ThinkSystem ST250 End of Life: EOS Sept 2028

ThinkSystem ST250 support dates

Every row names its basis. A third-party tracker date is not the vendor’s own, and “not published” means exactly that.
Milestone	Date	Basis	Source
Withdrawn from marketing (E-2200 guide)	12 October 2023	Vendor-publishedThis is the date of the LP1275 change-log entry 'The ST250 is now withdrawn from marketing'. The E-2100 guide LP0961 records the withdrawal in its 12 Dec 2023 update. Two EMEA preconfigured models (7Y451004EA, 7Y451005EA) were withdrawn in the 13 Feb 2023 update.	Lenovo ThinkSystem ST250 Server (E-2200) Product Guide (withdrawn product) LP1275
End of Service (EOS), EMEA	30 September 2028	Vendor-publishedRe-queried 2026-10-08: 7Y45 and 7Y46 each list only model CTO1WW, and both return 2028-09-30. This applies to the first-generation ST250 machine types only; the ST250 V2 and V3 use different machine types.	Lenovo End of Service Date Lookup (HT504708), end-of-service API, 7Y45 CTO1WW, EMEA

Where the ThinkSystem ST250 stands today

The 30 September 2028 date comes from Lenovo's End of Service Date Lookup, re-queried on 8 October 2026: machine types 7Y45 (three-year warranty) and 7Y46 (one-year warranty) each list one model code, CTO1WW, and both return that date for EMEA. A tower labelled 7D8F or 7D8G is an ST250 V2, and one labelled 7DCE or 7DCF is an ST250 V3, so look those up separately rather than assuming this date. For warranty or contract dates, which are set per unit, use the serial number in Lenovo's warranty lookup.

Lenovo's withdrawal records for this tower are split across two product guides, because the ST250 was documented separately for Xeon E-2100 and E-2200 processors. The E-2200 guide (LP1275) logged 'The ST250 is now withdrawn from marketing' on 12 October 2023, and the E-2100 guide (LP0961) recorded it in its 12 December 2023 update; two EMEA preconfigured models, 7Y451004EA and 7Y451005EA, had already gone in the 13 February 2023 update. None of these is a support date.

ThinkSystem ST250: lifecycle on one axis

Dated milestones are placed only where a source gives the date; Blue = vendor-published, amber = third-party tracker, violet = derived from a vendor policy. Checked 8 October 2026.

Finding the date for your own unit

Lenovo publishes the EOS date by machine type and model. Open https://datacentersupport.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/ht504708, choose EMEA, and enter 7Y45 or 7Y46 with model CTO1WW. On 2026-10-08 it returned 30 September 2028. Check the label first: the ST250 V2 (7D8F/7D8G) and ST250 V3 (7DCE/7DCF) are different machine types. Warranty and contract end dates are per unit: check the serial number at https://datacentersupport.lenovo.com/us/en/warranty-lookup.

What still works after Lenovo support ends

Up to 30 September 2028 in EMEA, Lenovo itself remains an option. The ST250 product guide lists Premier Support Plus 24x7 4-Hour Response, Premier 24x7 4-Hour Response, Premier Next Business Day and Standard Next Business Day as warranty upgrades and post-warranty support, with a warning that some upgrades may not be available in all markets or regions. That Lenovo still sells them for a withdrawn ST250 has not been checked, so ask Lenovo or a partner before relying on them. Lenovo withdraws support at EOS; for eligible products it says that, in some cases, it will use 'reasonable commercial endeavors' to maintain them beyond that date.

Downloads are not gated by a contract, because serial numbers are not required to download software for Lenovo's server products. On 8 October 2026 the newest platform firmware on the 7Y45 download list was XCC 6.90 (4 September 2025) and UEFI 4.50 (29 August 2025), and the newest items listed were cross-platform XClarity Essentials tools from early September 2026. There is no Lenovo statement on whether ST250 downloads remain once the September 2028 EMEA EOS passes.

Lenovo server software needs no serial number to download ('For Lenovo Server products, serial numbers are NOT required to download software'), so ST250 firmware downloads are not tied to a contract. (datacentersupport.lenovo.com)
After EOS (30 Sep 2028, EMEA) Lenovo withdraws support, though 'in some cases' it will use 'reasonable commercial endeavors to maintain eligible products beyond the EOS date'. It does not say whether downloads stay posted after EOS. (datacentersupport.lenovo.com)

Vendor support you can still buy

Lenovo warranty upgrades and post-warranty support (Standard Next Business Day, Premier Next Business Day, Premier 24x7 4-Hour Response, Premier Support Plus 24x7 4-Hour Response) — Listed in the ST250 product guide, which notes that 'some warranty upgrades may not be available in all markets or regions'. We did not verify availability for this withdrawn model or for a given unit. Lenovo support ends at the posted EOS of 30 Sep 2028 (EMEA). Confirm with Lenovo or a partner. (lenovopress.lenovo.com)

What a maintenance contract needs to cover on the ThinkSystem ST250

The ST250 is a single-socket tower that can be rack-mounted with Lenovo's Rack Mount Kit, and its maintenance scope depends most on the power and storage build. Power is model dependent: one fixed 250 W Platinum supply with no redundancy, or two redundant hot-swap 550 W Platinum supplies. The guide lists only the 550 W units as hot-swap, so on a 250 W unit a power-supply fault leaves the server without power until the part is replaced, which is worth reflecting in the response level you ask for.

