How to Download and Install SQL Server 2016 SP3
If you are using Microsoft SQL Server 2016, you may want to update your database server to the latest service pack available. Service packs are cumulative updates that contain hotfixes, fixes, and improvements for various issues that affect the performance, security, and stability of SQL Server. In this article, we will show you how to download and install SQL Server 2016 Service Pack 3 (SP3), which is the most recent service pack for SQL Server 2016 as of September 2021.
What is SQL Server 2016 SP3 and why you need it
SQL Server 2016 SP3 is a collection of updates that enhance the functionality and reliability of SQL Server 2016. It was released on September 15, 2021, and it applies to all editions and service levels of SQL Server 2016. It includes hotfixes that were previously released in cumulative updates from CU1 to CU17 for SQL Server 2016 SP2, as well as some new fixes and improvements.
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SQL Server 2016 SP3 features and benefits
Some of the features and benefits that SQL Server 2016 SP3 offers are:
It supports the latest operating systems, such as Windows Server 2022, Windows Server Core, Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), and Docker containers.
It enhances the performance, scalability, availability, security, and manageability of SQL Server databases, especially for large-scale data warehousing, analytics, and business intelligence scenarios.
It provides new capabilities for data integration, data quality, master data management, data virtualization, data governance, data privacy, data protection, and data compliance.
It improves the compatibility and interoperability with other Microsoft products and services, such as Azure Data Factory, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2, Azure Active Directory, Azure Key Vault, Power BI, Excel, SharePoint, Office 365, Dynamics 365, Visual Studio, .NET Framework, PowerShell, R Services, Python Services, Machine Learning Services, Analysis Services, Reporting Services, Integration Services, Master Data Services, Data Quality Services.
SQL Server 2016 SP3 fixes and improvements
Some of the fixes and improvements that SQL Server 2016 SP3 includes are:
It resolves an issue that causes transaction log truncation to fail on a single node availability group in SQL Server.
It resolves an issue that causes a non-yielding scheduler error to occur with Always On availability group in SQL Server.
It resolves an issue that causes an access violation to occur when using FileTable in SQL Server.
It resolves an issue that causes error messages when performing change tracking cleanup in SQL Server.
It provides an improvement for availability group listener without the load balancer in SQL Server.
How to get SQL Server 2016 SP3
There are different ways to get SQL Server 2016 SP3, depending on your needs and preferences. You can download it from the Microsoft Download Center, the Microsoft Update Catalog, or the Microsoft SQL Server Update Center. You can also use Windows Update or Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) to automatically download and install it. Alternatively, you can use the SQL Server Installation Center or the SQL Server Setup Wizard to download and install it.
SQL Server 2016 SP3 download links and options
The following table shows the download links and options for SQL Server 2016 SP3:
Download option
Description
Link
Microsoft Download Center
This option allows you to manually download the SQL Server 2016 SP3 package as a self-extracting executable file (.exe) or an ISO file (.iso). You can choose between the 32-bit (x86) or the 64-bit (x64) version, depending on your system architecture. You can also select the language of your choice.
Microsoft Update Catalog
This option allows you to manually download the SQL Server 2016 SP3 package as a Windows update (.msu) file. You can choose between the 32-bit (x86) or the 64-bit (x64) version, depending on your system architecture. You can also select the language of your choice.
Microsoft SQL Server Update Center
This option allows you to manually download the SQL Server 2016 SP3 package as a compressed file (.zip). You can choose between the 32-bit (x86) or the 64-bit (x64) version, depending on your system architecture. You can also select the language of your choice.
Windows Update or WSUS
This option allows you to automatically download and install the SQL Server 2016 SP3 package as a Windows update (.msu) file. You need to have Windows Update or WSUS enabled and configured on your system. You can also check for updates manually by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates.
N/A
SQL Server Installation Center or SQL Server Setup Wizard
This option allows you to automatically download and install the SQL Server 2016 SP3 package as part of the SQL Server installation or upgrade process. You need to have the SQL Server installation media or setup files on your system. You can also use this option to apply the service pack to an existing SQL Server instance.
N/A
How to install SQL Server 2016 SP3
Once you have downloaded the SQL Server 2016 SP3 package, you can proceed to install it on your system. The installation process may vary depending on the download option you chose and the type of SQL Server instance you have. However, the general steps are as follows:
SQL Server 2016 SP3 installation steps and screenshots
Before you install SQL Server 2016 SP3, make sure you have a backup of your databases and log files, and that you have enough disk space and memory available. You should also close any applications that are using SQL Server, and disable any antivirus or firewall software that may interfere with the installation.
Double-click the SQL Server 2016 SP3 package file that you downloaded, or run it from the command prompt with administrator privileges. This will launch the SQL Server Setup Wizard, which will guide you through the installation process.
On the first screen of the wizard, click Next to check for updates and install any prerequisites.
On the next screen, accept the license terms and click Next.
On the next screen, select the option to Install SQL Server Database Engine Services and click Next.
On the next screen, select the option to Perform a new installation of SQL Server 2016, or Upgrade from a previous version of SQL Server, depending on your scenario. If you are upgrading, you will need to select the instance that you want to upgrade. Click Next.
On the next screen, enter the product key for SQL Server 2016, or select the option to Specify a free edition, if you are using an Express or Developer edition. Click Next.
On the next screen, review the features and components that will be installed or updated, and click Next.
On the next screen, review the instance configuration and specify the instance name and ID. Click Next.
On the next screen, review the server configuration and specify the service accounts and startup types for each service. Click Next.
On the next screen, review the database engine configuration and specify the authentication mode, administrators, data directories, tempdb settings, and filestream options. Click Next.
