Microsoft KB Archive/912251

= Update to the support policy for SQL Server 7.0 =

Article ID: 912251

Article Last Modified on 11/27/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 Standard Edition

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INTRODUCTION
Effective December 31, 2005, support for all versions of Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 will transition from Mainstream Support to Extended Support. This article outlines the options that are available to you to sustain your ongoing support plans during the Extended Support phase for SQL Server 7.0.



Extended Support
Extended Support for SQL Server 7.0 will continue for at least five years, through January 11, 2011. During Extended Support, we will continue to provide security hotfixes and paid support. Extended Support will be provided through Premier Support contracts and Essential Support contracts, per-incident telephone support, and Web support. We will continue to provide no-charge security updates, and self-help online support options throughout the SQL Server 7.0 Extended Support phase.

Extended Hotfix Support
If you have non-security-related hotfix requests, you must acquire an Extended Hotfix Support Agreement (ESHA). Enterprise Agreement (EA) and Software Assurance (SA) customers can sign up for an ESHA at any time.

Important Customers who do not have an EA or SA for SQL Server 7.0 must sign up for an ESHA by March 31, 2006.

Each product is considered a separate stock-keeping unit (SKU) and will be priced separately for Extended Hotfix Support.

Note Design change requests (DCRs) will not be available for SQL Server 7.0 during the Extended Support phase. SQL Server 7.0 support will be at the SQL Server 7.0 Service Pack 4 (SP4) level. After December 31, 2005, Software Assurance Problem Resolution Support benefits will no longer be available for the SQL Server 7.0 products that are listed here.

Resources
Standard support offerings for SQL Server 2000 and SQL Server 2005 will continue. SQL Server 2000 and SQL Server 2005 are currently in the Mainstream Support phase. SQL Server 2000 Mainstream Support will end April 8, 2008.

For more information about upgrading from SQL Server 7.0, visit the following Microsoft SQL Server TechCenter Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/themes/default.mspx

For more information about the Extended Support Hotfix Agreement pricing and program rules, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle

Additionally, if you have any questions about the SQL Server 7.0 transition to Extended Support, about migration plans to SQL Server 2005, or about the Microsoft Support Lifecycle, contact a Microsoft Account Manager.

Thank you for your continued support and feedback.

Microsoft Corporation

Appendix
The Microsoft Support Lifecycle policy provides transparent, predictable coverage of Microsoft products and continues to set the standard for product support policies industry-wide. For specific details about our product support life cycle, visit the following Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle

Implications of Extended Support
The Problem Resolution Support benefit for SQL Server 7.0 with SA is only applicable during the Mainstream Support phase of a product. This benefit will no longer be available after the transition to Extended Support.

EA customers and SA customers can upgrade from SQL Server 7.0 to SQL Server 2000 or to SQL Server 2005. These products are eligible for Problem Resolution Support.

During the Extended Support phase, SQL Server 7.0 customers will continue to receive security updates. SQL Server 7.0 customers will also have access to paid support options. These options include the following:
 * Essential Support
 * Premier Support
 * MSDN and TechNet
 * Paid-incident support

However, effective January 1, 2006, complimentary support, Design Change Requests (DCRs), or new feature requests for SQL Server 7.0 products will no longer be available. To continue to receive non-security-related hotfix requests, you will have to acquire an ESHA.

Effective January 1, 2006
The following support options apply for SQL Server 7.0 products:
 * Security hotfixes and paid support options such as Premier and Essential support contracts, and per-incident telephone and Web support.
 * SQL Server 7.0 Enterprise
 * Customers without an EA or a Select Software Assurance Membership (SAM) who are interested in an Extended Hotfix Support Agreement (ESHA) must sign up by March 31, 2006 and pay an annual fee for coverage. With an Extended Hotfix Support Agreement (ESHA), customers can request non-security hotfixes during the Extended Support phase. Additional per-hotfix fees apply after the hotfix that is included with the annual fee.
 * Customers who are covered under an EA or a Select SAM agreement:
 * These customers are not required to sign up within 90-days. They can sign up during the term of their EA or Select SAM coverage. Therefore, they can defer signing up for an EHSA until they report their first incident.
 * These customers are not required to pay the annual EHSA program fee for each of the five years in the Extended Support phase, provided that they continue to be covered under an EA or Select SAM agreement. However, customers will still be required to pay a per non-security hotfix fee for each hotfix that is received. This includes the first hotfix that is received. Because hotfixes must be requested through the Premier program, customers who do not have a Premier contract will be required to pay for one at the time of the incident.
 * These customers receive coverage for Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 Professional if the product is covered by SA, an EA, or a Select SAM agreement.
 * SQL Server 7.0 Standard
 * Customers without an EA or SA who are interested in an Extended Hotfix Support Agreement (ESHA) must sign up by March 31, 2006 and must pay an annual fee for coverage. With an EHSA, customers can request non-security hotfixes during the Extended Support phase. Additional per-hotfix fees apply after the hotfix that is included with the annual fee.
 * Customers who are covered under an EA or SA:
 * These customers are not required to sign up within 90 days. They can sign up during the term of their EA or SA. Therefore, these customers can wait to sign up for an EHSA until they report their first incident.
 * These customers are not required to pay the annual EHSA program fee for each of the five years in the Extended Support phase, provided that they continue to be covered under an EA or Select SAM agreement. However, customers will still be required to pay a per non-security hotfix fee for each hotfix that is received. This includes the first hotfix that is received. Because hotfixes must be requested through the Premier program, customers who do not have a Premier contract will be required to pay for one at the time of the incident.
 * These customers receive coverage for Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 if the product is covered by SA.
 * All SQL Server 7.0 customers will continue to have access to all security fixes and self-help online support options. This includes Microsoft Knowledge Base articles and online product information.
 * Complimentary support options and design change requests will no longer be available.
 * Service Pack 4 (SP4) becomes the final release of SQL Server 7.0. SQL Server 7.0 support will be at the SP4 level.

Additional query words: SQL7

Keywords: kbtshoot kbinfo KB912251

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