Applying patches with CLI

Question

When applying hotfixes and or patches is an unattended install through CLI still possible?? for example if I run SQLServer2005SP3-KB955706-x86-ENU.exe /quiet /allinstances the SP will extract and run but the first screen I get is an info screen with a link to information for the patch and an option to click next. If the quiet switch is still a viable option no boxes should open correct?? Is an option to truly patch unattended still available to us??

BB

Answer 1

I think the parameters you are passing are going to the self extractor and it is ignoring it. Try one of these

1. Run SQLServer2005SP3xxxx.exe /Q /C:"/quiet /allinstances"

2. Run SQLServer2005SP3xxxx.exe /Q /C"/quiet /allinstance"

In the above commands you are instructing the extractor to run in quite mode (with /Q) and pass the command line following /C to the command executed after extraction. There were some issues with how you use the /C parameter, I am not sure which build of SFXCab had the issue. If you have trouble with the above commands, try this

3. Extract the command using SQLServer2005SP3xxxx.exe /X:"C:\MySP3"
4. run C:\MySP3\Hotfix.exe /quiet /allinstances

Answer 2

I see where you were going with this and I did try to run with it, unfortunately it still leads to the screen with the link to the SP info and asking you to click next. The next click takes you into a manual SP3 installation with multiple choices. The rub is if I go through the manual install all I need are the default choices on every section. I have far to many servers and they are spread around the globe to even attempt manual patching so it is a real issue.
When I moved onto the second option you listed the first issue was at the end of the extraction up pops a box telling you the extraction is complete and you have to press "ok" this hangs the CLI script. That would have been fine to I would have just deployed the SP pre-extracted but when I called C:\MySP3\Hotfix.exe /quiet /allinstances i still get exactly the same as before and it starts a manual install.

BB

Answer 3

Just wanted to add that server updates and office updates have no issues running with either the /q or /quiet command on the servers this seems to be isolated to SQL hotfixes and service packs only.

BB

Answer 4

Ok I have had a chance to play with this this AM and am finding the following.
1. I have opened Task manager so I can see if the installer kicks off
2. I have extracted SQLServer2005-KB960089-x86-ENU.exe it has the same issues as SP3
3. from the command prompt I ran Hotfix.exe /? and it returns /quiet as a valid switch.
4. From the command prompt I ran Hotfix.exe /quiet and absolutely nothing happens, task manager shows that the installer doesn't even attempt to run.
5. From the command prompt I ran Hotfix.exe /q The installer runs but ignores the switch and a manual install kicks off. I see the installer running in task manager.
6. From the command prompt I ran Hotfix.exe /quiet/allinstances The installer runs but ignores the quiet command and runs a manual install

The conclusion I'm reaching is even though the .CHM and the hotfix.exe /? states that the switch /quiet will initiate a silent install it will in fact do no such thing. It would appear that microsoft has removed the silent install option and is forcing a manual install on the administrator. Even more unfortunate is it looks like the SQL team hasn't taken the time and effort to document the fact that the silent install option is disabled in their hotfix's and service packs leaving their customers to discover it on their own. At the very least they need to go back to when they did this and change the documentation to reflect that silent installations are not available from the time they changed this would give custtomers a clue and maybe stop them from wasting time on a solution no longer available to us.

BB

Answer 5

Hi,

It can be installed in silent or unattended model, have a look at this thread:
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sqlsetupandupgrade/thread/53f0cf73-16c0-40f7-8f47-0ef67785edfe

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ChunSong Feng
Microsoft Online Community Support

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