What's the OFFICIAL word from MS on FPSE (on Windows Server 2003)?

[JPR]

At this stage of the game, I'm not interested in Microsoft's stance on FPSE
on Linux, it's pretty clear that's over and done for. They never did have
any obligation to provide FPSE or support it on that platform in the first
place, so it's not a big surprise here.

However, for Windows.....

I have read countless articles and postings over the last few months, most
starting around the time that Microsoft pulled the FPSE2002 download from
their web site, filled with what I could only describe as pure "speculation"
and FUD about the "total demise" of FPSE... Linux, Windows, *everything*,
and immediately at that.

My best-guess is that Microsoft must support FPSE throughout at least the
"mainstream" support phase for FrontPage 2003 and Windows Server 2003 (and
at the very least, just Windows Server 2003). Both of these are still
currently shipping products; and everyone knows that neither is scheduled to
leave "mainstream" support for awhile.

But what I need is something "official" from Microsoft (i.e. a page
somewhere at *.microsoft.com) that says exactly what is happening
(specifically) with security updates for FPSE on Windows Server 2003. Have
they actually ended (for Windows Server 2003) or not? and if not, when will
they be?

Would the lack of anything "official" on Microsoft's site (I haven't found
anything yet) be adequate proof that security updates for FPSE on Windows
Server 2003 has not ended?

Many Thanks!

 

[Kathleen Anderson [MVP - FrontPage]]

Here's a link to the definition of Mainstream Support:
http://support.microsoft.com/?LN=en-us&scid=fh;en-us;lifecycle&x=11&y=11#Mainstream Support
Mainstream Support is the first phase of the product support lifecycle.
At the supported service pack level, Mainstream Support includes:

a.. Incident support (no-charge incident support, paid incident support,
support charged on an hourly basis, support for warranty claims)
b.. Security update support
c.. The ability to request non-security hotfixes

--

~ Kathleen Anderson
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
Spider Web Woman Designs
web: http://www.spiderwebwoman.com/resources/

 

[JPR]

Thanks, I had already found that information.

What I cannot find is something "official" from Microsoft that specifically
refers to FPSE and Microsoft's plans to continue security updates, despite
the removal of FPSE from their download repository and despite the dropped
support for FPSE on Linux.

Something official that specifically states that security updates for FPSE
on Windows Server 2003 will continue until ________ or for the life of
_________ product; or something that specifically lists FPSE as a "supported
component" of Windows Server 2003 so that the below (and related) have
absolute and undeniable relevance to FPSE when run on that platform.

 

[Kathleen Anderson [MVP - FrontPage]]

I realize this is third-hand, but I was told by my contact at Microsoft:
"Yes, the FPSEs for Windows 2003 Server are under the same support lifecycle
as Windows 2003 Server itself."

HTH,

--

~ Kathleen Anderson
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
Spider Web Woman Designs
web: http://www.spiderwebwoman.com/resources/