Windows 2000 Update Rollup Released
Two days before it ends mainstream support of the OS, Microsoft has provided its Windows 2000 customers with a parting gift: the long-awaited post Service Pack 4 Update Rollup. The Update Rollup contains every security related fix issued since SP4, along with several non-security related sustained support updates.
The rollup was announced last November and underwent beta testing starting January 2005 until its recent release to manufacturing. A public release was originally projected to arrive in April.
Most of the patches found within the Update Rollup have already been released as standalone updates and hot fixes. This will be the last upgrade to Windows 2000 through mainstream support channels barring any unexpected action; there will be no Service Pack 5 for Windows 2000.
"Microsoft basically squeezed out one last big consolidated update, instead of a Service Pack 5," commented Jupiter Research senior analyst Joe Wilcox. "I don't expect the support change to much affect Windows 2000 business adoption, if past operating systems are any indication. Windows NT 4 Server support ended at the close of 2004 and still more than a third of the largest enterprises use the software."
Wilcox noted, however, that Microsoft plans to offer Windows 2000 security updates for about another five years.
More information about the Update Rollup is available on the Microsoft Support Web site and the download may be obtained from FileForum.