This article contains important information that you should review before you install Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Service Pack 3 (SP3). It describes how to obtain the service pack, the list of fixes that are included in the service pack, how to select the correct download based on your currently installed version, and a list of copyright attributions for the product.
Note This article serves as a single source of information to locate all documentation that is related to this service pack. It includes all the information that you previously found in the release notes and Readme.txt files.
More Information
How to obtain SQL Server 2012 SP3
SQL Server 2012 SP3, Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Service Pack 3 (SP3) Express, and Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Service Pack 3 (SP3) Feature Pack are available for manual download and installation at the following Microsoft Download Center websites.
| SQL Server 2012 SP3 |
Download the package now. |
|---|---|
| SQL Server 2012 SP3 Express |
Download the package now. |
| Microsoft SQL Server 2012 SP3 Feature Pack |
Download the package now. |
Note After you install the service pack, the SQL Server service version should be 11.0.6020.0. Microsoft SQL Server 2012 service packs are cumulative updates. SQL Server 2012 SP3 upgrades all editions and service levels of SQL Server 2012 to SQL Server 2012 SP3.
In addition to the enhancements and fixes that are listed in this article, this service pack contains all cumulative updates up to and including Microsoft SQL Server 2012 SP2 Cumulative Update 9 (CU9) .
For more information about the cumulative updates that are available in SQL Server 2012, see SQL Server 2012 build versions .
List of enhancements and fixes included in SQL Server 2012 SP3
Note Besides the above updates, additional changes may also be included in this service pack. You may receive documentation in the future.
Enhancements and new capabilities
SQL Server 2012 Service Pack 3 provides additional updates to help workloads from a performance, scalability and monitoring perspective. Key updates include:
- Scalability and performance improvements for the storage engine
- Improvements in consistency check performance
- Query hints to provide granular control while using Resource Governor
- Additional monitoring capabilities through enhancements in DMV, Extended Events and Query Plans
- Improved performance while opening and reading XEL files using XEvent Linq reader
- Improved performance for spatial queries
For more information about some of these enhancements that are included in SQL Server 2012 SP3, click the following links to go to the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.
Note Additional information about these and other enhancements is also available at the SQL Server 2012 Service Pack 3 is now Available! blog post on SQL Release Services blog.
| VSTS bug number | KB article number | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 5477465 | 3107397 | Improved diagnostics for query execution plans that involve residual predicate pushdown in SQL Server 2012 |
| 5457497 | 3107399 | Spatial performance improvements in SQL Server 2012 |
| 5067011 | 3107401 | New query memory grant options are available (min_grant_percent and max_grant_percent) in SQL Server 2012 |
| 5701679, 5701680, 5701683, 5701713 | 3112363 | Improvements for SQL Server AlwaysOn Lease Timeout supportability are available in SQL Server 2012 |
| 5700903 | 3107400 | Improved tempdb spill diagnostics in Showplan XML Schema in SQL Server 2012 |
| 5477280 | 3107172 | Improved tempdb spill diagnostics using Extended Events in SQL Server 2012 |
| 5220209 | 3107398 | Update for Dm_exec_query_stats DMV to track memory grants information in SQL Server 2012 |
| 5828091 | 2926217 | Make the database lock partitioning feature enabled by default without using trace flag T1236 |
| 5502320 | 2809338 | SQL Server now partitions the pointer to a memory object (PMO) that is used by the log pool at node level by default so that trace flag T9024 is no longer needed |
Fix list:
For more information about the bugs that are fixed in SQL Server 2012 SP3, click the following links to go to the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.
