SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2 will cease to be supported by Microsoft on 7th September 2019. This is an ideal business opportunity to migrate existing database architectures to the more robust SQL Server 2012 platform and above.

It also makes business and legal sense to migrate to a supported Microsoft Platform so that businesses can leverage the increased security and stability of storing customer and business data. This is essential to confirm to new European wide statues regarding GDPR.

Withdrawal Of Support

Microsoft has provided the following schedule to indicate phased withdrawal of support for SQL Server 2008. Refer to this for scheduled migration.

Products Released	Lifecycle Start Date	Mainstream Support End Date	Extended Support End Date	Service Pack Support   End Date
SQL Server 2008	11/6/2008	7/8/2014	7/9/2019	4/13/2010
SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1	3/31/2009	Not Applicable	Not Applicable	10/11/2011
SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 2	9/24/2010	Not Applicable	Not Applicable	10/9/2012
SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 3	10/6/2011	Review Note	Review Note
SQL Server 2008 R2	7/20/2010	7/8/2014	7/9/2019	7/10/2012
SQL Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1	7/12/2011	Not Applicable	Not Applicable	10/8/2013
SQL Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 2	7/26/2012	Review Note	Review Note

What Version Of SQL Server Am I Running

There are two very quick ways to identity which version of SQL Server you are running:

Use SQL Health Monitor

SQL Health Monitor provides the full version information on the Sever->System screen as shown below:

(You can always click the CHECK SQL Version button which will interrogate the server for all particulars of its current version)

Use SSMS (SQL Server Management Studio)

If you start a new query:

And enter the following into the editor:

SELECT @@VERSION

This will bring the relevant version information to the Results Grid.

If the version of SQL Server is 2008 or 2008R2 then you will need to migrate.

Orpheus Enterprises can assist in the migration of your legacy database systems. If you require information or support: Contact Orpheus Enterprises