Service Packs and SQL Updates

Question

Service Packs and SQL Updates

murrayd

SSCommitted

Points: 1606
More actions
February 10, 2009 at 9:21 am

#197017

We just had a discussion among our DBAs concerning Service Packs and SQL Updates. We have not been applying regular updates to our SQL Servers, but now we wonder if we should be as disciplined with SQL as we are with our PCs across the organization. We have a WSUS server pushing updates to our PCs and servers for Windows Critical Updates, but I understand that WSUS is not able to push updates for older versions of SQL, only 2005 and later.
There is some thought that SQL is too critical to shove every update that comes down the pike, and only apply updates when required by vendors or due to critical issues that arise. On the other hand, Microsoft must be creating these updates for a reason, and shouldn't we be applying them all the time?
Any advice and information about your operations would be greatly appreciated.
Dan Murray
Thurston County, WA

Viewing 3 posts - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply

Jonathan Kehayias One Orange Chip Points: 26778 More actions · Answer 1

We apply all critical OS updates using Patch Authority Plus once a Month, usually on the Thursday after Microsoft sends out its update announcements. At that same time, I manually apply an SQL Server patches that need to be applied to our servers. I don't really care to have WSUS try patching my SQL Instances for me. The OS can be done all day long, that is another teams problem to fix.

murrayd SSCommitted Points: 1606 More actions · Answer 2

Thanks for the reply Jonathan.

Have you had any issues with SQL patches causing trouble and needing to be backed out?

Do you apply all supplied patches, or do you look at the patch reason and decide based on content?

Dan