| VSTS bug number | KB article number | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 5855179 | 3107354 | FIX: Access violation occurs when you enable TDE in SQL Server 2012 |
| 5744439 | 3029825 | FIX: DBCC CHECKDB/CHECKTABLE command may take longer in SQL Server 2012 or SQL Server 2014 |
| 5852955 | 3065060 | FIX: "Unable to create restore plan due to break in the LSN chain" error when you restore differential backup in SSMS |
| 5828333 | 3070147 | Incorrect values are included in the description column when you query the sys.dm_xe_objects dynamic management object in SQL Server |
| 5869133 | 2925865 | Error when you execute SSIS package on FIPS-enabled Windows |
| 5016480 | 3081074 | FIX: A stalled dispatcher system dump forces a failover and service outage in SQL Server 2014 or SQL Server 2012 |
| 5111850 | 3112361 | FIX: The alwayson_ddl_executed extended event doesn't include the error number in SQL Server 2012 |
| 5112292 | 3112362 | FIX: Replica disappears from the availability group and the database changes to restoring state in SQL Server 2012 |
| 1010079 | 3112704 | FIX: Missing columns can't be indicated in the error message when you import data by using Import and Export Wizard |
| 5587451 | 3112710 | FIX: It's too slow to open and read event files (XEL) files from SQL Server 2012 by using XEvent Linq reader |
Additional resolutions
Resolutions to the following issues are also included in SQL Server 2012 SP3.
| VSTS bug number | Description |
|---|---|
| 5836754 | FIX: You cannot access the Filestream file share resource if NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM is disabled or removed from SQL Server logins. |
| 5867615 | FIX: You cannot repair a SlipStream installation of SQL Server 2012. |
| 5199657 | FIX: The assertion failures that occur when you use a 3rd-party application to back up SQL Server databases are not logged in the SQL Server error log. |
| 5668650 | FIX: DBCC CHECKDB WITH ESTIMATEONLY might return incorrect result. |
| 5828091 | Make the database lock partitioning feature enabled by default without using trace flag T1236. |
| 5798189 | FIX: You cannot perform any setup operations (for example, install update, uninstall) for SQL Server 2012 on a computer that has 50 instances of SQL Server installed. |
| 2450481 | FIX: When you perform a SlipStream installation of a Chinese (Traditional) version of SQL Server 2012, the URL of an MSDN article is missing in the Details section on the Complete page of the installation wizard. |
| 2578181 | FIX: When you remove an update for SQL Server 2012 by using the installation wizard, the service pack information is missing in the Ready to remove the update page. |
| 2979444 | FIX: You receive error "No datapoint found for id '554'" when you run the PREPAREIMAGE action on a SlipStream installation of SQL Server 2012. |
| 3207178 | FIX: You might receive false alarms for scheduler health conditions such as error 17883 and related errors. |
| 3284022 | FIX: When you install SQL Server 2012 on a ReFS volume, the installation fails because it is not supported. But the error message doesn't provide the information that install SQL Server 2012 on a ReFS volume is not supported. |
| 3360765 | FIX: Search for the inflectional form of Dutch words by using the INFLECTIONAL argument of the Full-Text Search feature might return incorrect result. |
| 4179079 | FIX: You might falsely receive the "Failed to verify Authenticode signature" error message in SQL Server 2012 when you execute a query that uses OPENXML as rowset provider. |
| 4773459 | FIX: When you click the How to Get Started with a PowerPivot for SharePoint Standalone Server Installation link in the Planning page of the Korea version of SQL Server Installation Center, it opens the MSDN web page in English language version. |
| 4870215 | Improve the error message "The specified edition upgrade is not supported." by providing more meaningful information to help you understand why the upgrade operation is failed. |
| 5458518 | The SET STATISTICS IO ON option does not include statistical information for sort operations. |
| 5217798 | FIX: Microsoft Update might apply QFE patches to GDR branch installations when multiple instances of SQL Server 2012 are installed. |
Select the correct file to download and install
The SQL Server 2012 SP3 download page contains the system requirements for installing SQL Server 2012 SP3 and basic installation instructions. For additional documentation about how to upgrade installed 2012 SP3 components with a SQL Server 2012 servicing update, see "install SQL Server 2012 Servicing Updates".