Drive options are 8 or 16 2.5-inch hot-swap, 4 or 8 3.5-inch hot-swap, a mix of 4 3.5-inch and 8 2.5-inch hot-swap, or 8 3.5-inch simple-swap, plus an onboard M.2 and two 5.25-inch bays for optical, RDX or LTO tape. Storage control ranges from onboard 6 Gb SATA with Intel RSTe software RAID to RAID 530i, 730-8i, 930 and 940 adapters or 430 and 440 HBAs. Networking is two 1 GbE ports on a Broadcom BCM5720 plus a dedicated XCC port, with four PCIe 3.0 slots (x1, x16, x4, x4). Remote KVM through the XClarity Controller (Pilot4 XE401) needs the optional XCC Advanced upgrade.

ThinkSystem ST250: what to tell a maintenance provider

The hardware facts a maintenance quote is priced on, printed in the vendor's own wording from its specification documents (cited in Sources). Nothing on this plate is estimated; facts the vendor does not state are left off rather than filled in.

ThinkSystem ST250 hardware, from Lenovo’s own specification documents
Specification	Detail	Source
Form factor / machine types	1-socket tower, rack-mountable with the Rack Mount Kit. Machine types 7Y46 (1-year warranty) and 7Y45 (3-year warranty).	lenovopress.lenovo.com
Processors	One Intel Xeon E-2200 (up to 8 cores), Core i3-9100/9300 or Pentium G5400/G5600 processor. The guide notes that the ST250 also supports Xeon E-2100 processors (separate guide LP0961). Intel C246 chipset.	lenovopress.lenovo.com
Memory	4 DIMM sockets, ECC TruDDR4 UDIMMs at 2666 MHz. Maximum 128 GB (4x 32 GB) with Xeon E processors, or 64 GB with other processors.	lenovopress.lenovo.com
Drive bays	8x or 16x 2.5-inch hot-swap, 4x or 8x 3.5-inch hot-swap, 4x 3.5-inch + 8x 2.5-inch hot-swap, or 8x 3.5-inch simple-swap. Also one onboard M.2 and two 5.25-inch bays for optical, RDX or LTO.	lenovopress.lenovo.com
Storage controllers	Onboard 6 Gb SATA with Intel RSTe software RAID, 12 Gb RAID 530i/730-8i/930/940 adapters, or 430/440 HBAs.	lenovopress.lenovo.com
Power supplies	Model dependent: one fixed 250 W Platinum PSU (not redundant), or two redundant hot-swap 550 W Platinum PSUs.	lenovopress.lenovo.com
Network / expansion	2x 1 GbE (Broadcom BCM5720) plus a dedicated XCC management port. Four PCIe 3.0 slots (x1, x16, x4, x4).	lenovopress.lenovo.com
Management controller	XClarity Controller (XCC) on the Pilot4 XE401 BMC. Remote KVM needs the optional XCC Advanced upgrade.	lenovopress.lenovo.com

Extend or refresh the ThinkSystem ST250?

Extending is reasonable for an ST250 whose workload is settled on an operating system Lenovo still certifies for it. In Lenovo's OS Interoperability Guide (30 September 2026 data), Windows Server 2016, 2019 and 2022 and ESXi 7.0 through 8.0 U2 are rated Supported & Certified for the E-2200 ST250. With Lenovo support posted to 30 September 2028 in EMEA, a hardware break-fix contract can carry such a unit after its warranty while a replacement is planned.

The ESXi ceiling is lower here than on the 2nd Gen Xeon Scalable SR550, SR530 and ST550, which Lenovo certifies up to 8.0 U3. For the E-2200 ST250, ESXi 8.0 U3, 9.0 and 9.1 are listed as 'None', as is Windows Server 2025, and the product guide's ESXi list also stops at 8.0 U2. A virtualisation host that has to move beyond 8.0 U2, or a unit on the non-redundant 250 W supply in a role that cannot tolerate downtime, is a refresh candidate. The next model in the same line is the ThinkSystem ST250 V2; Lenovo's OS Interoperability Guide points E-2200 configurations to the ThinkSystem ST250 V3 (Xeon 6300), while its separate 7Y45/7Y46 entry names the rack-mount ThinkSystem SR250 V3 instead. Refurbished Lenovo servers are another way to replace one.

