Slipstream Installation SQL Server 2012 and 2014

Slipstream is an installation method in SQL Server where SQL Server Instance and Service Pack/CU can be packaged together. This feature has been introduced from SQL 2008 SP1.

There are two types of slipstream methods.

1)      Simple Slipstream

2)      Advanced Slipstream

Simple Slipstream (2012):

This is command based installation which requires bit knowledge on installation parameters.

These are the parameters we need to know before going with this installation.

–      /Action

•       Install

–      /UpdateEnabled

•       True or 1

•       False or 0            

–      /UpdateSource

•       MU

•       UNC path

•       .\Myupdates

Refer this link for more parameters: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms144259(v=sql.110).aspx#Install

  

Step 1: Here, I placed SQL 2012 media with SP in C:\ drive

Step 2: Now open Command Prompt with Admin privileges (Run as administrator).

Step 3: Run below parameters in command prompt.

C:\ SQL2012_Ent_X64_RTM>setup.exe /Action=Install /UpdateEnabled=True /UpdateSource=”c:\SQL2012_SP”

This command starts the SQL install and patches the SP & CU from path mention under UpdateSource parameter.

You can find the SP and CU details in Product Updates screen of install wizard.

Note: If you place the entire SP’s and CU’s in same folder, this command takes the latest one to install.

Advanced Slipstream (2014)

This is easy method where you merge SP & CU within the SQL media. Here we won’t use any command prompt parameters. This is completely GUI.

Step 1: Here, I placed SQL 2014 media wit in C:\ drive

Step 2: Create new folder PCUSource inside media and place SP & CU in that folder.

Step 3: Now navigate to x64 folder and open Default.ini file in notepad.

Step 4: Add parameter UpdateSource=”./PCUSource” in Default.ini file and save it.

Step 5: Start your installation from steup.exe file.

You can find the SP and CU that are patched with installation under Product Updates wizard screen.

You can also perform advanced Slipstream in SQL 2012 and Simple Slipstream in SQL 2014 (Viceversa).