Microsoft has declared that Windows Server 2008 R2 is the latest operating system running the Intel Itanium processor.

Scheduled end in 8 years
SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2010 R2 is also the latest versions to support this processor for servers with critical loads. Specifically, Redmond will continue to manage the processor until the end of the support the software in question. For example, Microsoft is expected to provide technical support Server 2008 R2 until July 9, 2013 and extended support until July 10, 2018. This means that this version of Windows will manage the present and future Itanium for another eight years. The Tukwila Itanium are already supported and if a problem with these processors is discovered, the publisher undertakes to solve.

Phasing out of Itanium
The decision makes sense is no surprise. Since Vista, consumer versions of Windows can run more Itanium running mostly on HP-UX. Microsoft is so Red Hat has announced no longer want to take the Itanium over the last year. Given the small number of machines running on an IA64 operating system from Microsoft, this decision should not affect sales of Itanium. However, this announcement reinforces the idea that this processor is endangered and it is less and less relevant.