Any known issues with adding a second instance of SQL Server 2005 to a server that already has an instance patched to SP3

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Jason Crider asked Feb 23, '10

Any known issues with adding a second instance of SQL Server 2005 to a server that already has an instance patched to SP3

I have a production server running SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition that has been patched up to SP3.

I had this problem in the past but never found the workaround, or I wasn't brave enough to go ahead and try it. I understand that I could do this on a test box and see what happens but I wanted to see if anyone had done this before and might save me the effort.

I need to put a second instance of SQL Server 2005 that will be a named instance. As it's going through the System Configuration Check I get the infamous "Edition Change Check (Warning) : To change an existing instance of Microsoft SQL Server 2005 to a different edition of SQL Server 2005, you must run SQL Server 2005 Setup from the command prompt and include the SKUUPGRADE=1 parameter.".

I bypassed that and went ahead with the install. I'm pretty sure that there was just a check that found a different SQL Version and it assumed you were doing something with it instead of adding a new instance.

I just wanted to see if anyone knew of any issues and that I did things properly.

sql-server-2005 server-instances

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Answer 1 · 2010-02-23T18:38:25Z

CirqueDeSQLeil answered Feb 23, '10

I have added secondary instances in the past after the fact. Each one patched to a different level. Have not seen any ill-effects from doing so. I did just the same as you described - continued past that warning.

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Answer 2 · 2010-02-23T22:10:27Z

Steve Jones - Editor answered Feb 23, '10

The important thing to be aware of are non-instance aware services, like SSIS. If they are installed, don't add them to the new instance.

I would highly recommend that if you do this, you immediately patch the named instance back to the same level as the default instance. If you apply a CU that is post your default instance, apply that CU to the default as well.

This is the type of thing that should work, but I have seen quality issues in SQL 2000 with instances at times. I would not trust that all CUs properly deal with this and don't patch something that is potentially shared.

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