9.6.12: Service Pack 3

This topic contains information about fixes and updates in this service pack. It also explains how to obtain the installation and other files that you need to install PATROL for Microsoft SQL Server.

What's new

Supports .NET framework 4.xx version

PATROL for Microsoft SQL Server 9.6.12 and later supports .NET framework versions from 3.5.xx to 4.xx. For more details please refer to System requirements.

What's changed

Easy enabling of external process (SQLCollector.exe) logging

PATROL for Microsoft SQL Server 9.6.12 allows you to enable/disable logging of external process (SQLCollector.exe) from configuration Central Monitoring Administration (CMA) screen only.

Now there is no need for extra ‘NLog.config’ file edit, you can achieve it through enable/disable logging from CMA only. To know more about this feature, please see configuring Microsoft SQL server using CMA

Enhancement of annotation for status parameters

PATROL for Microsoft SQL Server 9.6.12 provides improved annotation coverage for status parameters.

Annotation now includes more details about the problem, environment characteristics and possible corrective actions.

If the Generate detailed events feature enabled, job is considered as not failed after successful run

PATROL for Microsoft SQL Server 9.6.12 has changed the way it detects the job as not failed in case if the Generate detailed events feature enabled. Earlier, the job was considered as failed if and only if it is failed during the last collection interval. Now in version 9.6.12 with the Generate detailed events feature enabled, the job is considered as failed only if the last Run was not successful, it doesn't matter when the Job was run.

As a result of that SQL Agent Job Failures does not close the event till the job is successfully run, when the Generate detailed events feature enabled.

In addition, PATROL for Microsoft SQL Server uses the stored procedure msdb.dbo.agent_datetime to gather Failed and Hung Job metrics. The monitoring user should have permission to execute this procedure. For more information, see System requirements.

Enhancement of diagnostic tool functionality

PATROL for Microsoft SQL Server 9.6.12 has improved the tool usability to be more intuitive and accurate.

To know more about this enhancement, please see Validation of Windows user and Validation of MS SQL Server login.

List of installation files

The following tables list product files per platform available on EPD for PATROL for Microsoft SQL Server.

Product files for Windows and UNIX platforms

Downloading the files

The product files that you download from the BMC Software Electronic Product Distribution (EPD) website might contain some or all of the patches listed on a product’s Customer Support web page. If the EPD page shows that a patch is included in a file that you downloaded, you do not need to obtain that patch separately.

1. Create a directory in which to place the downloaded files.

   Note

   On Microsoft Windows computers, ensure that the directory is only one level into the directory structure. The EPD package creates a directory in the temporary directory when you extract the files, and the directory that contains the installation image should not be in a directory deeper than two levels into the directory structure.

2. Go to Electronic Product Distribution (EPD) website.

3. At the logon prompt, enter your user ID and password, and click Submit.
4. On the Export Compliance and Access Terms page, provide the required information, agree to the terms of the agreements, and click Continue.
5. If you are accessing this site for the first time, create an EPD profile to specify the languages and platforms that you want to see, per the EPD site help; otherwise, skip to step 6.
6. Verify that the correct profile is displayed for your download purpose. Use the Profile list to select a different profile.
7. From the Component View (the default view), in the Filter Products text box under Products, type BMC PATROL for Microsoft SQL Server and press Enter, or click Go.
8. From the list of products displayed on the right side, click the appropriate product.
9. In the window, select the Version (default selection is the latest GA version), the Platform (if applicable), and click Go.

10. Click one of the following tabs, and select the check boxes next to the files and documents to download:

    You cannot select files across the tabs. When you click another tab, current selections are cleared.

    • Products - Displays the product files and supplementary related files available for download, including service pack files.

    • Patches - Displays the patch files available for download.
    • License Information - Displays the files related to licenses.
    • Documentation - Displays the Online Technical Documentation links and the offline zip files of the documentation available for download.
11. Click Download (FTP) or Download Manager to download the selected files:
    • Download (FTP) places the selected items in an FTP directory, and the credentials and FTP instructions are sent to you in an email message.
    • Download Manager enables you to download multiple files consecutively and to resume an interrupted download if the connection drops.
      This method requires a one-time installation of the Akamai NetSession client program on the target computer and is usually the faster and more reliable method to transfer files. A checksum operation is used to verify file integrity automatically.
12. Repeat steps 10 and 11 for each tab.

13. To go back to the product listing page to download other product files, or to logout from EPD, click X that is displayed to the top-right of the pop-up window.
    

Where to go from here

Carefully review the System requirements for your platform and other tasks necessary for setting up the installation environment. You must perform these tasks before you launch the installation program. 

For installation instructions, see Installing.