Share via

How to slipstream SQL Server 2008 R2 and a Cumulative Update (CU)

  • Article

Now that CUs are beginning to ship for SQL Server 2008 R2, I figured I needed to send out updated slipstream instructions for SQL Server 2008 R2. Since the original release of SQL Server 2008 R2 knows how to slipstream, the instructions are easier.  There are 2 different ways to slipstream. The first way, let’s call this the basic method, is to run the SQL Server Setup program and specify where to find the extracted CU files. The second way, let’s call this the advanced method, is to build a drop that will automatically slipstream the CU. Each time a new CU releases for SQL Server 2008 R2, you need to repeat the instructions below.

 

You can find the first CU for SQL Server 2008 R2 here.

 

The basic method:

The method is preferred if you want to perform a single install that includes the CU without needing to build a full drop and without needing to download all CU architectures.

 

Steps:

1. Download the CU package (in my example, I am using the x64 CU1 for SQL Server 2008 R2) that you want to slipstream. If you are running on x86 or IA64 system, select the appropriate package.

2. Extract the CU package to a folder, for example c:\MyCU. Extract the package as follows:

SQLServer2008R2-KB981355-x64.exe /x:c:\MyCu

 

3. Run Setup.exe

Setup.exe /CUSource=”c:\MyCu”

You can verify you are slipstream, when you view the “Ready to Install”. On this dialog, the word “(Slipstream)” will display after the Action as shown below.

image_thumb3

 

The advanced method:

The method is preferred if you want to create a drop containing a CU that you want to make available on a share.  This method requires to you download all architecture packages and create a merged drop containing the original release and CU. This method will take a little longer to set up, but once done will safe time. This method is preferred if you will be doing multiple installation.

 

1. Copy your original SQL Server 2008 R2 source media to c:\SQLServer2008R2_CU

2. Download the CU package for all architectures (in my example, I am using the CU1 for SQL Server 2008 R2) that you want to slipstream:

  • SQLServer2008R2-KB981355-x64.exe
  • SQLServer2008R2-KB981355-x86.exe
  • SQLServer2008R2-KB981355-ia64.exe

 

3. Extract each of the packages to a folder, for example c:\MyCU. Extract the package as follows:

  • SQLServer2008R2-KB981355-ia64.exe /x:c:\SQLServer2008R2_CU\CU
  • SQLServer2008R2-KB981355-x64.exe /x:c:\SQLServer2008R2_CU\CU
  • SQLServer2008R2-KB981355-x86.exe /x:c:\SQLServer2008R2_CU\CU

 

Ensure you complete this step for all architectures to ensure the original media is updated correctly.

4. Copy Setup.exe from the PCU extracted location to original source media location. Here is the robocopy command:

  • robocopy c:\SQLServer2008R2_CU\CU c:\SQLServer2008R2_CU Setup.exe

 

5. Copy all files not the folders, except the Microsoft.SQL.Chainer.PackageData.dll, in c:\SQLServer2008_FullSP1\PCU\<architecture> to C:\SQLServer2008_FullSP1 \<architecture> to update the original files. Here is the robocopy command:

  • robocopy C:\SQLServer2008R2_CU\CU\x86 C:\SQLServer2008R2_CU\x86 /XF Microsoft.SQL.Chainer.PackageData.dll
  • robocopy C:\SQLServer2008R2_CU\CU\x64 C:\SQLServer2008R2_CU\x64 /XF Microsoft.SQL.Chainer.PackageData.dll
  • robocopy C:\SQLServer2008R2_CU\CU\ia64 C:\SQLServer2008R2_CU\ia64 /XF Microsoft.SQL.Chainer.PackageData.dll

 

6. Determine if you have a defaultsetup.ini at the following locations:

  • C:\SQLServer2008R2_CU\x86
  • C:\SQLServer2008R2_CU\x64
  • C:\SQLServer2008R2_CU\ia64

If you have a defaultsetup.ini, add CUSOURCE=".\CU" to the defaultsetup.ini in each of these locations.

If you do NOT have a defaultsetup.ini, create one with the following content:

;SQLSERVER2008 R2 Configuration File

[SQLSERVER2008]

CUSOURCE=".\CU"

 

and copy to the following locations

    • C:\SQLServer2008R2_CU\x86
    • C:\SQLServer2008R2_CU\x64
    • C:\SQLServer2008R2_CU\ia64

      This file will tell the setup program where to locate the CU source media that you extracted in step 3.

7. Run setup.exe as you normally would.

 

 

You can verify you are slipstreaming when you view the “Ready to Install”. On this dialog, the word “(Slipstream)” will be displayed after the Action as shown below.

image_thumb3

Have you have installed, if you run the discover report, you will see these results after slipstreaming SQL Server 2008 R2 with CU1.

 

clip_image002_thumb6

Comments

  • Anonymous
    July 05, 2010
    CU2 has been released support.microsoft.com/.../2072493

  • Anonymous
    August 14, 2010
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    February 22, 2011
    I m not being able to instal sql server 2008  r2 on windows server 2008 r2 sp1, since ins farly new i think there must be something i missing like a CU, how can i check that? thanks

  • Anonymous
    March 02, 2011
    CU 6 has msi files instead of conventional .exe, so how to slipstream msi in to install media ?

  • Anonymous
    March 04, 2011
    Patel, you just have to find the right update files to download. The really big ones. For CU6 they are: SQLServer2008R2-KB2489376-IA64.exe SQLServer2008R2-KB2489376-x64.exe SQLServer2008R2-KB2489376-x86.exe

  • Anonymous
    March 18, 2011
    Do you have to slipstream SQL 2008 R2 for cluster installation? Or can you just do a vanilla install and apply the service pack?

  • Anonymous
    March 24, 2011
    @Tony - Its not manadatory to slipstream 2008 r2 install (unlike sql 2008 on win 2008 r2 and some other combinations).

  • Anonymous
    March 24, 2011
    When will MS come with a tool to automate the slipstreaming?

  • Anonymous
    December 08, 2011
    bob- Here is a tool which should assist you in creating the Merged slipstream media for SQL 2008. sqlslipstreamer.codeplex.com or sqlslipstreamer.codeplex.com/.../78143 Any feedback? Put it on the Codeplex discussion or drop me a mail. ps - this is not a Microsoft tool and is provided as is.

  • Anonymous
    December 16, 2011
    slipstreamer! easy and worked like a charm.

  • Anonymous
    September 13, 2012
    I found this: www.sqlha.com/.../weird-slipstream-observation-with-sql-server-2008-r2-sp1-and-a-cu Does anyone have an explanation or a fix?