andy mack (5/23/2013)
Thanks for the reply.It's not so much the size of the DB or even the $ cost. It's the amount of effort the client would have to go to. Some instances are used by custom applications built by companies that no longer exist. So contractors would have to be brought in to code an update. Other clients take the stance that they are not internet facing (so security is not that big a deal), and everything is working, so why change things.
I'm looking for a reason to go to that effort besides the instance itself being unsupported. If I can say with confidence that the other Microsoft products that support a SQL 2000 instance (Windows server for example) will become increasingly "hostile" to it, then I have a better argument to take to the clients for an upgrade.
Of course, if Microsoft will continue to take SQL 2000 installations into consideration when creating Server patches, then it's not an issue, but it would be nice to be sure 🙂
Since 2000 is out of support IF Microsoft considers what happens to a 2000 instance it would be by accident. The pain of upgrading will never go away. Over time it will become more and more difficult. Unless the systems in question have an expected end of life the decision to upgrade SQL is really a case of "when" not "if". At some point it will be difficult to find a server that will run an old enough OS so that 2000 will even install on it. I realize that isn't a big deal today but think about 5 years from now when you need to replace the server. You will have to make a tough decision at that point. You either by an older and under powered server so you can run the older and slower OS that will support the older and slower version of SQL.
It is a difficult argument and one that companies have a hard time understanding. Good luck.
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