Microsoft releases SQL Server 2008 SP1

Microsoft has released the first service pack for its SQL Server 2008 database. Although the update does not contain any new features, companies are advised to download and install the included fixes.

SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1 appears to focus more on ease of deployment than offering resolutions to any existing problems.

For example, the release notes state that users "cannot add a cluster node when you install SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services and you do not install the SQL Server 2008 Database Engine". This has been modified to describe an " improved suggested resolution".

"While there are no new features in this service pack, customers running SQL Server 2008 should download and install SP1 to take advantage of the fixes which increase the supportability and stability of SQL Server 2008," the SQL Server developer team wrote in a blog post.

"With this service pack, Microsoft is introducing 80 per cent fewer changes to customer configurations compared to previous SQL Server Service Pack releases.

"This remarkable decrease is a testament to a revised product development process and updated servicing strategy that is focused on ease of deployment while keeping customer environments stable."

Microsoft has singled out three main features in the release notes: 'Slipstream', a new installation method designed to ease rollouts; additional uninstall features that allow for update rollbacks and other installation tweaks; and a 'ClickOnce' version of Report Builder 2.0.

Users that have installed, or plan to install, Visual Studio 2008 may have some minor hoops to jump through, such as the requirement to install Visual Studio's own service pack. Microsoft has made special note of how this should be tackled in the CSS SQL Server Engineers blog.