How to Install a SQL Server 2008 Service Pack/Cumaltive updates/Security Updates ?

How to Install a SQL Server 2008 Service Pack/Cumaltive updates/Security Updates ?
Ref:
 http://www.mytechmantra.com/LearnSQLServer/Install_SQL_Server_2008_Service_Pack_P1.html#ixzz3ceaZwexZ

How to Install a SQL Server 2008 Service Pack

Quick summary:

	RTM (no SP)	SP1	SP2	SP3	SP4
SQL Server 2016      codename ?	CTP2
SQL Server 2014      codename Hekaton SQL14	12.0.2000.8	12.0.4100.1 or 12.1.4100.1
SQL Server 2012      codename Denali	11.0.2100.60	11.0.3000.0 or 11.1.3000.0	11.0.5058.0 or 11.2.5058.0
SQL Server 2008 R2      codename Kilimanjaro	10.50.1600.1	10.50.2500.0 or 10.51.2500.0	10.50.4000.0 or 10.52.4000.0	10.50.6000.34 or 10.53.6000.34
SQL Server 2008      codename Katmai	10.0.1600.22	10.0.2531.0 or 10.1.2531.0	10.0.4000.0 or 10.2.4000.0	10.0.5500.0 or 10.3.5500.0	10.0.6000.29 or 10.4.6000.29
SQL Server 2005      codename Yukon	9.0.1399.06	9.0.2047	9.0.3042	9.0.4035	9.0.5000
SQL Server 2000      codename Shiloh	8.0.194	8.0.384	8.0.532	8.0.760	8.0.2039
SQL Server 7.0      codename Sphinx	7.0.623	7.0.699	7.0.842	7.0.961	7.0.1063

Introduction

In this article we will take a look at how to install a SQL Server 2008 Service Pack. It is the primary responsibility of a SQL Server Database Administrator to make sure all the SQL Servers within the organizations are applied with the latest Security Updates, Cumulative Updates and Services Packs which are released by Microsoft from time to time. In this article we will take a look at how to install a SQL Server 2008 Service Pack.

Database Administrators can get the complete list of all the Cumulative Updates and Service Packs for SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2 by reading the article titled Microsoft SQL Server Build Lists. The steps mentioned in this article are applicable for installing SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2.

Important Note: It is highly recommended that database administrator should backup all User and System database along with Resource database before applying any Security Updates, Cumulative Updates or Service Packs. Resource database is a read only database which stores all the system objects which are included in SQL Server. This database is invisible in management studio and this was first introduced in SQL Server 2005. To know more about Resource database read the article titled Resource Database

Best Practices to follow before installing a SQL Server Service Pack

1.  Perform a full backup of all User, System and Resource database.

2. Note down of the important SQL Server Configuration Settings, Startup Parameters, Linked Servers, and Script out SQL Server Agent Jobs, Script out SQL Server Logins, Memory Utilization, CPU and Disk Utilization etc.

3. Create an appropriate Service Pack Deployment and Rollback Plan

4. Always install Service Packs first in Development environment and then test all applications which are using SQL Server.

5. Once everything looks good in development environment, then only install Service Pack in QA environment. Test all applications which are using SQL Server in QA environment and also test your rollback plan.

6. If everything look good in both Development and QA environment then plan to install Service Pack in a Production environment by communicating an appropriate downtime window to the stake holders and database/application users.

7. Once the Service Pack is installed successfully in a Production environment perform sanity checks to confirm all applications are working fine.

8. Reboot the SQL Server once Service Pack / Cumulative Updates or a Security Updates are applied successfully on the server.

9. If everything looks goods then release the Production environment for user activities and monitor the environment closely for a week or two to make sure there are no unusual spikes in CPU and Memory Utilizations.

Install SQL Server 2008 Service Pack

Let us now start with installing SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 2. You can follow the steps mentioned in this article to apply Service Packs on all Editions of SQL Server 2008. If you are using an RTM version of SQL Server 2008 then you can directly apply SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 2 as this has all the fixes of Service Pack 1.

1. Identify which Version and Edition of SQL Server you are using in your environment and then download the latest available SQL Server 2008 Service Pack from Microsoft website. You can also get the complete list of all the Cumulative Updates and Service Packs for SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2 by reading the article titledMicrosoft SQL Server Build Lists.

2. Right click the downloaded SQL Server 2008 Service Pack Executable file and then select Run as Administrator option from the drop down as shown in the below snippet.

3. In the Welcome screen of SQL Server 2008 Service Pack, the Setup wizard will check whether all the prerequisites are met before the service pack installation begins. If you encounter any error then you need to resolve them before continuing with the service pack installation.

4. In the License Terms screen you must accept the Microsoft Software License Terms and then click Next to continue with the service pack installation.

5. In the Select Features Screen you can choose the database instance on which you want to install SQL Server 2008 Service Pack. If you want to install service pack only on a default instance then you need select MSSQLSERVER as shown in the below snippet. If you would like to install service pack on a named instance then you need to select the named instance to install service pack on the named instance. Click Next to continue with the service pack installation.

6. In the Check Files In Use screen it will check for services and applications which are using files that SQL Server 2008 Service Pack Setup will require. If there are any such services and applications which are using files required for the service pack setup then you need to stop the process or else you should restart the SQL Server before applying SQL Server Service Pack. Click Next to continue with the service pack installation.

