Microsoft is officially charging customers at least $600 per server to safely run Windows Server 2003 after its July 14 support cut-off date.

The number has come to light from Microsoft licensing expert Paul DeGroot of Pica Communications, who told The Reg he knows customers who’ve been quoted this figure.

The price will double every year after the July 2015 cutoff that a customer on a special custom-support deal continues to run Windows Server 2003.

It’s the first actual, public figure that’s been attached to Microsoft custom support agreements Windows Server 2003.

It is three times the charge made for a custom-support deal for those running Windows XP after that operating system’s end-of-support deadline last year.

SOURCE: theregister.co.uk