Microsoft has reminded customers once again that Windows Server, version 20H2, will be reaching its End of Service (EOS) in less than a month, on August 9.
This reminder follows two other warnings since May 2022 that this Windows Server version will reach its mainstream support end date for Standard Core and Datacenter Core users.
"On August 9, 2022, all editions of Windows Server, version 20H2 will reach end of servicing. The upcoming August 2022 security update, to be released on August 9, 2022, will be the last update available for this version," Microsoft said in a Windows message center update this week.
Released less than two years ago, on October 20, 2020, this Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel version will not receive any other security or non-security updates after reaching the EOS date.
"After that date, devices running this version will no longer receive monthly security and quality updates containing protection from the latest security threats," Microsoft added.
Redmond also revealed in the May notification that the Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel (SAC) would also be retired on August 9, 2022.
Customers still running SAC releases are advised to switch to the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) as soon as possible since LTSC will become the primary Windows Server release channel.
New Windows Server versions every 2-3 years
Windows Server LTSC versions will be released every two to three years, with customers entitled to 5 years of mainstream support with an additional five years of extended support.
It's also important to note that, according to Microsoft, a clean install will be required to upgrade or switch to the LTSC channel.
With SAC shutting down next month, most of the features introduced in this servicing channel have already been rolled up into Windows Server 2022, the latest LTSC release of Windows Server that will reach its extended support end date in October 2031.
Microsoft advises customers to move to Azure Stack HCI for the same release cadence or switch to Windows Server 2019/2022 in the LTSC servicing channel.
"The focus on container and microservice innovation previously released in the Semi-Annual Channel will now continue with Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), AKS on Azure Stack HCI, and other platform improvements made in collaboration with the Kubernetes community," Microsoft added.
"A major new version of Windows Server will continue to be released every 2-3 years, so you can expect both container host and container images to align with that cadence."
| Windows Server release | Availability | Build | End of support | Extended support |
| Windows Server 2022 | 2021-08-18 | 20348.169 | 2026-10-13 | 2031-10-14 |
| Windows Server 2019 (version 1809) | 2018-11-13 | 17763.107 | 2024-01-09 | 2029-01-09 |
While switching to a new Windows Server version, you can go through this guided walk-through or use this support document to fix or troubleshoot errors encountered during the update process.
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