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FAQ: Why was a public hotfix just released for SP1.

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Ok so this is not a true faq yet but based on previous SPs I predict it will be soon...

The KB article that wraps the hotfix is here, now a little explanation.

To ship an SP, which is a large undertaking for a product as large as SQL Server, at some point we have to stop taking fixes into it. There are cut off dates throughout the process of release and the calibre of accepted bugs goes up at each stage. However during the development of the SP, we will continue to release hotfixes on top of the RTM code base, some of these may already be in the SP, some may not. At regular intervals during the beta of the SP, the code from the hotfix source code tree is RI'd (reverse integrated, an automated mechanism where code from one branch is automatically merged into another) into the SP tree, however at some point even this has to stop to allow the SP to ship.

Hence some weeks after an SP we release a rollup hotfix which includes all the hotfixes which have been released since the last RI and that also apply to the SP. This also gives an opportunity to address any key regressions that exist.

As part of the more open, frequent release process we have been following, the rollup hotfix is publicly available this time (that is you do not have to call CSS) and hence went through multiple rounds of additional testing over and above what a normal hotfix would get.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    May 18, 2006
    If you're ready to install SQL Server 2005 SP1, you should also be aware of the recently-released cumulative...

  • Anonymous
    May 19, 2006
    What is the version number of the Hotfix vs. the SP1 release?

  • Anonymous
    May 21, 2006
    Has the issue running the Database Engine Tuning advisor been addressed:

    Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library
    Runtime Error!
    R6331
    -Attempt to initialize the CRT more than once.
    This indicates a but in your application.

    ?

  • Anonymous
    May 21, 2006
    Interesting background info Euan! Thanks!

  • Anonymous
    May 22, 2006
    Euan, thank you so much for the info!

  • Anonymous
    May 22, 2006
    The SQL Server team have recently released a post-Service Pack 1 Cumulative Hotfix Package for SQL Server...

  • Anonymous
    April 14, 2009
    I have received a ton of private mail on this, hence rather than just pasting the same answer in I’m

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