Hi Everyone,

A customer running merge replication would like to install SQL sp4 on the
server acting as both the Publisher and the distributer.
They have asked me to research and produce a document detailing a rollback
plan should they wish to rollback the SP4 installation to their current SP3a.
Information seems hard to find, obviously we'll do a full backup of all user
databases and MSDB,Master system databases.
The readme file for SP4 mentions uninstalling and re-installing SQL and any
previous service packs, then restoring Master and MSDB system databases.
Firstly how do I restore these system databases as they will already exists
in the fresh install of SQL ?
How do I go about restoring the User databases especially those involved in
replication?
What replication settings will be lost during this re-install ?
Basically there is no current document detailing the existing replication
settings so I need to know what settings to make a note of before applying
SP4.

The rollback plan you mention would require a complete recreation of the
replication setup. For this I recommend regularly scripting out the
replication configuration and storing it in a source control system:
http://www.replicationanswers.com/Script5.asp
http://www.replicationanswers.com/Script7.asp
Details on "Backing Up and Restoring System Databases" in BOL.
Rgds,

Thanks Paul your help is appreciated

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