Update on the Service Pack plans for SQL Server.

Dear Customers,

 

 

We would like to share some updates on our planning for SQL Server Service Packs.

We have seen the feedback on Connect (feedback IDs 814658, 814656, 814600) and the number of
votes they each have received. We will continue to keep you posted on updates as our planning evolves.

 

For SQL Server 2012:

We are planning to deliver Service Pack 2 for SQL Server 2012 later this year.

 

For SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2:

As you may be aware these versions are scheduled to exit mainstream support on July 8, 2014 as per Microsoft’s Lifecycle Policy.

For that reason we are actively working to clarify the service pack story for these versions.

We understand this is an important topic and would like to assure you it is our commitment to deliver first class servicing for SQL Server.

Stay tuned for further updates on this blog in the coming weeks.

 

Jean-Yves Devant 

Senior Program Manager

Servicing PM of High Availability and Mobile Technologies in SQL Server.

Release PM of Service Packs for SQL Server

Comments

• Anonymous
  February 13, 2014
  Please  make sure SP2  available in windows update catalog .. we spend 100s of hours  patch 2008r2 sp2 just because its not available on windows update catalog ..

• Anonymous
  February 13, 2014
  Thiru-Dell, I know it's not a cure all, but there are some great directions to slipstream the install media for 2008 R2 SP2 so that on future installations it's done as part of the installation for you. support.microsoft.com/.../955392

• Anonymous
  February 14, 2014
  I really hope that Microsoft decides to release a final set of Service Packs for both SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2. It is pretty clear that this is what most customers want. Getting more customers on a newer build of the version of SQL Server that they are running is a good way to wrap up these two releases. Since many customers will not deploy Cumulative Updates, a final set of Service Packs will help get more customers to install a newer build before both versions go out of mainstream support in July.

• Anonymous
  February 16, 2014
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  February 16, 2014
  This really said nothing other than acknowledging there was confusion and complaints.

• Anonymous
  February 16, 2014
  @Erik slipstreaming of SQL Server 2008 R2 SP2 doesn't work. I haven't found any reliable procedure of preparing image of 2008 R2 with SP2.

• Anonymous
  February 16, 2014
  Basically what Glenn said. Our policy is to go from service pack to service pack unless we need a patch to resolve a particular issue. A final SP release for 2008 & 2008 R2 is definately what is needed. Thanks.

• Anonymous
  February 16, 2014
  Thanks Jean-Yves ... It's good to hear that the end of mainstream support will be July 2014 instead of July 2012 (when the last service pack was published).

• Anonymous
  February 17, 2014
  My customers (and myself) are all looking for another SP for 2008 and 2008 R2.  It's been a LONG time for both since the last SP!

• Anonymous
  February 18, 2014
  Slipstreaming media is a simple and effective method. The following link gives detailed instructions on the process... Just modify with process with the use of SP2 files. blogs.msdn.com/.../how-to-slipstream-sql-server-2008-r2-and-a-sql-server-2008-r2-service-pack-1-sp1.aspx

• Anonymous
  February 19, 2014
  I echo the 2008 R2 SP 3, is what is needed.  I'd also like to see an overall plan/strategy from Microsoft on if Service Packs and/or CU's on a go forward basis.  If I had to guess we will only ever see SP 1 on each new release in the off year of their 2 year product release cycle, so SP 2 would be SQL 2016 or 2014 R2 (whatever they name it).

• Anonymous
  March 21, 2014
  Is there an update on service pack for SQL Server 2008 R2 yet?

• Anonymous
  March 26, 2014
  11 CUs for SQL 2008R2 SP2 - time for a properly tested service pack for sure.

• Anonymous
  April 08, 2014
  We are still waiting for SQL Server 2008 R2 SP3 . . .