On the next screen, review the ready to install summary and click Install to begin the installation.
Wait for the installation to complete. You can monitor the progress and status of each component on the installation progress screen.
When the installation is finished, click Close to exit the wizard. You may need to restart your system for the changes to take effect.
The following screenshots show some of the screens of the SQL Server Setup Wizard:
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SQL Server 2016 SP3 installation issues and troubleshooting tips
Although the installation of SQL Server 2016 SP3 is usually straightforward and smooth, you may encounter some issues or errors during or after the installation. Here are some common issues and troubleshooting tips that may help you resolve them:
If you get an error message that says The operating system on this computer or its service pack level does not meet the minimum requirements for SQL Server 2016, it means that your system does not meet the minimum hardware and software requirements for SQL Server 2016 SP3. You can check the requirements and make sure you have the latest updates and patches installed on your system.
If you get an error message that says The SQL Server service failed to start, it means that there was a problem with starting the SQL Server service after the installation. You can check the SQL Server error log and the Windows event log for more details and possible causes. You can also try to start the service manually from the Services console or the SQL Server Configuration Manager.
If you get an error message that says The SQL Server Setup operation failed, it means that there was a problem with completing the installation. You can check the summary log file and the detailed log files for more information and possible causes. You can also try to run the setup again with different options or parameters, or use the repair option to fix any corrupted or missing files.
If you get an error message that says The SQL Server feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable, it means that there was a problem with accessing the SQL Server installation media or setup files. You can check the network connection and permissions, and make sure you have a valid path and source for the installation. You can also try to copy the files to a local drive and run the setup from there.
If you get an error message that says The SQL Server patch installer has encountered an error, it means that there was a problem with applying the service pack to your SQL Server instance. You can check the patch log file and the Windows event log for more details and possible causes. You can also try to run the patch installer again with different options or parameters, or use the uninstall option to remove the service pack.
Conclusion and FAQs
In this article, we have shown you how to download and install SQL Server 2016 SP3, which is the latest service pack for SQL Server 2016. We have explained what SQL Server 2016 SP3 is and why you need it, how to get it, how to install it, and how to troubleshoot any issues that may arise during or after the installation. We hope you have found this article helpful and informative, and that you have successfully updated your SQL Server 2016 instance to SP3.
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about SQL Server 2016 SP3:
FAQ1: How do I check the version and service pack level of my SQL Server instance?
You can check the version and service pack level of your SQL Server instance by running the following query in a query window:
SELECT @@VERSION
This will return a result similar to this:
Microsoft SQL Server 2016 (SP3) (KB5004760) - 13.0.6300.2 (X64) Sep 15 2021 10:59:16 Enterprise Edition: Core-based Licensing (64-bit) on Windows Server 2022 Standard (10.0 <X64> Build 20348: ) (Hypervisor)
The first line shows the product name, service pack name, update number, and build number of your SQL Server instance. The second line shows the edition, licensing mode, architecture, and date of your SQL Server instance. The third line shows the operating system name, version, architecture, build number, and virtualization mode of your system.
FAQ2: How do I uninstall SQL Server 2016 SP3 if I encounter any problems?
You can uninstall SQL Server 2016 SP3 if you encounter any problems or if you want to revert to a previous service pack level. To uninstall SQL Server 2016 SP3, follow these steps:
Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
Select Microsoft SQL Server 2016 (64-bit) from the list of installed programs and click Change.
In the SQL Server Installation Center, click Maintenance > Edition Upgrade.
In the Select Instance dialog box, select the instance that you want to uninstall SQL Server 2016 SP3 from and click Next.
In the Select Features dialog box, select the features that you want to uninstall SQL Server 2016 SP3 from and click Next.
In the Check Files In Use dialog box, check if any files are in use by SQL Server and close any applications that are using them. Click Next.
In the Ready to Remove Features dialog box, review the summary of the features that will be uninstalled and click Remove.
Wait for the uninstallation to complete. You can monitor the progress and status of each feature on the removal progress screen.
When the uninstallation is finished, click Close to exit the wizard. You may need to restart your system for the changes to take effect.
The following screenshots show some of the screens of the SQL Server Setup Wizard:
FAQ3: How do I update other components of SQL Server 2016 such as Reporting Services, Management Studio, or Azure Data Studio?
SQL Server 2016 SP3 only applies to the SQL Server Database Engine Services and its related features. If you want to update other components of SQL Server 2016 such as Reporting Services, Management Studio, or Azure Data Studio, you need to download and install their respective updates separately. You can find the download links and instructions for these updates .
FAQ4: How do I get support for SQL Server 2016 SP3 if I need it?
If you need support for SQL Server 2016 SP3, you can contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support (CSS) by phone, email, or online chat. You can also visit the Microsoft SQL Server Support Forum or the Microsoft SQL Server User Voice to ask questions, report issues, or provide feedback. You can find the contact details and links for these support options .
FAQ5: Where can I find more information about SQL Server 2016 SP3 and other service packs?
If you want to find more information about SQL Server 2016 SP3 and other service packs, you can visit the following resources:
The official for SQL Server 2016 SP3, which contains detailed information about the features, fixes, requirements, installation, and troubleshooting of SQL Server 2016 SP3.
The official for SQL Server 2016 SP3, which contains a brief overview and announcement of SQL Server 2016 SP3.
The official for SQL Server 2016 SP3, which contains information about the security update that is included in SQL Server 2016 SP3.
The official for SQL Server 2016 SP3, which contains information about the changes and enhancements that are included in SQL Server 2016 SP3.
The official , which contains information about the latest updates and service packs for all versions of SQL Server.
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