Project Online Desktop Client and Project Server 2016

On January 13, 2020, Project Online Desktop Client connectivity to Project Server 2013 expired and was no longer supported. Following the same line, this time the novelty is that Project Online Desktop Client connectivity to Project Server 2016 will cease to exist after January 13, 2022.

The connection between Project Online Desktop Client and Project Server can be fundamental, as this way you will be able to access and manage your projects and programs, as well as create directly by Project Desktop.

In addition, it is very important to mention that it is not possible to perform a series of activities indispensable to the management of your projects and programs by accessing them only by the browser, such as the creation of tasks, editing calendars and other custom fields that contribute greatly to the improvement of the organization and segment of the company.

Therefore, if the factors mentioned above are important for your company, it is recommended to update as soon as possible. Not just this time, but whenever available. Since, with new releases, the trend is that connectivity with older versions becomes impossible.

Why is the PPM (Project Portfolio Management) update so important?

Being with your updated Microsoft Project is essential to ensure better program functionality and performance. Furthermore, for the same reason and to maintain this stability in its latest products, technical support for older versions is discontinued.

It is also worth remembering and considering that in Project Online, migration to the next versions of PPM is automatic, and no manual process is necessary because all migration is carried out by Microsoft. For Project Server migration, the work to be carried out can be considered greater, in addition to the following aspects:

• The product is outdated with time
• Every 3 years Microsoft launches a new Project Server
• Every 5 years it is expected that migration will be necessary
• Microsoft support expires after a few years

Finally, we reinforce that it is recommended and of utmost importance to be with the tool always updated and with cloud support in order to avoid future problems and get the best use the program can offer.

Project Server Update

When planning to update, one should take note of some requirements according to the version you have.

• Update only via Project Server 2016 or 2019 - What? If you are updating the previous versions of Project Server, you must update your databases to a more current first. There is no direct update path for Project Server 2013.
• Update in Project Web App - What? The SharePoint 2016 or 2019 content database that contains your PWA website collection needs to be updated during this process as well.
• No on-site update - First you must create a Project Server Subscription Edition farm and then attach and update your Project Server 2016 or 2019 databases. The on-site update is not supported.
• Upgrade through Microsoft PowerShell - What? Similar to the Project Server 2016 or 2019 update experience, the update will be done using the PowerShell cmdlets.

Hardware and software requirements for Project Server Subscription Edition

Since Project Server is a service application on SharePoint Server, the hardware, software and browser requirements for the Project are those specified for SharePoint. Some notable requirements for the latest version:

Compatibility requirements with project customers

To understand the best license to manage your projects with Project Online, Microsoft Project, Project for the Web, PPM and how to optimize your company's project management with Microsoft tools, please contact us.