No really, have you tried to install SQL 2008 on 2008 Server R2 yet?I just finished my install this morning and it was not pretty by any means.
Here we go: You need to first install SQL2008SPK1, let it install the support files and then fail. Now you can install… nope... wait... you then have to add the "Application Server" role to the server so that the .net 3.xx exists. NOW you can install SQL 2008 but wait...don’t forget to finish installing Sql2008 SPK1. Dang... still not done... Apply windows updates... again and again and again until the windows updater tell you that there are no more patches to apply.
Seriously? I feel like I'm applying some hacking method that I found on a script kiddie blog. The only thing missing was to have me make changes in the registry.
This just won't do. With SQL 2008 R2 (which is not a free upgrade) coming down the pipe line, I'd more than welcome "Sql2008 with Spk2", but as of yet, here are no official plans for SQL 2008 Spk2.
Recently Steve Jones called on all of us to vote for new service packs for both SQL 2005 and 2008. I couldn’t agree more with the points he makes in his article ( http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Editorial/69147/ )
Rolled up Cumulative Updates into a Service Pack ensures I'm working off a 'clean slate'. I'll know that I've not missing any needed updates, plus my confidence level about how SQL and the Server are going to act is very high.
Whether you are a: 'BI', 'Developer', 'DBA' you should be care very much about Microsoft releasing a new service packs for 2005 and 2008.
To finish, I'm straight up stealing the last sentence from Steve's article.
If you want SP4 for SQL Server 2005, go ahead and vote for it on this Connect item. If you want to be sure that your SQL Server 2008 systems continue to be properly patched, vote for SP2 for SQL Server 2008 here on Connect.
Scott Gleason