SQL- and Windows Server 2012 get Extended Support (ESU)

[German]It's still a few days away until support for Windows Server 2012 R2 changes as scheduled. But at the Ignite 2021 partner conference, Microsoft announced that there will be an Extended Support Program for this software product. Here's a quick overview for administrators in terms of end-of-life dates for Windows Server 2012 and SQL Server 2012.

Windows/SQL Server 2012 EOL

On July 14, 2021, Microsoft reminded us of the coming end of support for Windows Server 2012 and SQL Server 2012 in the Cloud Blog in the post Know your options for SQL Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 End of Support. That's because the end of Extended Support for SQL Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 is approaching:

• SQL Server 2012 Extended Support will end on July 12, 2022
• Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 Extended Support will end on October 10, 2023

That's still a full year away for SQL Server 2012 and over two years away for Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2. But a migration wants to be planned and then executed.

Upgrade to 2019 versions suggested

Microsoft suggests customers who must continue to remain on-premises for compliance reasons upgrade to the following successor products..

• Upgrade from SQL Server 2012 to SQL Server 2019
• Upgrade from Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 to Windows Server 2019

SQL Server 2019 will then be in support until January 8, 2030, and will still get updates. And Windows Server 2019 will receive mainstream support until Jan. 9, 2024. Until Jan. 8, 2029, the product is still in Extended Support and receiving updates.

ESU for SQL and Windows Server 2012 available

Customers who cannot meet the above end-of-support deadlines and have Software Assurance or subscription licenses under an enterprise contract have the option to purchase Extended Security Updates. They will then receive three additional years of security updates for SQL Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2.

Alternatively, customers can migrate applications and SQL Server databases to Azure Virtual Machines. Those customers will receive free advanced security updates on Azure for three years after support ends. Microsoft is enticing customers with another bonus: Customers can combine this with Azure Hybrid Benefit to use existing on-premises SQL Server and Windows Server licenses in the cloud at no additional cost.

Customers running SQL Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 in Azure will get the advanced security updates for free. In contrast, customers with on-premises solutions can pay for Extended Security Updates with active Software Assurance or subscription licenses. The following applies to the price:

• 1st year: Extended Security Updates costs 75 percent of the license cost of the latest version of SQL Server or Windows Server annually.
• 2nd year: Extended Security Updates costs 100 percent of the license costs of the latest version of SQL Server or Windows Server
• 3rd year: Extended Security Updates costs 125 percent of the license cost of the latest version of SQL Server or Windows Server

Customers pay only for the servers they need to cover, so they can reduce costs each year as they upgrade parts of their environment. (via)