Install TM1 9.4MR1 Persp (32-bit) on Win Server 2008R2?

[harrytm1]

Hi,

We plan to acquire a Citrix or WTS server to allow users to access TM1 more efficiently. IT wants to install Windows Server 2008 R2 in the Citrix server. Since we need to install TM1 9.4MR1 Perspective component together with Excel 2007 in this server, my concern is: does 9.4MR1 work with Server 2008 R2? IBM site is silent on 2008 R2...

Otherwise, I will have to ask IT to use Windows Server 2003 instead. Please advice.

[Alan Kirk]

We plan to acquire a Citrix or WTS server to allow users to access TM1 more efficiently. IT wants to install Windows Server 2008 R2 in the Citrix server. Since we need to install TM1 9.4MR1 Perspective component together with Excel 2007 in this server, my concern is: does 9.4MR1 work with Server 2008 R2? IBM site is silent on 2008 R2...

Otherwise, I will have to ask IT to use Windows Server 2003 instead. Please advice.

It's not totally silent on the issue; as per the "TM1 Support Matrix" link provided in the FAQ thread the 9.4 server supports the following Windows versions:
Windows Server 2003 R2,
Windows Server 2003 R2,
Windows Server 2003 R2, or, if you feel like being adventurous,
Windows Server 2003 R2.

Now I realise that you're talking about running Citrix and the client on that box rather than the TM1 server, and while you may indeed be able to find a way of running the client under 2008 my bet is that if (when?) the system borks on you you'll get no support from IBM. This would be a worthwhile point to make to your IT guys if they feel like being recalcitrant.

You: "Hey, you want to install an O/S that the vendor doesn't support, does that mean that you'll give me your personal guarantee that when something goes wrong, you'll fix it straight away and take full responsibility for doing so?"

IT Guy: "Ummm, errrr... you want us to take responsibility for something? Errr... maybe we'll put 2003 on instead."

It's worth noticing that in the 9.5 support matrix, Windows 2008 is specifically listed as NOT supported. (Again, this is for the server, but still...) If it's not supported in 9.5, I'm thinking that it'll be less so in 9.4.

Sometimes the "latest and greatest version" just isn't a good idea, as many Vista users who pine for the stability, ease of use and lack of UAC dialogs in XP can attest.

[harrytm1]

Ah, Captain Kirk, it's always a joy reading your posts. This one shall be pinned on my grey office cubicle wall to brigten up my day.

Just wondering, when Office 2003, XP and Server 2003 R2 are no longer supported by MS, why will happen to TM1? no doubt on the client side, Vista and Office 2007 can be used, but it is certainly not as stable.

With Win 7 in the market now and a new Office version coming soon, we may find ourselves not able to purchase licenses of Office 03 and XP, if this is not happening already!

[Alan Kirk]

Just wondering, when Office 2003, XP and Server 2003 R2 are no longer supported by MS, why will happen to TM1? no doubt on the client side, Vista and Office 2007 can be used, but it is certainly not as stable.

With Win 7 in the market now and a new Office version coming soon, we may find ourselves not able to purchase licenses of Office 03 and XP, if this is not happening already!

MS does have a much, much longer window of support than a certain other company that we can mention. Generally it's 5 years of mainstream support + 5 years of extended support. The differences between mainstream and extended support are:
- Extended support doesn't include requests to change product designs and features. (But really, how often do they do that even in mainstream support? I'm still filthy about the way they never fixed the "Break In Class Modules" bug in Office 97 despite the fact that it completely broke any office applications which used structured error handling out of class modules. That one caused me a stack of grief. Nor did they ever update Office 97's VBA5 with the developments in VB6/VBA6 like enumerated constants. About the only changes that they make in features over a product's life involve crippling yet more automation functions, particularly in Outlook.)
- Non-Security hotfixes aren't available in extended support, though you can purchase an extended agreement for that;
- Complimentary and no-charge support aren't covered.

Security updates continue over the full 10 years.

Server 2003 is still in mainstream support and will be until next July. It'll continue in extended support until July 2015.

Office 2003 went off mainstream support in April this year, but will be in extended support until April 2014.

The downgrade packages are a more convoluted subject since it depends on how the licence is purchased, but I believe that most corporate purchasers on volume licences can still get at least Office 2003 downgrade entitlements.

So unlike with the aforementioned "certain other company", the release of new MS versions doesn't affect support for the older ones.

As an aside, I received an e-mail from someone at support yesterday telling me that TM1 9.1 goes off support on 31 December this year along with 9.0. Since that contradicts the information on this page,, I sent a "You what????" reply and am awaiting a response.