Sql versions for free#

Once your SQL Server has reached the end of support, you can choose to upgrade to a newer and supported version of SQL Server. This article describes the benefits and considerations for each approach, with more resources to help guide your decision-making process. Purchase an Extended Security Updates subscription.įor more information, guidance, and tools to plan and automate your upgrade or migration, see:.Upgrade to a current version of SQL Server.

Sql versions for free#

Migrate your workload to an Azure Virtual Machine as-is for free Extended Security Updates.Once your SQL Server has reached the end of support stage, you can choose to: For more information about the Microsoft Lifecycle, see Microsoft Lifecycle Policy. Extended support includes only security updates.Įnd of support (also sometimes known as end of life) indicates that a product has reached the end of its lifecycle, and servicing and support is no longer available for the product.Mainstream support includes functional, performance, scalability and security updates.Understand the SQL Server lifecycleĮach version of SQL Server is backed by a minimum of 10 years support, which includes five years in mainstream support, and five years in extended support: This article explains your options for addressing SQL Server products that have reached end of support. Applies to: SQL Server 2008 SQL Server 2008 R2 SQL Server 2012 (11.x)