Need help understanding Windows 2003 lifecycle support

[Guest]

Apologies for posting in this forum, I don't see a more appropriate group...

I'm trying to understand the timeline for Window 2003 ending mainstream
support. I have consulted the MS lifecycle support center for 2K3 and 2K3
R2(http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=3198 and
http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=10394 ) but it is unclear to me
exactly when mainstream support ends. Both say 'Mainstream support will end
two years after the next version of this product is released. Extended
support will end five years after mainstream support ends.'), however it does
not clearly define 'next version of this product'.

Is it Longhorn Server for both or is R2 considered the 'next version' of 2K3
(which would meant that 2K3 support ends in 2008)? The roadmap site didn't
help clarify either:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/overview/roadmap.mspx

Thanks for clarification.
Andrew

 

[Guest]

Yes, Longhorn is the next Windows Server. There are no published released
dates yet; but it might be released 2008. "two years after the next version
is released" would mean mainstream support for Windows Server 2003 would be
2010 and Extended support would end 2015.

R2 is just Windows Server 2003 with some extras, it doesn't replace Windows
Server 2003.