Upgrades: System Center 2012, SQL Server 2012 (SP1) and Windows Server 2012

With Service Pack 1 for System Center 2012 the latest technologies will be supported as well: SQL Server 2012 SP1 and Windows Server 2012.

But how to go about it? What do you upgrade first? The Windows Server OS? SQL Server? Or the System Center 2012 component? Since a single picture clarifies it all, I have made a diagram in PowerPoint:

This single diagram tells it all:

1. System Center 2012 RTM (with or without the Update Rollups) runs on SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1;
2. System Center 2012 RTM (with or without the Update Rollups) DOESN’T run on SQL Server 2012 (SP1) or Windows Server 2012;
3. When System Center 2012 RTM is upgraded to System Center 2012 SP1, SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 are still supported;
4. When System Center 2012 RTM is upgraded to System Center 2012 SP1, SQL Server 2012 (SP1) or Windows Server 2012 are supported.

Based on that information, the order of the upgrades is like this:

1. System Center 2012 RTM > System Center 2012 SP1;
2. Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 > Windows Server 2012;
3. SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1 > SQL Server 2012 (SP1).

In this list Steps 2 and 3 can be switched when it fits your situation more.

Blog postings I have written about the various upgrades:

1. OM12 RTM > OM12 SP1;
2. Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 > Windows Server 2012;
3. SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1 > SQL Server 2012 SP1.

Please also take note of this posting: OM12 SP1 Upgrade Schema & Say Hello To tAP.