Lenovo's OS Interoperability Guide (data updated 30 Sep 2026) lists the ST250 (E-2200) as 'Supported & Certified' for Windows Server 2016, 2019 and 2022 and for VMware ESXi 7.0 through 8.0 U2. It lists 'None' for ESXi 8.0 U3, ESXi 9.0/9.1 and Windows Server 2025. The product guide's ESXi list also stops at 8.0 U2. (lenovopress.lenovo.com)
Lenovo's OS Interoperability Guide marks the ST250 as 'Withdrawn'. For the E-2200 configurations it names the ThinkSystem ST250 V3 (Xeon 6300, machine types 7DCF/7DCE) as the replacement server. Its separate ST250 (7Y45/7Y46) entry names the rack-mount SR250 V3 (Xeon 6300, 7DCM/7DCL) instead. (lenovopress.lenovo.com)
On 2026-10-08 the newest platform firmware on Lenovo's 7Y45 download list was XCC 6.90 (DS577646, dated 4 Sep 2025) and UEFI 4.50 (DS577445, dated 29 Aug 2025). The newest items on the list are cross-platform XClarity Essentials tools dated 2-3 Sep 2026. (datacentersupport.lenovo.com)
Units built with the fixed 250 W PSU have no power redundancy. The guide lists only the 550 W power supplies as hot-swap. (lenovopress.lenovo.com)

ThinkSystem ST250: what came before and what replaces it

The successor shown is the next model in the same product line; the vendor notice does not name a direct replacement. No predecessor is shown because none could be sourced.

Keep your ThinkSystem ST250 covered

Tell us how many you run and when your current cover ends, and we will come back with a like-for-like maintenance quote for that estate. Your model and its support status are attached to the enquiry automatically, so there is nothing to re-type.

Lenovo maintenance in detail →

The ST250 is a first-generation ThinkSystem entry tower with one processor (a Xeon E-2100 or E-2200, or a Core i3 or Pentium), where the ThinkSystem ST550 is a two-socket Xeon Scalable tower. Its EMEA EOS of 30 September 2028 arrives nine months before the ST550's 30 June 2029. Lenovo Press guides for it date from 5 November 2018 (E-2100) and 18 February 2020 (E-2200). For two first-generation rack servers, the 2U ThinkSystem SR550 and the 1U SR530, Lenovo had posted no EOS as of 8 October 2026.

Where the ThinkSystem ST250 sits against related models

Each bar runs from release to the milestone that marks end of support for the model as a whole. Amber bars end on a third-party tracker's date, not the vendor's. A dashed open end means no end date is published — not that support is indefinite. Component and accessory dates (a management controller, a power module) are not treated as the model's.

Look up another model in the server & network end-of-life checker, or read what third-party maintenance covers.

Questions people ask about the ThinkSystem ST250

Is the Lenovo ThinkSystem ST250 end of life?

Not yet. Lenovo's E-2200 guide recorded the ST250's withdrawal from marketing on 12 October 2023, but End of Service for machine types 7Y45 and 7Y46 is 30 September 2028 in EMEA, and Lenovo support continues until then.

Does the ST250 end-of-service date apply to the ST250 V2 or V3?

No. The 30 September 2028 date is for the first-generation machine types 7Y45 and 7Y46. The ST250 V2 (7D8F/7D8G) and ST250 V3 (7DCE/7DCF) are different machine types, so look them up separately in Lenovo's End of Service Date Lookup.

Does Lenovo support ESXi 8.0 U3 or Windows Server 2025 on the ST250?

Lenovo's OS Interoperability Guide lists 'None' for both on the E-2200 ST250, and for ESXi 9.0 and 9.1 as well. The highest ESXi release it lists as Supported & Certified is 8.0 U2.

Can I download ST250 firmware without a warranty?

Yes. A serial number is not needed to download Lenovo server software, so ST250 firmware is open to any owner. Lenovo is silent on whether it stays posted after the September 2028 EMEA EOS.

What should an ST250 maintenance quote request include?

Start with the power supply type (fixed 250 W or redundant 550 W), the drive layout and any RAID adapter or tape drive. Third-party maintenance generally means diagnosis, replacement parts and engineers, with cover that can continue after Lenovo's EOS, and the server end-of-life checker can be used for the other models in your estate.

Sources

Every date, rule and specification above was checked against these on 8 October 2026 by an independent verification pass. Vendors revise lifecycle notices; this page is re-checked by 8 January 2027.

Lenovo ThinkSystem ST250 Server (E-2200) Product Guide (withdrawn product) LP1275 — lenovopress.lenovo.com
Lenovo End of Service Date Lookup (HT504708), end-of-service API, 7Y45 CTO1WW, EMEA — datacentersupport.lenovo.com
ThinkSystem ST250 release — lenovopress.lenovo.com
datacentersupport.lenovo.com — datacentersupport.lenovo.com
datacentersupport.lenovo.com — datacentersupport.lenovo.com
lenovopress.lenovo.com — lenovopress.lenovo.com
datacentersupport.lenovo.com — datacentersupport.lenovo.com
lenovopress.lenovo.com — lenovopress.lenovo.com

Last reviewed 7 October 2026. Lifecycle dates for the ThinkSystem ST250 are re-verified against Lenovo's own notices at each review; a date a vendor has not published is never filled in.