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SQL Server 2017 End of Life Extended Support: All About Version EOL

Andrew Jackson ~ Modified: July 16th, 2025 ~ SQL, SQL Server Migration ~ 9 Minutes Reading

Need to know about SQL Server 2017 end of life extended support? You are at the right place. As we all are well aware that with each SQL version release, it becomes crucial for the database administrators to be fully aware of the end of life dates of the version as well. With the help of this article, we will be learning thoroughly about the SQL Server 2017 EOL date and what the users must do to safeguard their data after the version is fully stopped. 

Let’s begin by taking a closer look at what SQL Server 2017 EOL is and how it will affect the database administrators and their day-to-day tasks. 

Understanding SQL Server 2017 End of Life

If we talk directly about the SQL Server 2017 end of life extended support, it simply means that Microsoft will cease all support and updates for SQL Server 2017 after the version reaches its EOL. This can also mean that after the given date, there will be no more security updates, fixes, and other patches by Microsoft for the specified version, making it vulnerable to security risks and other issues. The most optimal suggestion for the database administrators and the users is to upgrade their SQL version to a newer version, before it reaches SQL Server 2017 EOL date. 

But, before jumping into the technicalities and strategies for this issue, the users must be aware of all the important dates regarding SQL Server 2017 end of life. Here are the important dates for user convenience.

  • Release Date of SQL Server 2017: September 29, 2017
  • Mainstream Support End For SQL 2017: October 11, 2022
  • Microsoft Extended Support End: October 12, 2027

These are the important dates that the developers need to remember and plan the next strategies accordingly. Now that we have learned the dates for Mainstream Support and Extended Support, let’s clarify what these terms mean to simplify them for users new to the SQL Server environment before proceeding with the solutions to SQL Server 2017 End of Life Extended Support. 

Learning The Differences: Mainstream Support Vs Extended Support

With every version release of SQL Server, Microsoft offers two phases of support: mainstream support and extended support. In both stages, Microsoft offers certain services and benefits to its users. Here, we will take a look at the benefits and services provided in both these stages. 

During the Mainstream Support:

The mainstream support practically lasts for 5 years since the version release. During this phase, the services provided to the users are:

  • Security update and bug fixes in the server.
  • Feature updates and enhancements.
  • Technical support from Microsoft.
  • Support for new hardware, software, and operating systems. 

During the Extended Support in SQL:

The extended support starts after the mainstream support ends and the server reaches the SQL Server 2017 End of Life Extended Support. Its lifecycle is 5 years as well. Here are the services provided by Microsoft during this phase:

  • Only critical updates and fixes are offered.
  • No new features or upgrades are introduced.
  • The complimentary support ends, and only a limited paid support is offered.
  • No compatibility support for newer platforms is offered.

With these services and features, users can work effectively on their SQL Server 2017. But what must the users do when the services are completely ceased? We will now discuss the strategies and actions the database administrators must take after the SQL Server 2017 end of life. 

What Happens After SQL Server 2017 EOL? Overview

So far, we have discussed the services offered to the database administrators by Microsoft after each version release. Now, when it comes to nearing the SQL Server 2017 end of life extended support date, it becomes crucial for the users to be well aware of the things they should follow and the things they must not do to compromise their data security. 

Before proceeding with the plans and strategies for SQL 2017 EOL, let’s first learn about what exactly will happen after the EOL date. 

  • Once version 2017 reaches its end of lifecycle, the databases will become more vulnerable to security risks and threats, as there will be no more security updates for the specified version. 
  • After the end of the lifecycle, any technical support or assistance from Microsoft will be stopped for the users.
  • Organizations must work on supported versions to comply with compliance regulations, but with an unsupported version, the users might encounter various challenges and end up with compliance risks. 
  • One of the common issues encountered after the end of life is software and application compatibility issues. 

Now, we will take a look at the strategies that will help the users after the SQL Server 2017 EOL date. 

Strategies For SQL Server 2017 End of Life Extended Support: Do’s and Don’ts

We will now take a look at the ways that will help the users to safeguard their data after the EOL, and further allow them to upgrade their databases accordingly. Let’s now understand these methods one by one to make it clear for the users and database administrators. 

The most optimal ways to safeguard the database and use it for day-to-day operations are given below:

  1. Upgrade to a New Server
  2. Migrate the SQL database to Azure SQL
  3. Purchase Extended Security Updates

We will now understand these methods thoroughly for a better understanding.

