Microsoft has announced that support for Windows NT Server 4.0 will
be switched off in July 2003.
After entering the marketplace in 1996, Windows NT 4.0 - arguably
Microsoft's most stable server - will be retired slowly over the
next two years.
Microsoft said Windows NT Server 4.0 was being phased out due to
"increasing adoption of its successor, the Windows 2000 server
family of operating system".
Giga research director Laura DiDio predicted further changes to
support for the Microsoft product at a user briefing last
month.
She added: "Some people will risk staying with an unsupported
platform rather than pay to upgrade."
DiDio also pointed out that the older the platform being upgraded,
the more the upgrade would cost.
Microsoft stopped selling NT 4.0 through its Volume Licensing
programmes in October 2001. By July 1 2002, NT4 will no longer be
available through resellers as a pre-installed OS on new PCs. On
July 1 2003, Microsoft said, the NT4 operating systems would cease
to be offered through the System Builder channel as well.
Changes in services will mean that from the start of 2003 the
company will introduce pay-per-incident charges and will drop
premier support. By January 1 2005, Microsoft plans to pull the
plug on online support.