SAP Basis Tech Supports

Symptom
This note deals with the end of maintenance for SAP kernel versions 31I, 31I_COM, 40B, 40B_COM, 45B, and 46D on January 31, 2008.

Reason and Prerequisites
Instead of the current kernel version 31I_EXT, 40B_EXT, 45B_EXT, or 46D_EXT, you use an old kernel Version (31I, 31I_COM, 40B, 40B_COM, 45B, or 46D) for your SAP release.
Solution
The current kernel versions that we provide for the product ranges 31I, 40B, 45B, and 46 are the EXT kernels 31I_EXT, 40B_EXT, 45B_EXT, and 46D_EXT. For these EXT kernels, the manufacturer of the operating system (OS) or the database (DB) still maintains the make environment and embedded database client libraries by default or the OS/DB manufacturer provides an extended maintenance program.
However, the make environments (OS version, compiler, and so on) and embedded database libraries used in the old kernel versions 31I, 31I_COM, 40B, 40B_COM, 45B, and 46D have not been maintained by the manufacturer for years. For this reason, we regularly create new kernel generations (COM, EXT, EX2 in Q3/2007) with the current OS/DB versions, so we can always provide a kernel version that can be fully supported (in the words, with regard to OS, DB, and SAP kernel source code).
Due to the fact that the manufacturer has not provided maintenance for the make environment for the old kernel versions for years, it is becoming more difficult for us to provide support for the kernel versions based this make environment. The worst case scenario is that an old make environment fails and cannot be repaired. This means the unplanned end of support for the affected kernel version.
You can only avoid this situation by replacing the affected old kernel versions in a timely and controlled fashion with the corresponding EXT kernel versions. We urgently recommend all customers who use one of the above-mentioned old kernel versions to change over to the corresponding EXT kernel version. This is particularly relevant for important SAP production systems.
Formally, we acknowledge this situation by stopping the support for kernel versions 31I, 31I_COM, 40B, 40B_COM, 45B, and 46D as of January 31, 2008. This desupport means that as of this date, kernel patches can only be created for SAP systems that have at least the relevant EXT kernel versions.

In comparison to the old kernel versions, the EXT kernels require higher minimum versions for OS and DB. This means that if you do not yet have the required DB or OS versions, you have to carry out an OS and a DB upgrade before you change the kernel. The desupport date (January 31, 2008) has been chosen, so all customers have at least one year to schedule and carry out the required OS or DB upgrades.
For information about which OS or DB version is at least required for the EXT kernel, refer to the kernel release notes (see related notes) or the SAP Product Availability Matrix.
http://service.sap.com/PAM
-> Box “Quick Search for product versions”
-> Product Versions in Customer Specific Maintenance since Jan 07
Comments:
The end of kernel maintenance that are defined in the product availability matrix (PAM), usually signify the end of the mainstream maintenance or the enhanced maintenance (if an enhanced maintenance is provided) within the 5-2-1 maintenance model. This means the changeover to the customer-specific maintenance (CSM). After the end of maintenance defined in PAM, the restrictions defined for CSM also apply to the kernel. On the kernel level this is essentially the limited availability of new OS or DB platforms.
It does not mean a general end of the kernel support. Only with the kernel desupport date defined in this note, the support and the option to create a patch for the mentioned kernel versions end.