TechNet shutting down

Microsoft to shut down TechNet subscription service | ZDNet

I've never used the service because I could always get free copies through school or the CyberPatriot program but I've known a lot of people who did.

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jmritenour

Ugh, that's horrible. Technet was great for labbing for exams.

pennystrader

That really sucks for all of us who are running a VM environment and don;t want to play with silly 30-90 trials. I want to have my own domain like I currently do and be able to spin up any Microsoft server I wanted. This really hurts those who like to have their own small lab.

QHalo

Microsoft just does some bas ackwards stuff sometimes. Although it's pretty safe to say it was abused for more than what it was intended for. The only good thing is that they still continue to do MSDN. At least my work test environments won't suffer.

JDMurray

Has it only been 15 years? Seems like TechNet has been around ever since the MSDN subscription. I bet that I still have CDs going back to 1998 for TechNet and 1995 for MSDN (just in case I ever need DOS 6.22 or MASM again

).

UPDATE: I'm reading through the comments on that ZDNet blog article (some are very good) and it's been verified that TechNet was around since before 1993. I though so.

joehalford01

Man, lame. Even more reason for me to starting learning more Linux/Unix.

snadam

Got my email this morning. Kinda bummed. We will see what the future has in store (which is apparently not much).

ITMonkey

I've been a proponent of TechNet for almost a year, and was intending to upgrade when renewal time came around. I was glad to move away from the free evaluation test lab, and now there will be little choice.

Like it has been mentioned, maybe it is indeed the time to take the leap into Linux.

demonfurbie

wonder what if anything this does for dreamspark accounts

spiderjericho

I got the email today. I was extremely disappointed with the news.

This was one area Microsoft got right. A program developers and cert pursuers can use to get hands on experience on.

At least there's Junosphere and the optimism attached to Cisco VIRL.

paul78

It's an interesting decision by Microsoft. I don't really make much use of my own TechNet subscription but it also seemed like a reasonable expense to have around for the few times a year when I want to play with some new Microsoft package to see if I like it.

I'm not necessarily surprised by the move. The way that most people actually use TechNet isn't really as intended by Microsoft. It will be interesting to see if Microsoft will try to fill the gap that was never really filled - I.e. IT Professionals who want to run a Microsoft lab long term for more than just testing.

I realize that a lot of people use the subscription to run labs, study, etc. But TechNet was never intended for that purpose. And MSDN is usually out of the reach of most individuals except for the MSDN OS subscription that that doesn't include any development or server tools.

I really do think that Microsoft is making a mistake by not offering a way for younger professionals. And for decision makers that like to play around with their technology, it will simply mean that they would be more open to reviewing competitive solutions.

I'm off to sign up for an account with Oracle.

SephStorm

wtf. I just got a technet this year. Sucks, guess ill never get an mcp.

SteveLord

I got it for my office just last year. For the 2 free Microsoft support calls alone it was worth the money. (Also got the upper sub at a discount.)

Claymoore

I had a free Technet subscription for a year after I earned my NT4 MCSE in 1999. I haven't had one since and it hasn't impacted my Microsoft studies. It's still a shame, though, some people have used it to build elaborate home labs.

Mutata

This is certainly a disappointment

DevilWAH

Like some others I have never had use for Technet as work has always been great providing software.

But I see a lot of people a bit sad about this discesion.

WafflesAndRootbeer

Now if only Microsoft would just release a final end-of-life free build of Windows XP. I know a lot of people who got TechNet subscriptions just to get extra copies of XP after it went off the shelves because they needed it for gaming.

amcnow

I still have my MSDN. I'm good.

demonfurbie wrote: »

wonder what if anything this does for dreamspark accounts

I have DreamSpark too, though I haven't used it since mid-2009. It is a similar service targeted at a different audience. So I don't foresee it being affected by TechNet's shutdown.

RomBUS

I thought you meant the actual Technet website, however that is sad news about the subscription server. It was one of the most popular subcriptions on the net. I was never a subscriber but I've had jobs where I reaped the benefit of having it

Any idea what's next?

SephStorm

WafflesAndRootbeer wrote: »

Now if only Microsoft would just release a final end-of-life free build of Windows XP. I know a lot of people who got TechNet subscriptions just to get extra copies of XP after it went off the shelves because they needed it for gaming.

