Notice of end-of-support dates for Microsoft products

To provide the best possible experience with ASPEN, we conduct periodic reviews of the technologies upon which ASPEN runs.

Over the past year, Charter has sent a number of communications to notify customers of several end-of-support dates for these key Microsoft products:

ASPEN Installed Customers:

  • Microsoft has ended mainstream support of SQL Server 2008, 2008 R2, and 2012
  • Mainstream support of SQL Server 2014 will end in July 2019
  • Microsoft has ended mainstream support of Windows Server 2008, 2008 R2, 2012, and 2012 R2
  • Microsoft has ended mainstream support of Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1
  • Microsoft SQL Server Express is no longer supported

We have started using new tools not available in the SQL Server 2012 and earlier which are NOT compatible with ASPEN. If you have not yet upgrade your version of SQL Server, you must do so before the next release of ASPEN this month. You may opt to migrate to the ASPEN Cloud solution instead of upgrading. Contact your sales account manager for information. We will waive the Cloud migration fee if you sign up before the end of July.

ASPEN Cloud Customers:

  • Microsoft has ended mainstream support of Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1

If you are running any of these versions of Microsoft Windows, it is very important that you budget for an upgrade as soon as possible.  Running ASPEN on an unsupported foundation increases your risk of encountering performance and security issues. Charter has begun updating ASPEN to use newer technologies.  We are unable to guarantee that future versions of ASPEN will run on unsupported Microsoft platforms.

Beginning in July 2019, we will no longer be providing support for ASPEN if you are running on a version of Microsoft Windows that is past its mainstream support.  We will continue to answer your ASPEN-related questions; however, we will be unable to troubleshoot issues, provide IT assistance, or work on any bugs reported while you are on an unsupported platform.

Thanks in advance for your attention to this matter. If you have any questions, please reach out to your Sales Account Manager or Charter Software Support.