SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 3 Is Out

It's here, it's here! The new phonebook service pack is here!

Now before you run out and patch all of your SQL Servers, repeat after me:

• I will not install brand new service packs and patches on important systems
• I will not install brand new service packs and patches on important systems
• I will not install brand new service packs and patches on important systems

There. Now... Let's review what many DBAs and sysadmins think is a prudent patching routine:

Unless something is wrong right now and I know that the patch fixes that problem, wait four months after release to install it on a test system, test it for two months, and then if there are no problems plan on updating the live server at the six month anniversary.

In a similar vein, those same DBAs and sysadmins often think:

I won't upgrade to the new version of [Insert Product Here] until they release the first service pack.

I know that's probably not what Microsoft wants me to say but phooey - tis the truth... And MSFT knows it too - why do you think they release Service Pack 1 of nearly every major release before the six month anniversary of the product? Hell - it was February this year that Microsoft tried to trick us by released Windows 2008 "with SP1 already installed" (Windows Server 2008 will ship with SP1 installed from arstechnica).

Anyway, now I'm ranting and off topic... I'm glad the SQL Server team is hard at work and I don't want to take anything away from their efforts.

Download SQL Server 2005 SP3 here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=ae7387c3-348c-4faa-8ae5-949fdfbe59c4