• Anonymous
  April 21, 2014
  Surely with so many fixes in the cumulative updates for SQL2008, 2008R2 and 2012 since their last service packs and the imminent end of full support for 2008 and 2008R2 it would be best for all businesses using these products to run with the most current version of the product. My business supports using cumulative updates but many others do not. Please produce SQL2012 SP2 as promised and SQL2008 and 2008R2 service packs. We run with a lot of SQL2008R2 that will take time to upgrade to 2012 or 2014 so I would want a fully supported and tested version when full support ends in July. Chris  

• Anonymous
  May 07, 2014
  "Stay tuned for further updates on this blog in the coming weeks." - Have I missed these updates? It would be helpful to know if a decision has been made on when SP4 for 2008 and SP3 for 2008 R2 are going to be released? I have many customers eagerly waiting on the final service packs for 2008 to be released.

• Anonymous
  May 08, 2014
  So far, no updates have been announced. It is only sixty days until Mainstream support ends for both SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2, so unless Microsoft has already started their test cycle for final Service Packs, I don't think it is going to happen.

• Anonymous
  May 08, 2014
  Like Mark said above, we were expecting updates in the coming weeks.  It has been almost 3 months since this entry was made, and there has been no update posted on this blog, or on any of the Connect items (like Glenn's) that point us here. Would appreciate if Microsoft could "clarify the service pack story for these versions", whichever way it is decided.

• Anonymous
  May 14, 2014
  I would like a final SP for 2008R2 since we have several dozen large clients that rely on SQL Server 2008 R2 at this point and, while they have plans to move to SQL 2012 shortly, should still be covered until that point.

• Anonymous
  May 15, 2014
  Enterprises with large number of servers need service pack to patch all of The servers to The same Level. So we need a kast service pack For 2008 and 2008 R2

• Anonymous
  May 18, 2014
  Please provide an SP2 for SQL 2008R2. This is very important for our 100+ customers running our software on SQL Server. Our Customers mostly are very reluctant to by new licenses if they can in any way.

• Anonymous
  May 22, 2014
  Service Packs / CUs on SQL Server as far as I'm concerned are a total fail at this point. There seem as though there is no direction and and no one in charge. It gives the impression of total incompetence within the SQL team. I know that is certainly not the case, but that is indeed the impression.

• Anonymous
  May 22, 2014
  The last Service Pack for 2008 was October 2011. Come on, that's more than 2 years! We still have applications that do not support SQL 2012, let alone SQL 2014, and an upgrade to 2008 R2 doesn't make sense. So I would really appreciate a final Service Pack for 2008.

• Anonymous
  May 27, 2014
  Three months on and still no news on these Service Packs. "Later this year" is a pretty big time span. How about narrowing it down a bit, or are we supposed to wait patiently until December 31st for you to fail to deliver? Where are the "further updates" that were promised "in the coming weeks"? I'm sure you would  "like to assure you it is our commitment to deliver first class servicing for SQL Server" but action is needed. Your nice (and vague) words followed by stony silence do not assure us at all.

• Anonymous
  June 02, 2014
  Good to hear about the SQL2008 and 2008R2 end of life service packs. Is there any update on the SQL2012 SP2 promised? Thanks Chris

• Anonymous
  June 05, 2014
  Thank you for confirming final service packs will be released for SQL Server 2008: blogs.msdn.com/.../update-on-the-service-pack-plans-for-sql-server-2008-and-sql-server-2008-r2.aspx

• Anonymous
  June 30, 2014
  YES, we all need a Service Pack for older versions of SQL as well as current. The other request is to have SQL SP and CUs available through the catalog for SCCM, as Thiru mentioned. SP2 for SQL Server 2012 has been released, however there are a couple corruption bugs not fixed on SP2, and it was just released this 06/20/2014. 2969896 FIX: Data loss in clustered index occurs when you run online build index in SQL Server 2012 (Hotfix for SQL2012 SP2)

• Anonymous
  September 25, 2014
  Is there a later update (outside of the May 29 posting) regarding the relase of sevice pack 3 for SQL 2008 R2 and serive pack 4 for SQL 2008?