might be locical, because the Microsoft support article says that the package should only check if there is something preventing Windows Server 2008 from installing Extended Security Updates. The updates until January 14, 2020 would be installed without any influence. Has anyone installed the update on Windows Server 2008 and more information?
guenni
Microsoft has recently removed KB4528081 from any MS update catalog searches and now shows "no results"
AND MS support article 4528081 was updated on 2/12/2020 with the following note:
"Note This update is no longer available. Customers who have purchased the Extended Security Update (ESU) for on-premises versions of this OS must follow the procedures in KB4522133 to continue receiving security updates after extended support ends on January 14, 2020. For more information on ESU and which editions are supported, see KB4497181.To verify ESU eligibility, please use any Monthly Rollup or Security Only update released February 11, 2020 or later, such as KB4537810 or KB4537822."