LTSB/LTSC support lifecycle cut to 5yrs for 21H2 release & later

[computer_expert]

Looks like the lifecycle has been cut to 5yrs for releases 21H2 and later.

 

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/the-next-windows-10-long-term-servicing-channel-ltsc-release/ba-p/2147232

Edited February 19, 2021 by computer_expert

[free780]

LTSC is a world of pain.

The minute someone wants a store app or run Visual Studio, its not supported.

I do sympathise as to why some orgs went with it.

[computer_expert]

I found LTSC a real pain when testing it with the original release of Win10 and abandoned it fairly shortly after. I'm pleased I did as SAC seems to work reliably if you stick to the september(ish) releases.

 

LTSC is fine for certain uses (display signage/heavy machinery etc) but IMO a daily driver isn't one of them. This reduction will only hurt the companies that are using it as MS intended.

[aicrd]

LTSC is a world of pain.

The minute someone wants a store app or run Visual Studio, its not supported.

I do sympathise as to why some orgs went with it.

 

I'm running LTSC with both Visual Studio and Office 365 apps just fine. It's not supported, but it does work.

[Jcx500]

Guessing this is applies to Server 2022

[Michael]

As above, LTSB and LTSC are essentially the same/equivalent to Windows Server 2016 and 2019, but without the server components. Why you wouldn't want the same stability and longevity to support your users, I guess it's very subjective. I've deployed LTSB and LTSC for years without issue.

 

I also can't help but notice Windows 10 releases - such as 1507, 1511, 1703, 1709, 1803, 1903, 1909, 2004 and 20H2, which all fall out the scope of mainstream server releases are far more troublesome than 1607 and 1809. I don't think this is a coincidence.

 

The only recent limitation I've come across is the lack of Direct Access in LTSB/LTSC versions, but other than this, I've not had the issue where a user requires a specific Windows app. The vast majority of educational resources are either a legacy app, or a browser based service.

 

I suppose the only irony now that Microsoft have made this announcement, is a newer LTSC 2021 will expire before both LTSB 2016 and LTSC 2019 and likewise the same with Office 2016/2019. It will be interesting to see if this model will apply to Windows Server 2021/22, as it will greatly shake things up in terms of upgrades going forward.

[BKGarry]

Interesting, I have direct access running fully with LTSC versions. (my Student devices are LTSC, staff are the SAC)

[_techie_]

I'm with Michael on this one. It was a tough decision at the time, but a few things put me off the SAC rollout - September being the main one, as its when I'm at my most busiest! Having a feature update in the first 6 weeks that causes chaos is not going to go down well with SLT! I know you can defer updates, but I want stability, not features! Its an OS for god sake, features come in apps.

 

I've been using LTSB and LTSC since we rolled out Windows 10 around 4 years ago with excellent stability and familiarity for users. Our users have asked for a Metro/Windows Store App once, and I pointed them in the direction of Google Keep (as we are a G-Suite School). Since we are also using XenApp on Server 2019, the alignment between LTSC 2019 (1809) and Server 2019 seemed to make perfect sense to me. We are a highly shared PC school, so making use of Office 365 is just not happening (even with their shared PC rollout). I'm also using Visual Studio without issue on LTSC.

 

Education 2004 and 20H2 seem to have removed a lot of the crap that came with the earlier versions (as I'm typing this on a Win10 Edu 20H2) laptop, so its looking better and better.

However I feel the direction of the industry is push a 1:1 device setup, and with this in mind, Chromebooks do seem to fulfil a large number of departments (apart from Computing and Design Technology).

The only issue I have had is with Zoom on a specific model of PC (very old - 10 years old) and on LTSB. Luckily this only affected one user, so the time came to update their PC!

 

I am looking forward to see how LTSC 2021 and Office 2022 shape up, but 5 years does seem fine for a longer term channel OS. I am probably looking at updating our last few 1607 PC's this year, as those users will probably have updated hardware at the same time.

 

:-)