Yesterday,
Microsoft delivered Service Pack 1 for SQL Server 2008. The Service Pack is
primarily a roll up of previously introduced fixes that target stability and
supportability, and does not introduce any new features—aside from automating
Report Builder 2.0. Microsoft has also modified how the Service Pack is
installed through Slipstream, and uninstalled overall.
Here are
some of the new features added to Slipstream, Service Pack Uninstall and Report
Builder 2.0:
- Slipstream allows administrators to install SQL
Server 2008 and Service Pack 1 in a single instance. This decreases the
total time for an installation, including a fewer number of reboots,
thereby increasing productivity and deployment availability.
- Service Pack Uninstall allows administrators to
uninstall the service pack separately from the database release.
This feature also improves DBA productivity, reduces the cost of
deployment and improves overall supportability.
- Report Builder 2.0 Click Once improves the existing
SQL Server end-user report authoring application by easing deployment to
business users.
To learn more about deploying SQL
Server 2008, check out the special report that I wrote for the April 1 print edition
of SD Times.