Deploying SQL Service Packs automatically

[divinyl]

Hi all

Is it common practise to deploy SQL service packs to db servers automatically - or is it safer to do this manually? I have seen information on deploying these through AD group policies and MS SUS, but i have also heard from DBAs in some big companies that they prefer to do the updates manually because it's safer.

Would appreciate people's general opinions on this and if you do deploy automatically, what tools you use.

Thanks v much
Div

 

[aalmeida]

divinyl,

As a DBA I have to agree with most DBA, packs should be applyed manually in most cases and the reason for this is that, that are to many differences between the production and developement databases that mostly unknown by developeres and they ussually do not account for the simplest one to see is statistics.



AL Almeida
Senior DBA

http://www.saxotech.com/

"May all those that come behind us, find us faithfull"

 

[mrdenny]

Service packs should be installed manually.

All sorts of stange little errors can come up that if not addressed at that time can hose a server up until the issue is resolved (mostly around mdac).

You will also want to install in a phased approach. Dev servers first. Then wait a little while and make sure that everything is happy. Then install on QA and make sure that everything is happy. Then install on production.

If you have a stage or test setup you'll want to install there along with production.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000) / MCTS (SQL 2005)

--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)

http://www.mrdenny.com

 

[divinyl]

Thanks for the info guys - I'll take the approach you suggest as it seems to be the norm.

Div