We are currently in the phase when we are about to install Navision Server 2015 in a test environment and after that installation of Navision clients.
Since most of our “outdated hardware” - clients are already running Windows XP with Navision Attain, we are in the
progress of buying new hardware with which i think will run Windows 8.1 to support the new NAV client.
My problem is that it is decided that we are going to run the old navision attain clients and server alongside with the test-
environment and maybe even further on after installation of NAV 2015. Since we are about to install Windows 8.1 then my question is if Windows 8.1 does support the old Navision Attain 3.10? If not maybe it is possible to run a virtualized environment of Windows XP?
In that case, any other ideas or suggestions are welcome.
Officially MS says NO even about later versions than 3.xx - including 4.xx, 5.xx an more - in general no Classic Client on Win7 & Win8 platforms.
For sure 8.1 - MS has discontinued sales of Win7 & Win8, now only Win8.1 is available. (except if a PC or laptop with preinstaled older version has been stuck in some shop).
For what reason? Lookup of old data or production installation until the new 2015 will be up & running? If lookup only, you can keep running one or a couple of old PCs forever. I suppose you are not intended to carry ALL historical data to 2015, as that means a long chain of costly upgrades, it’s impossible to upgrade 3.xx in one step to 2015.
However, I have seen running v5 SP1 Classic on Win7, although it is NOT officially supported.
IF your license allows v5 (the old license, which might be upgraded while under Maintenance Plan, v2015 license will not allow it as there’s no more Classic Client at all) you can TRY to do a technical upgrade of your v3.10 - MAYBE it will run on Win8.1, which I doubt, but can’t check either. You can try with a copy of live DB - if this doesn’t work, your only option is keeping old hardware & installation in parralel. Anyway, even if it works, you can’t rely on it as stable system, but you can keep it for lookup purposes.
updated: I completely forgot one obvious issue - NO for sure for Native Database which you may have with the ancient v3.10! Change to MSSQL is easy technically, but licensing issues arise, you’ll need an old version of MSSQL (2005-2008), which is discontinued - if you do not have already such license.