 

7. In the Ready to Update screen you will be able to see a quick summary of all the features which will be updated with the Service Pack. Click Next to continue with the service pack installation.

8. In the Update Progress screen you will be able to see the progress of service pack installation.

 

9. Once the Service Pack installation is complete you will be able to see the below screen. Click Next to complete with the service pack installation.

10. In the Complete screen you will be able to see a message Your SQL Server 2008 update operation has completed successfully. Click the Close button to complete the service pack installation.

Execute the below mentioned TSQL query to verify the Service Pack Installation.

SELECT
            SERVERPROPERTY('ProductVersion') AS ProductVersion,
            SERVERPROPERTY('ProductLevel') AS ProductLevel,
            SERVERPROPERTY('Edition') AS Edition,
            SERVERPROPERTY('ResourceLastUpdateDateTime') AS 'ResourceLastUpdateDateTime',
            SERVERPROPERTY('ResourceVersion') AS 'ResourceVersion' 
GO

It is highly recommended that you must backup all the System databases (Master, Model, MSDB, ReportServer, and ReportServerTempDB) including Resource database immediately after the successfully installation of SQL Server 2008 Service Pack or a Cumulative Update. It is also a good practice to reboot the SQL Server once the SQL Server Service Pack or a Cumulative Update installation is completed.

Conclusion

In this article you have seen how to apply a SQL Server 2008 Service Pack and the best practices which you need to follow before installing a service pack.

Read more: http://www.mytechmantra.com/LearnSQLServer/Install_SQL_Server_2008_Service_Pack_P2.html#ixzz3cebjpn34

Security updates for all supported versions of SQL Server

Ref:

http://sqlblog.com/blogs/aaron_bertrand/archive/2011/06/14/security-updates-for-all-supported-versions-of-sql-server.aspx

Today Microsoft released a security bulletin covering several issues that could potentially affect SQL Server; these exploits include remote code execution, denial of service, information disclosure and elevation of privilege. You should test these patches on all machines running SQL Server, including those running only client tools (e.g. Management Studio or Management Studio Express). The updates affect the following versions of SQL Server:

• SQL Server 2005 SP3
• SQL Server 2005 SP4
• SQL Server 2008 SP1
• SQL Server 2008 SP2
• SQL Server 2008 R2

So, depending on your SQL Server version (run SELECT @@VERSION;), here is what you should do:

If you are running...	And your build number is...	Your best course of action is probably to...
SQL Server 2005	Less than 9.0.4035	Upgrade to Service Pack 3 (9.0.4035) or Service Pack 4 (9.0.5000), then come back for the GDR
	Exactly 9.0.4035 (SP3)	Install the SP3 GDR (9.0.4060) from KB #2494113
	Between 9.0.4036 and 9.0.4339	(a) Upgrade to Service Pack 4 (9.0.5000), then come back for the GDR OR (b) Install the SP3 QFE (9.0.4340) from KB #2494112
	Exactly 9.0.5000 (SP4)	Install the SP4 GDR (9.0.5057) from KB #2494120
	Greater than 9.0.5000	Install the SP4 QFE (9.0.5292) from KB #2494123
SQL Server 2008	Less than 10.0.2531	Upgrade to Service Pack 1 (10.0.2531) or Service Pack 2 (10.0.4000), then come back for the GDR
	Exactly 10.0.2531 (SP1)	Install the SP1 GDR (10.0.2573) from KB #2494096
	Between 10.0.2532 and 10.0.2840	(a) Upgrade to Service Pack 2 (10.0.4000), then come back for the GDR OR (b) Install the SP1 QFE (10.0.2841) from KB #2494100
	Exactly 10.0.4000 (SP2)	Install the SP2 GDR (10.0.4064) from KB #2494089
	Greater than 10.0.4000	Install the SP2 QFE (10.0.4311) from KB #2494094
SQL Server 2008 R2	Exactly 10.50.1600 (RTM)	Install the GDR (10.50.1617) from KB #2494088
	Between 10.50.1601 and 10.50.1789	Install the QFE (10.50.1790) from KB #2494086
	Greater than 10.50.1790 (e.g. 10.50.2418 or 10.50.2425)	Wait for the final release of Service Pack 1 Watch for cumulative update or updates to MS11-049 At this time there is no fix for the CTP of SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1

What is the difference between a GDR and a QFE? A GDR (general distribution release) is one that Microsoft support deems is necessary for all systems running SQL Server. A QFE (quick fix engineering) is one that does not affect everyone. Why are there two releases for this important fix? Well, one reason is that after a QFE is installed, it is no longer possible to install a GDR. So, if you have a system that has had previous cumulative updates or QFEs applied, the GDR might not work for you. If you have a system that is exactly at one of the levels described above, then the GDR is probably the better choice, because it will allow you to install either a GDR or a QFE in the future, whereas installing a QFE on such a system kind of paints you into a corner.

There is also a GDR available if you are running Management Studio Express 2005 (but none seem to be listed at this time for the 2008 or 2008 R2 versions):

• KB #2546869

you can also see latest Cumalative updates of SQL 2012 for belw links

http://blogs.sqlsentry.com/team-posts/latest-builds-sql-server-2012/

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2983249

http://sqlserverbuilds.blogspot.com/

http://sqlblog.com/blogs/aaron_bertrand/archive/2011/06/14/security-updates-for-all-supported-versions-of-sql-server.aspx