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Operating System Support Standards

Objective

This document is to establish a support standard for operating systems and to show a timeline for operating system implementation and phase out.  The plan uses vendor (Microsoft/Apple) published “Life Cycle” dates and analyzes the effects on campus services for a particular operating system.

The Spring 2007 targeted phase out will affect the following:

Windows 95 Windows 98 Windows ME

Mac OS 9.x Mac OS X (10.2 or lower)

Audience (stakeholders)

Campus technical support personnel and all campus computer users.

Benefits

• Clearly define operating systems supported on campus
• Guidelines for supporting operating systems 
• Process to adopt new operating systems
• Process for phasing out legacy operating systems
• Establish mechanism for phase out planning and dates

Concerns

• Effect on software upgrades
• Support issues for legacy workstations

Timeline

Full utilization by the University is expected during Spring 2007.

Communication

• E-mail announcement to the campus
• Notice to Deans to announce to their colleges
• Posted on the HuskyNet website
• Informational meetings will be held with stakeholders (college techs, HelpDesk personnel, student workers, etc.)

Future Items

• Incorporation with the Microcomputer Standards document.
• Publish URL to clearly define plan to users on campus

Support Levels

Category	Description	Support Level
Evaluation	Computing & Technology Services (ITS)is currently in the process of evaluating this Operating System for use and support at St. Cloud State University. This will be based on several factors, including St. Cloud State University's needs, functions and stability of the O/S.	Limited Support
Early Adoption	This is an implementation phase (pilot) to allow the campus exposure to the application.	Limited Support
Full Adoption and Use	The O/S has been through ITS evaluation process and has been approved for use on St. Cloud State University computers. This is the recommended O/S to be used on campus.	Full Support
Phase Out	The O/S has been replaced by a newer version or different OS, or the manufacturer is no longer fully supporting the OS. Recommendations are to upgrade to the newer OS.	Best Effort Support
Legacy Support	This OS may or may not have been replaced by a newer version or the manufacturer is no longer fully supporting this OS. Recommendations are to upgrade the newer OS if it is available.	Best Effort Support
End of Life Cycle	No support for this OS is provided.	No Support

Definitions

Full Support	ITS and HelpDesk personnel will perform installation and troubleshoot technical issues for university-owned computers via phone, e-mail and hands-on support. Training is available on campus.
Limited Support	ITS and HelpDesk will perform limited installation and troubleshoot technical issues for university-owned computers via phone, e-mail and hands-on support.
Best Effort	ITS and HelpDesk provide "Best Effort" support, a one hour limit will be applied when troubleshooting non-supported operating systems. If ITS and/or HelpDesk determines it cannot resolve the problem or issue within 1 hour, the support issue may be referred to another solution method.
End of Life Date	This is the date that the software manufacturer has set to stop supporting the application. Not all companies post End of Life dates.

Operating System Matrix

		Support Stage
Operating System	Version	Evaluation	Early Adoption	Full Adoption	Phase Out	Legacy Support	No Support	End of Life Date
Windows	95	8/1995					6/2007	12/2000*
	98	6/1998					6/2007	6/2002*
	ME	12/2000					6/2007	12/2003*
	NT 4						6/2007	6/2003*
	2000 Pro	3/2000	6/2000	9/2000	6/2003	6/2004	7/2008	6/2005*
	XP Pro	1/2002	3/2002	9/2002	6/2009	6/2010	12/2011	12/2006*
	Vista	1/2007	6/2007	6/2008

Macintosh	8.x	7/1997					6/2007	None
	9.x	10/1999					6/2007	None
	10.0	3/2001					6/2007	None
	10.1	9/2001					6/2007	None
	10.2	8/2002					6/2007	None
	10.3	10/2003			6/2007	1/2008		None
	10.4	4/2005	9/2005	6/2006	6/2008	1/2009		None
	10.5	3/2007	6/2007	9/2007				None

* See attached document that outlines Microsoft Support Lifecycle

Product Name	General Availability	Date Mainstream Support Retired	Extended Support Retired
Windows 95	15-Aug-95	31-Dec-00	31-Dec-01
Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition	30-Jun-98	30-Jun-02	Not Applicable See Note 17
Windows 98 Second Edition	30-Jun-99	30-Jun-02	Not Applicable See Note 17
Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition	31-Dec-00	31-Dec-03	6/30/2006 See Note 17

Note 17: Paid incident support is now available through 30-Jun-2006. Extended hotfix support for Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition ended on 30-Jun-2003. Extended hotfix support for Windows Millennium ended on 31-Dec-2003. Online self-help support will continue to be available until at least 30-Jun-2007. For additional information on the type and length of support provided, review the Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Millennium Support Extended Announcement Web site. Critical security updates will be provided on the Windows Update site through June 30, 2006. Microsoft will not publicly release non-critical security hotfixes for Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, or Windows Millennium Edition. However, customers may request a non-critical security hotfix through On-Demand Security Hotfix support, which is offered for these products through June 30, 2006. When a request is received, Microsoft will investigate the issue and try to provide an appropriate response to the customer.

Mainstream Support: Mainstream support includes all the support options and programs that customers receive today, such as no-charge incident support, paid incident support, support that is charged on an hourly basis, support for warranty claims, and hotfix support. After mainstream support ends, extended support will be offered for Business and Development software.

Extended Support: Extended support includes all paid support options and security-related hotfix support that is provided at no charge. Hotfix support that is not security-related requires a separate extended hotfix support contract to be purchased within 90 days after mainstream support ends. Microsoft will not accept requests for warranty support, design changes, or new features during the extended support phase.

Microsoft Support Lifecycle

Microsoft’s Support Lifecycle policy provides consistent and predictable guidelines for product support availability at the time of product release. The Support Lifecycle policy took effect October 15, 2002 and applies to most products currently available through retail purchase or volume licensing and most future release products.
               

Service Packs

Customers can receive support for the current and immediately preceding(1) service pack. This new support policy permits customers to receive existing hotfixes, or request new hotfixes for the currently shipping service pack, the immediately preceding(1) service pack, or both during the mainstream phase. This new policy takes effect with most products that are currently available through retail purchase or volume licensing, and future release products beginning October 15, 2002. Previously released products will continue to receive support on only the most current service pack(2). As always, Microsoft strongly advises customers to install the latest service pack as soon as possible.

1. The previous service pack is supported for up to 12 months after the current service pack releases.
2. This includes all Office suite products earlier than Microsoft Office XP.

What is the Security patch policy?

• Business and Development Software
  Security patches will be available through the end of the Extended Support phase (five years mainstream phase plus two years extended support phase) at no additional cost for most products.
• Consumer/Hardware/Multimedia and Business Solutions
  Security patches will be available through the end of the mainstream phase.

Is the term of my software license affected by the Support Lifecycle?

• The Support Lifecycle has no affect on how long a product can be used; rather the Support Lifecycle outlines how long Microsoft will provide technical support for products.

Must I have the latest service pack installed to apply a security or a non-security hotfix?

• A hotfix should always be installed on the service pack it was designed for. Microsoft Security patches will be created for both the currently shipping service pack, and the immediately preceding service pack (whenever commercially viable).

How long will security patches be available?

Microsoft will provide security patches at no charge for most products, as follows:

• Business and Development Software
  Security patches will be available through the end of the extended support phase (five years mainstream phase + two years extended support phase) to customers at no additional cost for most products. Customers do not have to sign up for an extended support contract to receive security fixes during the extended support phase.
• Consumer/Hardware/Multimedia and Business Solutions
  Security patches will be available through the end of the mainstream phase to customers at no additional cost for most products.

Reviewed by TLTR
Spring 2006