SQL server 2005 sp and other upgrades 1

[bshbsh]

I have SQL server installed and running and is the back-end for sharepoint 2007. When I ran the following query,

SELECT SERVERPROPERTY('productversion'), SERVERPROPERTY ('productlevel'), SERVERPROPERTY ('edition')

I got,
9.00.1399.06 RTM Enterprise Edition

Now I know there are other newer versions and SPs.
SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 1 2005.90.2047
SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2 2005.90.3042

My question is how should I upgrade and the upgrade path. I also read a few places where people have had bad experiences while upgrading.

Please advice. Links, howtos would be great as well.
Thanks.

 

[ptheriault]

Yes you should apply sp2. There are TONS fixes!

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa545440.aspx

- Paul
- If at first you don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything.

 

[bshbsh]

But can I upgrade from my version,
9.00.1399.06 RTM Enterprise Edition

to SP2 directly? Or should I do SP1 first.
Of course I will backup the database, but is there any other precaution I should take?

Please advice.
Thanks.

 

[ptheriault]

You can go right to sp2. They are cumulative.

- Paul
- If at first you don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything.

 

[mrdenny]

There are also lots of hot fixes which have been released post SP2. This site

http://www.sqlsecurity.com/FAQs/SQLServerVersionDatabase/tabid/63/Default.aspx

has a good list of all the available hot fixes.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)
MCTS (SQL 2005 / Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0: Configuration / Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007: Configuration)
MCITP Database Administrator (SQL 2005) / Database Developer (SQL 2005)

My Blog

 

[bshbsh]

Thanks for all the info.
Now that there are tons of updates after SP2, should I use all of them or only a select few which might seem important to me.
Also, this SQL is a backend for Sharepoint 2007. Should I shutdown sharepoint first.
Please advice.
Tx.

 

[ptheriault]

I would shut down Sharepoint but you may not have too. I know Denny uses it so he could better answer that question.

- Paul
- If at first you don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything.

 

[mrdenny]

You don't need to shutdown sharepoint, but sharepoint will be unavailable while you install the service packs. Hot fixes are also cumulative so you only need the most recent one.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)
MCTS (SQL 2005 / Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0: Configuration / Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007: Configuration)
MCITP Database Administrator (SQL 2005) / Database Developer (SQL 2005)

My Blog

 

[bshbsh]

Thanks for all the info.
Anyone know what the latest hotfix version is?
Tx.

 

[mrdenny]

According to the site which I posted earlier the latest publicly available build is 9.00.3159 (

http://support.microsoft.com/?Kbid=934459)

and the latest PSS build is 9.00.3200 (

http://support.microsoft.com/?Kbid=941450).

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)
MCTS (SQL 2005 / Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0: Configuration / Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007: Configuration)
MCITP Database Administrator (SQL 2005) / Database Developer (SQL 2005)

My Blog