Regular Service

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Steve Jones - SSC Editor

Posted Tuesday, April 27, 2010 9:12 PM

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Comments posted to this topic are about the item Regular Service

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Post #911597

David Conn

Posted Wednesday, April 28, 2010 1:01 AM

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So far I've found SQL Server 2008 SP1 to be rock solid. I run the X64 version on a Windows Server 2008 x64.

I'm now contemplating R2 i.e. not worried about SP2.

My company is likely to adopt Power Pivot so we need R2 and Office 2010.

It is nice to be bleeding edge for a change but with 2008 I have nothing bad to say about it, only praise.

David

Post #911656

Hugo Kornelis

Posted Wednesday, April 28, 2010 1:11 AM

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Hi Steve,

I'm sure you won't be surprised a bit about my comments BigGrin

it is intended to correct only the problems that are described in this article. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing these specific problems.

if you are not severely affected by any of these problems, we recommend that you wait for the next SQL Server 2005 service pack that contains the hotfixes in this cumulative update package.

These are two quotes from this KB article on CU8 for SQL2005 SP2. All other CUs I checked have, and always had, the same or similar advice. Many companies will take this advice seriously, so until they run into real problems, they will avoid the CUs and wait for the next SP.

Another problem I have with the "no SPs" policy is that this text above is, maybe not explicit, but at least implictly a promise that there will be a next service pack. How can you tell customers to wait for a next service pack, than not release one?

So yes, I do think that service packs should be released, and on a regular and predictable cycle. The first one 6 months after RTM, and then a 12-month cycle. Unless really serious or annying bugs are fixed, that should warrant an intermediate extra SP (or, better, a CU with a different advice).

Either that, or increase the testing of CUs, advice customers to install each CU, and abandon SPs completely.

Hugo Kornelis, SQL Server MVP
Visit my SQL Server blog: http://sqlblog.com/blogs/hugo_kornelis

Post #911661

Abrar Ahmad_

Posted Wednesday, April 28, 2010 1:20 AM

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David Conn (4/28/2010)

It is nice to be bleeding edge for a change but with 2008 I have nothing bad to say about it, only praise.

David

Please add 1 more vote to it. If not biased about Oracle etc Releases.

Post #911664

athurgar

Posted Wednesday, April 28, 2010 3:21 AM

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I agree with Steve, a regular Service Pack, every year for the supported life of the product. That would mean Service Pack 4 is that last for SQL Server 2008. You can live with that, without getting to SP5a (remember SQL 6.5). It also gives you an upgrade schedule and some known certainty, without having to lobby for a service pack (SQL 2005). The wider implication would be not just for SQL Server but for every Microsoft supported product.

Post #911722

John Magnabosco

Posted Wednesday, April 28, 2010 4:46 AM

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I am with you, Steve. There are always security vulnerabilities to mitigate and features to tweak. SPs could also be used to stair step the product into the next major release.

Post #911772

James Stover

Posted Wednesday, April 28, 2010 5:07 AM

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Releasing CU's and SP's must be incredibly expensive and laborious for MS. And yet, they are freely available to anyone - even those who DON'T own the product. And yet, here we are complaining that we aren't getting our FREE update.

I don't know about you, but I have to pay good money (usually about $350) for regular servicing on my car. Trust me, I would wait an extra month or two or six if I could get it for FREE.

James Stover, McDBA

Post #911780

Markus

Posted Wednesday, April 28, 2010 6:06 AM

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I guess I am confused by all of this from Microsoft. CU's originally were supposed to ONLY be applied if you were experiencing a problem that was addressed by a CU as CU's originally had a disclaimer stating that fixes within these were to undergo more testing to be rolled up into a SP. However, it almost appears that CU's are now patches to be applied instead of a rolled up SP anymore. The last time I opened a case with Microsoft on a SQL 2008 issue the technician suggested applying the latest CU eventhough it had nothing to do with my issue.

I wish Microsoft would at least officially state one way or another what CU's intention is and if and when we will get a SP4 for SQL 2005 or a SP2 for SQL 2008.

Post #911824

mbricker-600840

Posted Wednesday, April 28, 2010 6:20 AM

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I vote for the SP's on a regular basis. I like to avoid the Cu's unless it fixes a problem.

Mike

_____________________________________________________________________________

A word to the wise ain't necessary, it's the stupid ones who need the advice ...Bill Cosby

Post #911840

bwillsie-842793

Posted Wednesday, April 28, 2010 6:28 AM

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I vote for SP's on a regular basis. My gut instincts tell me that cherry picking CUs is going to cause me problems at some point.

Post #911846

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