Windows NT customers face upgrade problems

Microsoft has admitted that customers keen to migrate from Windows NT Server 4.0 to Windows Server 2003 face a stumbling block in running SQL Server.

Michael Leworthy, Microsoft Australia Windows Server product manager, said: "One of the main problems facing NT customers in Australia is that SQL Server 7 doesn't work on Server 2003."

SQL Server 7 is Microsoft's four-year-old enterprise relational database management and analysis system. Yukon, the code name for the next version, is currently in development.

Microsoft's support for NT doesn't expire until the end of 2004 although telephone support for NT 4.0 workstation ceased in June. Leworthy said customers were complaining of spending too much time managing their NT systems.

"NT users are struggling with security, administration and support issues with their customers," he said in an interview with ZDNet Australia.

IT budgets will always be a problem for IT managers justifying new technology acquisitions. "We have static budgets so how can we deploy Windows 2003 and get immediate return on investment?" is a common question Leworthy receives from NT customers.

Another portion of users can't make the upgrade due to application compatibility issues. Microsoft realises that when it comes to porting enterprise applications that have been running on NT, challenges arise.

Leworthy said: "We're committed to helping these customers and I've been working with a select group of partners to solve all these issues."

He cited an example of a bank which invested AU$15m (£9.4m) on Intuit software running on NT. Microsoft has been conducting portability tests for the customer, taking the application and running it on Microsoft Virtual Server.

Microsoft is pulling out all the stops to put NT users on the upgrade path. Apart from a new Upgrade to Microsoft Windows Server 2003 website, it will be spending "millions" on marketing initiatives starting in October, Leworthy said.

Fran Foo writes for ZDNet Australia