Chapter 4. Installing and upgrading SQL Server 2008

With SQL Server 2008’s new and enhanced features, you can install and configure SQL Server instances that comply with best practices much easier than with earlier versions. Starting with the installation wizard, there are several new options, such as the ability to specify separate directories for backups, transaction logs, and the tempdb database. On the configuration side, policy-based management (which we’ll discuss in detail in chapter 8) lets you store instance configuration settings in XML configuration files that can be applied to a server instance after installation.

The next chapter will focus on clustered installations of SQL Server. This chapter covers the installation and upgrade of nonclustered SQL Server instances. We’ll start with some important preinstallation tasks, run through the installation process, and finish with upgrade techniques.

4.1. Preparing for installation

Adequate preinstallation planning is a crucial element in ensuring a successful SQL Server installation. A large percentage of problems with SQL Server environments can be traced back to poor installation choices, often performed by those with minimal SQL Server skills.

4.2. Installing SQL Server

4.3. Upgrading to SQL Server 2008

4.4. Developing a service pack upgrade strategy

4.5. Best practice considerations: installing and upgrading SQL Server