Setting up SQL Server media

Microsoft SQL Server media must be prepared using the BMC Database Automation Media Preparation Tool (mediaprep). Mediaprep can be used to prepare SQL Server 2019 (preview media), 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012, and 2008 media. Mediaprep also supports slipstreaming media to install SQL Server media that already has service packs or cumulative updates applied.

SQL Server patches downloaded from Microsoft as .zip or .exe files do not need to be prepared with mediaprep (see Managing SQL Server patch packages).

Before you begin

Ensure that you have met the following requirements regarding the installation media and mediaprep tool:

• Download the mediaprep utility from the Additional Utilities folder from the BMC Electronic Product Distribution (EPD) site. For more information, see Downloading the installation files.

• If your installation media consists of multiple disks, run mediaprep (SQL Server Media Uploader Tool) for each disk and then upload all of the files generated. 

  Note

  For ISO files, you must extract the contents of the ISO and then point the mediaprep utility to the extracted folder.

• After the media is prepared, it must be copied to the Manager. If you do not have the root password of the Manager, mediaprep enables you to save the prepared media files locally on your workstation, so that someone with root access can copy the files to /app/clarity/var/media (for Multi-Manager environments, you must upload prepared media to each Satellite Manager on which you want to provision this software).

To prepare SQL Server media using mediaprep

1. Either double-click the mediaprep.exe icon or run mediaprep.exe from the command prompt.
   
   A new console window opens, and all prompts appear in this window.
   
2. When prompted to prepare Microsoft SQL server media?, type y.
3. When prompted for the path to your SQL Server media, enter the path (such as the CD-ROM drive) and press Enter.
   If your media resides on a network share, map the share to a drive letter and specify the drive letter and location by using the mediaprep tool. Mediaprep does not accept network locations as a path to SQL Server media.
   The tool searches the media for versions of SQL Server and reports what it found. In some cases it might not be able to determine the SQL Server version automatically.
4. If prompted to specify if the SQL Server is a specific edition, type y or n.
5. When prompted to slipstream any service packs or cumulative updates into this media?, type y and press Enter if you want to do so.
6. When prompted for the path to the service pack, do one of the following:
   1. If you are slipstreaming a service pack, type the path to the service pack executable.
   2. If you are slipstreaming a cumulative update without a service pack, press Enter.
7. When prompted for the path to the cumulative update, do one of the following:
   1. If you are slipstreaming a service pack with no cumulative update, press Enter.
   2. If you are slipstreaming a cumulative update, type the path to the cumulative update executable.
8. To prepare the media for uploading to the Manager, press Enter.
9. When prompted to prepare Oracle media?, type n.
10. When prompted to copy files up to the Manager, type y and press Enterif want to do so.
    1. When prompted for the host name or IP address of the Manager, type the IP address and press Enter.
    2. When prompted to enter the root password of the Manager, type the password and press Enter.
11. When prompted to copy prepared media files to some other path on this workstation?:
    • If you want to do so, type y and press Enter.
    • If not, when prompted for the path, type it and press Enter.

12. When prompted that the media preparation is complete, press Enter.

    Note

    When you add a node to an existing clustered SQL Server instance, BMC Database Automation automatically selects the most appropriate SQL Server media from the media loaded on the manager. For example, if you add a node to a SQL Server 2008R2 instance at SP1+CU5, and the installation media loaded on the manager is for SQL Server 2008R2 RTM, SQL Server 2008R2 SP1 and SQL Server 2008R2 SP1+CU3, BMC Database Automation automatically selects the SQL Server 2008R2 SP1+CU3 media for adding the node to the clustered instance, and then applies a patch package containing the SP1 CU5 hotfix (if available).