14 DAY TRIAL // The fourth service pack for SQL Server 2005 is following the same availability path that many other upgrades from Microsoft have followed before it, being now offered through the company’s update infrastructure in addition to the standalone downloads. This means that while customers can opt to manually grab SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 4 (SP4) from the Microsoft Download Center, they can also get it through Microsoft Update (MU) or Windows Update (WU).
According to the software giant, SQL Server 2005 SP4 hit Microsoft Update on January 25th, over a month after the first downloads with the RTM bits went live.
Microsoft will be catering to SQL Server 2005 customers differently, depending on which SKU of the data platform they are running.
“SQL Server 2005 SP4 which was released on the Microsoft Download Center on December 17th, 2010 is now available through the Microsoft Update Service.
“The main SP4 update for Standard, Workgroup, Developer and Enterprise Editions is available as an optional update on the Microsoft Update website and visible after performing a custom scan.
“The packages will be offered for each language and platform we support,” revealed Abhishek Sinha, Program Manager, SQL Server Sustained Engineering.
The software giant is also offering a free version of its data platform, and the Express edition of SQL Server 2005 will also receive Service Pack 4 as a refresh.
However, in this regard, customers with automatic updates enabled will have to go to almost no trouble at all to have the upgrade downloaded and deployed.
“In addition to the Microsoft Updates, the SQL Server 2005 SP4 Update version for Express Edition, Express Edition with Advanced Services, and Express Toolkit will be available as an automatic update.
“This update will be automatically downloaded and installed if you have elected to receive updates through Microsoft Update/Windows Update and have enabled automatic updates on your Windows system,” Sinha added.
IT professionals relying on Windows Software Update Services to manage their environments will also be able to deploy SQL Server 2005 SP4 through WSUS.
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 4 RTM is available for download here.
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Service Pack 4 RTM is available for download here.
The new SQL Server 2008 R2 RTM downloads are available here.