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The importance of regularly updating your SQL server cannot be overstated. With each patch, you get a host of bug fixes, security updates, and new features that can significantly improve the performance and security of your databases. However, manually patching all your servers can be a tedious and error-prone task. This is why automating this process, using a powerful scripting language like PowerShell, can be a game changer. In this blog post, we will be discussing how you can automate SQL server patch rollouts using PowerShell for SQL Server 2012, 2014, MySQL 5.6, DB2 10.5, and Azure SQL.

To begin with, let's discuss SQL Server 2012 and 2014. You can use PowerShell to automate the downloading and installation of SQL Server patches. A simple script can be written to check the current version of the SQL Server, download the appropriate patch, and then install it. Here's a basic example of how this can be done.

-- Check current SQL Server version 
$serverVersion = (Invoke-Sqlcmd -Query "SELECT SERVERPROPERTY('ProductVersion') AS Version" -ServerInstance "localhost").Version
-- Download the appropriate patch 
$patchURL = "https://patchURL.com/" + $serverVersion + ".exe"
Start-BitsTransfer -Source $patchURL -Destination "C:\Patches\"
-- Install the patch 
Start-Process "C:\Patches\" + $serverVersion + ".exe"

Next, let's consider MySQL 5.6. Automating MySQL patch rollouts with PowerShell is quite similar to SQL Server. The significant difference lies in the way we check the current version of the server and install the patch. In MySQL, we use the "SELECT VERSION();" command to get the current version of the server.

-- Check current MySQL version 
$serverVersion = (Invoke-Sqlcmd -Query "SELECT VERSION();" -ServerInstance "localhost").Version
-- Download the appropriate patch 
$patchURL = "https://patchURL.com/" + $serverVersion + ".exe"
Start-BitsTransfer -Source $patchURL -Destination "C:\Patches\"
-- Install the patch 
Start-Process "C:\Patches\" + $serverVersion + ".exe"

Moving on to DB2 10.5, the process is again quite similar, with the primary difference being in the command used to check the server version. In DB2, the command is "SELECT service_level, fixpack_num FROM TABLE (sysproc.env_get_inst_info()) as INSTANCEINFO".

-- Check current DB2 version 
$serverVersion = (Invoke-Sqlcmd -Query "SELECT service_level, fixpack_num FROM TABLE (sysproc.env_get_inst_info()) as INSTANCEINFO" -ServerInstance "localhost").Version
-- Download the appropriate patch 
$patchURL = "https://patchURL.com/" + $serverVersion + ".exe"
Start-BitsTransfer -Source $patchURL -Destination "C:\Patches\"
-- Install the patch 
Start-Process "C:\Patches\" + $serverVersion + ".exe"

Finally, let's consider Azure SQL. Since Azure SQL is a Platform as a Service (PaaS) offering from Microsoft, it is automatically updated and patched by Microsoft. Therefore, you do not need to worry about patching your Azure SQL servers. However, you can monitor the version of your Azure SQL server using the "SELECT SERVERPROPERTY('ProductVersion') AS Version" command as with SQL Server.

In conclusion, automating SQL Server patch rollouts with PowerShell can save you significant time and effort. By automating this process, you can ensure that your servers are always up-to-date with the latest patches, thereby enhancing their performance and security. Please note that the scripts provided in this blog post are basic examples and should be adjusted according to your specific requirements and environment before actual use.