You might ask, “Are all servers moving to the data center?” Unfortunately, no. As long as there is multi user software designed over ten years ago that moves monumental amounts of data between the client and server components of the application, we will have local servers, especially when those applications are owned by companies that slowly innovate their software architecture while milking a cash cow.

To this day, some of the earlier C++ client, SQL server applications cannot run in Microsoft Terminal Services. It is common practice to find heavier client software unmanageable in an environment that would put it in the data center. Expect this situation to stay around for some time. Just recently, we heard from a software company that not only was unversed in Windows 7, but also knew very little about Vista. They firmly insisted that we look at rolling back to XP and use a Microsoft Server 2003 to host the “database”. We’re less than two months from January 2010!

You need fast feet to compete. However, occasionally your software dictates the shoes you must wear. So, the last server you will ever need is the one you retire with your outdated software. The time will come.