I see this happening again for Windows 7. I'll resist upgrading to 8 till my dieing day. That said, I think anyone who is still on XP is an idiot. Sorry, but my opinion.

tbgree00

This has upset me pretty bad. I've had technet since 2008 and use it a lot. I have a home domain that I use in all my studying, I have VMs sitting around with SharePoint, SQL, etc that I have licensed but don't use unless I'm doing cert stuff or trying to teach myself something new. That won't go away and I'm going to grab as much stuff as I can before my account expires next June. It really discourages me from getting that MCSE or thinking about upgrading though.

I thought Technet was great but I know it was being abused. I saw comments from people about "How am I supposed to make money when I sale computers to my customers without a technet subscription?" so I could understand pulling it. It still makes me sad though.

Xyro

This is disappointing as I was planning to get a subscription as soon as I graduate & would once again have more time to study.

blargoe

It's going to be a pain to be sure, but most of the time I'm using a sysprepped template in VM Workstation from which I deploy a linked clone, so every time I spin up a Windows box, I've got the full 180 days or whatever it is these days. Most scenarios I'm labbing will be done by that time.

tpatt100

Years ago people I knew were pirating the heck out of it. I remember wondering why the XP license my buddy gave me would no longer activate lol.

JDMurray

Yes, MS has revoked a bunch of product activation keys, but not every OS activation key works on every installation of the OS the key is for. Each key is tied to a specific set of Production ID numbers. A key will only work on an OS with a specific licensing (OEM vs. VL), language, installed service pack, etc. It's very frustrating when yiou have a pile of legitimate OS install disks, many sheets of activation keys from your MSDN and TN subscriptions, and you can't find the two that work together you need. (I know, I know, poor key management on the part of the subscriber is not MS' problem.)

Asif Dasl

That sucks! At least there is a year of it left...

There is also the Microsoft Partner Action Pack. 2 x Server 2012 licenses with 10 CALS, 1 x Exchange, SQL Server SharePoint & Lync licenses with 10 CALS each, 10 x Windows 8 Pro and 10 x Office 2013 Pro licenses. Which should be enough for most IT Professionals... only US$329

blargoe

Asif Dasl wrote: »

That sucks! At least there is a year of it left...

There is also the Microsoft Partner Action Pack. 2 x Server 2012 licenses with 10 CALS, 1 x Exchange, SQL Server SharePoint & Lync licenses with 10 CALS each, 10 x Windows 8 Pro and 10 x Office 2013 Pro licenses. Which should be enough for most IT Professionals... only US$329

Unless you need access to recent downlevel systems, which is going to be a significant portion of current Technet users

Asif Dasl

I believe you have downgrade rights. If you check the Excel file with the software listed - (click on "Download the full list of products" under "Software Evaluation") you have 5 columns. TechNet Standard, Professional, Professional with Media, Action Pack & MS Competency Partners.

So the software listed under Action Pack includes most of the Standard evaluations except for some RTM versions where the R2 version is available such as SQL Server 2008 R2. I am assuming they are not taking this away from Microsoft partners as well though.

blargoe

Asif Dasl wrote: »

I believe you have downgrade rights. If you check the Excel file with the software listed - (click on "Download the full list of products" under "Software Evaluation") you have 5 columns. TechNet Standard, Professional, Professional with Media, Action Pack & MS Competency Partners.

So the software listed under Action Pack includes most of the Standard evaluations except for some RTM versions where the R2 version is available such as SQL Server 2008 R2. I am assuming they are not taking this away from Microsoft partners as well though.

Do you still get access to download the downlevel versions, though, or just rights to use them? I haven't seen an action pack since the days they mailed out CD's

Asif Dasl

I couldn't tell you for sure as I don't have an Action Pack but I think you just use the TechNet website like a normal subscription - if it does, it would enable you to download downlevel versions. What happens to the TechNet website after they stop new subscriptions is anybodys guess.. You could use the online chat and get confirmation though.

datgirl

joehalford01 wrote: »

Man, lame. Even more reason for me to starting learning more Linux/Unix.

pennystrader wrote: »

That really sucks for all of us who are running a VM environment and don;t want to play with silly 30-90 trials. I want to have my own domain like I currently do and be able to spin up any Microsoft server I wanted. This really hurts those who like to have their own small lab.

I do install and run a number of Microsoft OSs, but I would say that the lion share of my OSs are UNIX variants.