Auto Updates for SQL Server?

Our IT guy insists that he must be present anytime the SQL Server automatic updates from Microsoft are installed on the server or the server will crash. What has he been tinkering with to cause this to happen or is he just giving us a line?

Well, I wouldn′t apply all patches to SQL Server without any notice ot testing. Normally the updates or patches don′t break the functionality of SQL Server. To be sure, I would test the patch on a testing server. If you have a WUS, you can setup the server to confirm the patch first before applying the patch on the SQL Server.

HTH, Jens Suessmeyer.

http://www.sqlserver2005.de
|||I guess I needed to be a little more specific. He is referring to the auto updates which come from Microsoft (just like on a personal PC). He evidently has the server set up so that the updates sit there until he decides to install them (like the option on a personal PC) which isn't really the problem but then he has turned around and is saying that when he does install the updates (rather than anyone with knowledge to do so) he absolutely has to be there or the server will crash. What could he have possibly done which would make the server crash if he doesn't personally oversee the update process?|||

hi,

this sounds kind "confusing"...

does he perform particular steps in order to avoid "system crashes"?

regards

|||I don't have any idea. We're assuming he's just feeding us a line but he has an unusual family history (which has us particularly concerned at the moment). Believe me this is not a joke. We are not a Dept. of Defense facility or anything like that but we are just a small business where the owner hired him because of his computer knowledge (but does know his background). Now the owner is concerned this is coming back to bite him if we can't figure out why he needs to be there when any updates are installed. We are very worried that he has planted some type of code to bring the business to its knees. Other than a disaster recovery plan which I am already looking into, what other ideas would anyone suggest. I don't want to get anymore specific than what I have since I don't know whether he reads these forums or not.|||

I'm not sure this is a productive discussion for this forum. No one here could (or should) offer any suggestiona as to what your IT guy might or might not do to a computer to make it crash. If you have significant concerns about one of your employees, you need to take it up with your boss. If you feel it is a real possibility that your IT guy might do something maliceous to your server, you should have a qualified computer technician take a look at it.

Regards,

Mike Wachal
SQL Express team

FWIW: There are no patches for SQL Express available through Microsoft Update at this point, you have to download and apply them manually.