The Microsoft Support Lifecycle policy requires that the product’s supported service pack be installed to continue to receive all applicable support options. Depending on the version and the build number, your instance of Microsoft SQL Server might only be eligible for limited support. When you encounter a problem with instances of SQL Server that are under limited support, you only receive limited troubleshooting support from Microsoft. Technical workarounds may be either limited or nonexistent under such situations. Additionally, you cannot obtain hotfix support.
To obtain full support, consider the following scenarios:
Case 1: If the version of your instance of SQL Server is still supported, you must update that instance to a supported service pack or to a hotfix build for that version. For more information, please see Additional references in the "More Information" section.
Case 2: If the version of your instance of SQL Server is not supported, you must first upgrade your instance of SQL Server to a supported version. Then, you must either apply the latest service pack that is available for that version, or you must at least apply the service pack version that is still supported.
For example, Microsoft SQL Server 2008 RTM entered limited support as of April 2010. This includes any hotfix builds that you applied from the SQL Server 2008 RTM servicing branch. If you have an instance of SQL Server that is at the RTM build level, we strongly advise you to upgrade the instance to a supported service pack level. We recommended that you upgrade to the latest service pack level. As of the writing of this article, the latest service pack for SQL Server 2008 is Service Pack 2.
Similarly, SQL Server 2008 SP1 enters limited support as of October 2011.
To obtain full support, consider the following scenarios:
Case 1: If the version of your instance of SQL Server is still supported, you must update that instance to a supported service pack or to a hotfix build for that version. For more information, please see Additional references in the "More Information" section.
Case 2: If the version of your instance of SQL Server is not supported, you must first upgrade your instance of SQL Server to a supported version. Then, you must either apply the latest service pack that is available for that version, or you must at least apply the service pack version that is still supported.
For example, Microsoft SQL Server 2008 RTM entered limited support as of April 2010. This includes any hotfix builds that you applied from the SQL Server 2008 RTM servicing branch. If you have an instance of SQL Server that is at the RTM build level, we strongly advise you to upgrade the instance to a supported service pack level. We recommended that you upgrade to the latest service pack level. As of the writing of this article, the latest service pack for SQL Server 2008 is Service Pack 2.
Similarly, SQL Server 2008 SP1 enters limited support as of October 2011.
