Get-DbaInstanceInstallDate View Source Mitchell Hamann (@SirCaptainMitch), mitchellhamann.com Windows, Linux, macOS Synopsis Retrieves SQL Server installation dates by querying system tables for compliance auditing and infrastructure tracking.
Description Queries system tables (sys.server_principals or sysservers) to determine when SQL Server was originally installed on each target instance. This information is essential for compliance auditing, license management, and tracking hardware refresh cycles. The function automatically handles different SQL Server versions using the appropriate system table, and can optionally retrieve the Windows OS installation date through WMI for complete infrastructure documentation.
Get-DbaKbUpdate View Source Chrissy LeMaire (@cl), netnerds.net Windows, Linux, macOS Synopsis Retrieves detailed metadata and download links for Microsoft KB updates from the update catalog
Description Searches Microsoft’s update catalog website to retrieve comprehensive information about KB updates including service packs, hotfixes, and cumulative updates. Returns detailed metadata such as supported products, architecture, language, file size, supersession information, and direct download links. Integrates with Get-DbaBuild to provide SQL Server-specific versioning details when available, making it essential for patch management and update research workflows.
Install-DbaInstance View Source Reitse Eskens (@2meterDBA), Kirill Kravtsov (@nvarscar) Windows, Linux, macOS Synopsis Automates SQL Server instance installation across local and remote computers with customizable configuration.
Description Orchestrates unattended SQL Server installations by generating configuration files and executing setup.exe remotely or locally. Automates the tedious process of creating proper configuration.ini files, handling service accounts, and managing installation prerequisites like pending reboots and authentication protocols.
The function dynamically builds installation configurations based on your parameters, automatically configures optimal settings like tempdb file counts based on CPU cores (SQL 2016+), and handles authentication scenarios including CredSSP for network installations.
Install-DbaSqlPackage View Source Chrissy LeMaire and Claude Windows, Linux, macOS Synopsis Installs Microsoft SqlPackage utility required for database deployment and DACPAC operations
Description Downloads and installs Microsoft SqlPackage utility, which is essential for database deployment automation and DACPAC operations. This prerequisite tool enables you to use Import-DbaDacpac, Export-DbaDacpac, Publish-DbaDacpac and Get-DbaDacpac for automated database schema deployments and CI/CD pipelines.
SqlPackage is Microsoft’s command-line utility for deploying database schema changes, extracting database schemas to DACPAC files, and publishing changes across environments.
Invoke-DbaAdvancedInstall View Source Chrissy LeMaire (@cl), netnerds.net Windows, Linux, macOS Synopsis Executes SQL Server installation on a single computer with automated restart handling.
Description Performs the complete SQL Server installation workflow on a target computer, including pre and post-installation restart management. This internal function handles copying configuration files to remote machines, executing setup.exe with specified parameters, configuring TCP ports, enabling volume maintenance tasks, and managing required system restarts. It provides detailed installation logging and error reporting to track the success or failure of each installation attempt.
Invoke-DbaAdvancedUpdate View Source Kirill Kravtsov (@nvarscar) Windows, Linux, macOS Synopsis Installs SQL Server updates and patches on remote computers with automatic restart management
Description Executes SQL Server KB updates on a target computer by extracting patch files, running setup.exe with appropriate parameters, and managing system restarts as needed. This function handles the core installation logic for Update-DbaInstance, processing update actions for specific SQL Server instances or all instances on a machine.
Save-DbaKbUpdate View Source Chrissy LeMaire (@cl), netnerds.net Windows, Linux, macOS Synopsis Downloads Microsoft Knowledge Base updates and patches to local storage
Description Downloads Microsoft KB updates, cumulative updates, and service packs from Microsoft’s servers to your local file system. This function handles SQL Server patches as well as any other Microsoft KB updates, making it easy to stage patches for installation across multiple servers. Supports filtering by architecture (x86, x64, ia64) and language, and can download multiple KBs in a single operation.
Update-DbaInstance View Source Kirill Kravtsov (@nvarscar), nvarscar.wordpress.com Windows, Linux, macOS Synopsis Installs SQL Server Service Packs and Cumulative Updates across local and remote instances automatically.
Description Automates the complete process of applying SQL Server patches to eliminate the manual effort of updating multiple instances. This function handles the entire patching workflow from detection through installation, replacing the tedious process of manually downloading, transferring, and applying updates across your SQL Server environment.
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