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CU2 for SQL Server 2008 is missing!

Aaron Bertrand SQL Server / SQL Server 2008 2

UPDATE 2008-12-03

The download packages for the database engine have returned to the download page.  Make sure you download the file labeled "SQL_Server_2008_Cumulative_Update_2" to apply to machines where the SQL Server engine is present, and the file "SQL_Server_2008_RTM_CU2_SNAC" to apply to any machines that don't have a SQL Server instance but do connect to any SQL Server 2008 instance.  I have asked for better descriptions on the download page to differentiate between the files, because I am sure a lot of people using SQL Server 2008 don't know the difference.  Also, be sure to download the file for the correct platform!  x64 if you are running 64-bit SQL Server on 64-bit Windows; x86 if you are running 32-bit SQL Server (regardless of whether the underlying OS is x86 or x64); and IA64 if you are on Itanium.

I have not yet downloaded the file and verified that the bits weren't swapped out quietly, though I have been assured internally that this is not what has happened…

I am sure this is kind of "Chicken Little" and might only be valid for a short time, but I thought I should mention it anyway, since I am already seeing people download the native client patch and scratch their heads, wondering why it won't patch the engine.  Sometime after Denis Gobo reported the availability of Cumulative Update Package 2 for SQL Server 2008 (Nov. 19th), and even after that because I downloaded it well after PASS Summit, it has disappeared from the download page.  At this moment, all that is available is the SNAC client for x86, x64 and IA64.

The files above will only patch the native client / drivers on the machine, so while it is worth the download (especially for client machines that do not host a SQL Server 2008 instance), it will not patch any engine components.

My fear, of course, is that we are re-entering familiar territory; after SP2 for SQL Server 2005 was released, one of the packages was rebuilt and redeployed, with the same build number, causing a lot of confusion.  I complained about that in March of 2007 and I wasn't the only one.

Now I am on the lookout for it, and hope it is returned without incident. Hopefully, it was not pulled intentionally, but rather inadvertently excluded from the download page temporarily.  When I have more information about this, I'll post here; if you see the downloads restored in the meantime, please let me know!

File Attachment: GotCU2.zip

Aaron Bertrand

I am a passionate technologist with industry experience dating back to Classic ASP and SQL Server 6.5. I am a long-time Microsoft MVP, write at SQLPerformance and MSSQLTips, and have had the honor of speaking at more conferences than I can remember. In non-tech life, I am a father of two, a huge hockey and football fan, and my pronouns are he/him. If I've helped you out, consider thanking me with a coffee. :-)

2 Responses

  1. Christoph Muthmann says:
    December 5, 2008 at 3:53 PM

    Hi Aaron,
    I can see both files available for download now! So there are 6 files (x86, x64, ia64) at the end.
    Kind regards,
    Christoph

  2. tosc says:
    December 3, 2008 at 12:58 PM

    But you are the only one.
    I remeber, there was a lot of posts by you at SQL Server Connect Center – and you done/do a good job.
    CU
    Torsten Schüßler