Method 1: Upgrade the SQL Server Database to a Newer Version

This is one of the common solutions for the SQL Server 2017 end of life extended support problem. This solution suggests that users upgrade their SQL Server database to the latest version to avoid issues and benefit from the services offered by Microsoft to the latest version. 

To upgrade the database and move all the database objects efficiently, users can rely on a trusted solution, like the SQL Database Migrator, and further benefit from other features the tool offers.

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We will first take a look at the steps that will help the users to move their data from the older version of SQL Server to a newer version. 

  1. Install and run the suggested software.
  2. From Offline and Online, choose one and add the authentication details. 
  3. Once the database files are loaded, you will be able to preview them in the software.
  4. After preview, click on the Export tab.
  5. In the Export Window, add the required credentials for the destination server and click on the Export button to safely migrate data to a newer server.

By following these steps, you will be able to effectively migrate the data to a new server. Let’s now move to the next method, which will help the users to deal with the SQL Server 2017 End of Life Extended Support situation. 

Method 2: Migrate SQL Server 2017 to Azure SQL

This is another method that will help users to safely proceed with their operations in the SQL Server database after the version reaches its end of life. Here is the step-by-step planning on how database administrators can precisely migrate SQL Database from on-premise to Azure. 

Planning the Database Migration

This is the first step of the entire process of SQL Server 2017 to Azure SQL migration. Planning the migration process includes the following things:

  • Get clear about the reasons why you need to migrate the database.
  • Document all details about the SQL Server database, including the SQL Server instances and the features currently in use.  
  • Next, choose the right method for the migration after the SQL Server 2017 end of life extended support. 
  • Check the compatibility between the two SQL Database environments to ensure there are no issues during or after migration.
  • Create a detailed and well-researched migration plan to ensure that the database is migrated safely without compromising data security.

After keeping these points in mind, we will now move to the next phase, which is the pre-migration checklist.

Pre-Migration Requirements for Safe Transfer of Data

Here are some of the operations the users must follow to ensure secure data migration and continue using the database even after the SQL Server 2017 EOL date.

  • The first step is to optimize the source server. This includes cleaning up the data that isn’t important in the database and further checking the database integrity using the DBCC CHECKDB command. 
  • Next, it is required for the users to prepare the Azure SQL environment for the transfer. In this step, the following is done:
    • Creation of Azure SQL instance,
    • Configuring the network settings,
    • Setting Up the security settings.
  • Before beginning the migration, it is also required for the users to check the connectivity to ensure that the migration process is completed smoothly. 

Here, we have set up the source and target servers for a safer migration. We will now take a look at the next phase, which is the SQL Server Data Migration. 

Data Migration to Resolve SQL Server 2017 End of Life Extended Support

Next, we have to choose the method we will be using to migrate the data from the source server to the destination server. There are a few methods, offer solutions in different situations while migrating the data. Here are some of the methods that will help the user with the migration process:

  • Online Migration of the SQL Database
  1. Using Azure Database Migration Service
  2. With Transactional Replication
  3. Using Managed Instance Link
  • Offline Migration Methods
  1. Using the Backup and Restore Method
  2. Export/Import with the Help of BACPAC
  3. With Database Migration Assistant(DMA)

After the data migration, it is also crucial for the users to follow a few post-migration steps that will allow them to keep the database safe and intact after the migration has completed to resolve the SQL Server 2017 End of Life Extended Support issue. Let’s see what these post-migration steps are and how to implement them.

Post-Migration Database Validation

Here are the post-migration steps that will allow the users to check the database integrity and detect any issues in the database during the migration process. 

  • The first step is to validate the data integrity after the migration.
  • Next, test all the applications’ functionalities to ensure the linked applications work well in the database. 
  • Next is the performance tuning in the database after the database migration from SQL Server 2017 to Azure SQL Database.
  • After the database migration, enhance and upgrade the security in the database.
  • Configuration of Monitoring and Alerts to check for database performance, health, and other statistics. 

By following the phases, users will be able to effectively migrate SQL Server 2017 to Azure SQL. Furthermore, they can overcome the challenges after the server reaches the SQL Server 2017 EOL date.

Conclusion

With this write-up, we have understood the SQL Server 2017 end of life extended support concerns of database administrators. Additionally, we discussed the best ways to overcome the issues and seamlessly operate on the database. So, concluding the write-up, as the date to SQL Server 2017 EOL is nearing, its better to take the right actions in time.