Facts about How SQL Server 2008 setup works... #2

Salient Features of Sql Server 2008 (Katmai) Setup
Minimize the MSI code for setup and use MSI code for what it does the best.

In Sql 2005 entire setup process was coded using MSI code which uses the Windows Installer code and was found to be root cause of many setup failures in sql 2005.

However in sql 2008 setup process has been optimized such that MSI code is mainly used to lay down the support files locally and then spawn the setup process locally. There after depending the different scenario (viz install, repair, uninstall, add node to cluster ...etc) various different workflows are select and the customized code is executed.

Same Media can be used for the installation irrespective of the CPU architecture i.e x86, x64 and IA64bit
The initial setup.exe which is an unmanaged code detects the CPU architecture of the system and calls the appropriate setup100.exe from the respective folder (x86, x64, IA64) on the DVD

Edition of the Sql Server 2008 is decided by the Product Key Code
In sql server 2008, same media is used for the installation of the entire edition and the edition installed is mainly decided by the Product code

Parikshit Savjani
SE, Microsoft SQL Server