Automating SQL Server Service Pack / Patch / Hot fix apply

In one of my task I have to apply the latest SQL Server Service Pack /
Patch / Hot fix on all the SQL Server Boxes in our client environment. There
are more than 400 SQL Server boxes with SQL Server version 6.5, 7.0 and 2000
running on Window NT, 2000 and 2003 Platforms. We have been given deadline of
one month to apply the SQL Server patches access all the box.
It is also being advised to rollout this task Quarterly on every year
as the Service pack / Patch are being released.
Hereby I am looking for some advise on
1. The best process to follow on for this task:
2. Automating this task:
Is anyone used any third party tools like "Opsware" to automate this
process?
3. Issues and Risks:
Issues and Risks which to be faced as part of this task .
4. Misc:
Any sort of information that would help with this task.
Thanks
S SIVAPRASAD
Have you considered Microsoft Systems Managment Server. It's really designed
just for change and configuration management. It's a great tool for applying
service packs & hotfixes accross the enterprise.
See http://www.microsoft.com/smserver/ev.../default.mspx.
Mike
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"S Siva Prasad [SIVA]" <SSivaPrasadSIVA@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:1C8805CA-3E70-452E-944A-30419598693D@.microsoft.com...
> In one of my task I have to apply the latest SQL Server Service Pack /
> Patch / Hot fix on all the SQL Server Boxes in our client environment.
> There
> are more than 400 SQL Server boxes with SQL Server version 6.5, 7.0 and
> 2000
> running on Window NT, 2000 and 2003 Platforms. We have been given deadline
> of
> one month to apply the SQL Server patches access all the box.
> It is also being advised to rollout this task Quarterly on every year
> as the Service pack / Patch are being released.
> Hereby I am looking for some advise on
> 1. The best process to follow on for this task:
> 2. Automating this task:
> Is anyone used any third party tools like "Opsware" to automate this
> process?
>
> 3. Issues and Risks:
> Issues and Risks which to be faced as part of this task .
>
> 4. Misc:
> Any sort of information that would help with this task.
> --
> Thanks
> S SIVAPRASAD
sql