End of Support Announcement for Windows XP, Vista, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008
Dear Customers,
We want to inform you about an important update regarding our support for legacy operating systems.
Effective December 31, 2024, OS Deployer will officially discontinue support for Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Server 2008. However, offline imaging and deployment support will still be available for these legacy operating systems, without support for any post-deployment activities. This decision is intended to maintain the highest levels of security, performance, and reliability across our services.
Why have we decided to limit our support?
- Security: The operating systems listed above present significant security risks, as they no longer receive the latest security updates, making them vulnerable to modern threats.
- Compliance: End-of-support (EoS) operating systems do not meet various compliance standards, as they lack the latest security updates and are thus non-compliant.
- Support for New Features: New features and certain fixes will not be compatible with these operating systems. Additionally, existing capabilities may not function effectively on them.
What will happen to the existing OS images?
After December 31, 2024, images created for devices running Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, or Windows Server 2008 will be able to utilize offline deployment templates and tasks to deploy the image on the target computers except zero touch deployment task. Post deployment activities like changing the computer and domain name, adding applications etc will no longer be supported.
What will happen to existing user profile backups?
After December 31, 2024, user profile backups created from devices running Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, or Windows Server 2008 will no longer be restored on the target computers after the deployment is complete.
FAQ:
1. Will you be able to perform imaging and deployment on EoS OS machines?
- Yes, OS Deployer will help you to image EoS OS machines through offline imaging with certain restrictions. Steps to perform offline imaging
- You can use any deployment method, except zero touch deployment, to deploy images captured using offline imaging. However, no post deployment activities can take place after the deployment is completed.
2. What happens to systems that have the Distribution Server (DS) installed and are running on these EOS operating systems?
- Devices running on end-of-life (EoL) operating systems can no longer be used as Distribution Server. Additionally, OS Deployer cannot be hosted on machines running these operating systems. Steps to move Distribution Server from one to another computer.
We understand that this change may impact some of our customers, and we are committed to supporting you through this transition. If you have any clarifications, please do not hesitate to contact us at osdeployer-support@manageengine.com
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Best regards,
Team ManageEngine