Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011

Note: The CRM 2011 Update Rollup 6 packages, originally released on Jan. 12th, 2011, were recalled early Jan. 13th. If you have downloaded any of these packages (build 1985) please discard them and download new versions available now (build 1992). The new packages were released Saturday, Jan. 21st.

If you did new installs with the Update Rollup 6 "slipstream" packages that were released (these would be the packages that include the full install bits as well as Update Rollup 6) you will get an error trying to patch those components to the new Update Rollup 6 build. Knowledge Base article 2668504 describes the issue. This Knowledge Base article is live, as well as the updated Update Rollup 6 KB article.

The only workaround is to reinstall if you happened to use the Update Rollup 6 slipstream builds. For server you can connect to existing databases on the reinstall. The reinstall goes for any of the components that you installed with the Update Rollup 6 slipstream builds, (Client, Router, etc.). If you do not reinstall you will not be able to patch to the re-released Update Rollup 6 packages or future Update Rollups, as Update Rollup 6 represents a new baseline.

Note: These Update Rollups update the following components available via the Microsoft Download center. As of Jan. 21st, 2012 these installation files have been updated to include CRM 2011 Update Rollup 6 (re-release Version 05.00.9690.1992):

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2011

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 for Microsoft Office Outlook

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 E-mail Router

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Report Authoring Extension (Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 BIDS, aka Microsoft SQL Server 2008 or 2008 R2 Business Intelligence Development Studio Fetch Extension)

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Language Pack (aka Multilanguage User Interface, MUI)

Mismatched Update Rollup versions within a Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 deployment

In a scenario where you may be running many client workstations with Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 for Microsoft Office Outlook, a common question is whether it is supported to run mismatched versions. For example, where Update Rollup 5 has been installed on the CRM Server but the Outlook clients are still on Update Rollup 1, or where Update Rollup 1 is on the CRM server but due to updates available to the Outlook client you have decided to install Update Rollup 6 on the clients without installing Update Rollup 4 on the server.

The general rule of thumb is to try to keep the versions in sync as much as possible. However, it is permissible (though not recommended as a long-term solution) to run mismatched Update Rollup versions on Outlook client and server, as Microsoft does do some testing of such combinations.

However, regarding the other Update Rollups (for example Rollups for the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Email Router or Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Reporting Extensions), it is not supported nor recommended to run mismatched versions. A best practice is to update these components at the same time you update your CRM Server. Do the best you can to keep these Update Rollup versions in sync.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0

NOTE: Due to the low volume of fix requests for CRM 4.0, the CRM SE team paused releases of CRM 4.0 rollups after Update Rollup 21 was released 2/9/2012. CRM SE will continue to service CRM 4.0 requests on an individual basis using our Critical on Demand process, and plans to release CRM 4.0 Update Rollup 22 on 11/15/2012.

Keep in mind that Mainstream Support for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 ends April 9^th, 2013, as per CRM 4.0’s supported lifecycle.