• Microsoft SQL Server

    Apply a service pack or hotfix SQL Server 2008 to a failover cluster instance

    • 7 Comments




    Apply a service pack or patch SQL Server 2008 in a clustered environment
        Step 1 : Validation wizard
        Step 2 : Pre-check
        Step 3 : Installation of the first node
        Step 4 : Add a new node
        Step 5: Apply a service pack or hotfix on a SQL cluster



    Installing Service Pack SQL Server 2008 in failover cluster is very different than the SQL Server 2005 cluster failover.

    With SQL Server 2005, when you start installing cluster service pack (or hotfix), it must be launched on the active node (node that hosts the instance). When installing the Setup will launch simultaneously  "remote silence" on all passive nodes. All nodes in the cluster containing the SQL Server instance are updated in the same time.

    With SQL Server 2008, to reduce the downtime, we have revised the method of deployment. Now if you want to apply a service pack (or hotfix), you must install in first on the passive nodes. The passive nodes are updated before the active node.

    Therefore, for your instance SQL Server 2008  in failover cluster, you must follow the scenario below for the application of Service Pack, Cumulative Update or Hotfix :

    1.  Apply the hotfix on pasive node N2
    2.  Reboot the passive node N2
    3.  Failover on SQL resource : the passive node become the active node
    4.  Apply the hotfix on the passive node N1
    5.  Reboot the passive node N1

    You can check the version of SQL server with the following query:

    SELECT   

          SERVERPROPERTY('IsClustered') as _1_Means_Clustered ,  
         
    SERVERPROPERTY('Edition') as Edition ,  
         
    SERVERPROPERTY('ProductVersion') as Version  ,
         
         
    SERVERPROPERTY('ComputerNamePhysicalNetBIOS') as ActiveNode

     

    SQL 2008 cluster failover
    SQL 2008 Cluster failover
    SQL 2008 Cluster Failover

    SQL Server 2008 failover cluster rolling patch and service pack process
    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958734

    How to update or slipstream an installation of SQL Server 2008
    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/955392


    Michel Degremont | Microsoft EMEA
    Product Support Services Developer - SQL Server Core Engineer |
  • Microsoft SQL Server

    End of Service Pack Support for SQL Server 2005 SP2

    • 0 Comments


    End of Service Pack Support for SQL Server 2005 SP2

    Just a reminder, the Service Pack Support for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2 (SP2) is ending on January 12, 2010.  Microsoft is ending support for this product as part of our Service Pack support policy, found in http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle.  SQL Server 2005 SP2 will no longer receive assisted support or security updates. 

    I invite you to upgrade quickly in Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 3.

    More details:
    - What's New in SQL Server 2005 SP3
    - Which Service Pack do I have to install on SQL Server ? (SQL Server 2000, 2005, 2008)

    PS : I would like to profit of this post, to remind you that support for SQL Server 2008 RTM will end on April 13, 2010.



    Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Service Pack




    Michel Degremont 
    | Microsoft EMEA
    Product Support Services Developer - SQL Server Core Engineer |
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