A interesting question about the roadmap for windows2000. We are running critical SW (SW which is irrelevant at this stage)on NT 4.0 Server in the enterprise. Since microsoft is expiring there support in the NT 4.0 side by the end of the year, we are forced to upgrade. All good and well, we will upgrade to windows 2000 advanced Server. The planning for the job requires a OS and a long term one (period to the year 2020). To that stage no upgrades can be done. So my question is. What are the future plans with microsoft? Or will we need to switch over to a OS like OpenVMS. AT least we know that there is support untill the year 2020.

Who knows what will happen to windows os 20 years into the future? Typcialy every 2 to 4 years a new os replaces the older one. Just because MS stops the support doesn't mean that it will quit working? How often do you call MS for support anyway, I don't know of anyone who uses them for support. If your software is that critial to not touch it for 20 years then I suggest someone at your company learn all there is to know about NT and support yourself.

I don't think your planning to carefully. Trying to set up a system where no upgrades can be made for another 18 years seems, well, rather stupid. Image that your company did this same sort of thing 18 years ago and you are now using 6MHz 286s with DOS 3.0. Now also realize that the forward advancement of technology is not so linear and you realize that in 18 years the level of technology then will be unpredictable. Just my 2c but I think you are trying to plan too much. BTW MS should never be a consideration if you are looking for infinitly long product/support

When you say Microsoft "support" for NT, do you mean you actually call them with questions and problems? That's not actually the best way to support NT. Does anyone know if the NT Knowledge Base will go away?

Let me explain further. It is not just to phone microsoft for any old silly call but to get the latest patches and drivers from the web. Once microsoft stop supporting NT 4.0 there will be no chance to upgrade to the latest hardware. For example, installing latest drivers for a hard disk. Say you are running compaq hardware (for example), 5 years down the line, and you need to replace new hard disk drives graphic cards etc. To get the latest drivers you would connect to the web and download the latest driver. So, would the software for the latest drivers be provide by compaq (using my example)?