Use the following table to identify the location and name of the file to download based on your currently installed version. The download pages provide system requirements and basic installation instructions.
| Version you currently have installed | Action that you want to take | File to download and install |
|---|---|---|
| A 32-bit version of any edition of SQL Server 2012 | Upgrade to the 32-bit version of SQL Server 2012 SP3 | SQLServer2012SP2-KB3072779-<arch>-<lang id>.exe from SQL Server 2012 SP3 download page |
| A 32-bit version of SQL Server 2012 RTM Express | Upgrade to the 32-bit version of SQL Server 2012 Express SP3 | SQLEXPR_<arch>_<lang>.msi from SQL Server 2012 SP3 Express download page |
| A 32-bit version of only the client and manageability tools for SQL Server 2012 (including SQL Server 2012 Management Studio) | Upgrade the client and manageability tools to the 32-bit version of SQL Server 2012 SP3 | SQLEXPRWT_<arch>_<lang>.msi from SQL Server 2012 SP3 Express download page |
| A 32-bit version of SQL Server 2012 Management Studio Express | Upgrade to the 32-bit version of SQL Server 2012 SP3 Management Studio Express | SQLManagementStudio_<arch>_<lang>.msi from SQL Server 2012 SP3 Express download page |
| A 32-bit version of any edition of SQL Server 2012 and a 32-bit version of the client and manageability tools (including SQL Server 2012 RTM Management Studio) | Upgrade all products to the 32-bit version of SQL Server 2012 SP3 | SQLEXPRADV_<arch>_<lang>.msi from SQL Server 2012 SP3 Express download page. |
| A 32-bit version of one or more tools from the Microsoft SQL Server 2012 RTM Feature Pack , the Microsoft SQL Server 2012 SP1 Feature Pack, or the Microsoft SQL Server 2012 SP2 Feature Pack download page | Upgrade the tools to the 32-bit version of Microsoft SQL Server 2012 SP3 Feature Pack | One or more tools from Microsoft SQL Server 2012 SP3 Feature Pack download page |
| A 64-bit version of any edition of SQL Server 2012 | Upgrade to the 64-bit version of SQL Server 2012 SP3 | SQLServer2012SP2-KB3072779-<arch>-<langid>.exe from SQL Server 2012 SP3 download page |
| A 64-bit version of SQL Server 2012 RTM Express | Upgrade to the 64-bit version of SQL Server 2012 SP3 | SQLEXPR_<arch>_<lang>.msi from SQL Server 2012 SP3 Express download page |
| A 64-bit version of only the client and manageability tools for SQL Server 2012 (including SQL Server 2012 Management Studio) | Upgrade the client and manageability tools to the 64-bit version of SQL Server 2012 SP3 | SQLEXPRWT_<arch>_<lang>.msi from SQL Server 2012 SP3 Express download page |
| A 64-bit version of SQL Server 2012 Management Studio Express | Upgrade to the 64-bit version of SQL Server 2012 SP3 Management Studio Express | SQLManagementStudio_<arch>_<lang>.msi from SQL Server 2012 SP3 Express download page |
| A 64-bit version of one or more tools from the Microsoft SQL Server 2012 RTM Feature Pack , the Microsoft SQL Server 2012 SP1 Feature Pack, or the Microsoft SQL Server 2012 SP2 Feature Pack download page | Upgrade the tools to the 64-bit version of Microsoft SQL Server 2012 SP3 Feature Pack | One or more tools from Microsoft SQL Server 2012 SP3 Feature Pack download page |
For more information about how to upgrade your SQL Server installation to SQL Server 2012 SP3, see Supported Version and Edition Upgrades.
Copyright attributions
This product contains software derived from the Xerox Secure Hash Function.
This product includes software from the zlib general purpose compression library.
Parts of this software are based in part on the work of RSA Data Security, Inc. Because Microsoft has included the RSA Data Security, Inc., software in this product, Microsoft is required to include the text below that accompanied such software:
- Copyright 1990, RSA Data Security, Inc. All rights reserved.
- License to copy and use this software is granted provided that it is identified as the "RSA Data Security, Inc., MD5 Message-Digest Algorithm" in all material mentioning or referencing this software or this function. License is also granted to make and use derivative works provided that such works are identified as "derived from the RSA Data Security, Inc., MD5 Message-Digest Algorithm" in all material mentioning or referencing the derived work.
- RSA Data Security, Inc., makes no representations concerning either the merchantability of this software or the suitability of this software for any particular purpose. It is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty of any kind.
These notices must be retained in any copies of any part of this documentation or software.
The Reporting Services mapping feature uses data from TIGER/Line Shapefiles that are provided courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau (http://www.census.gov/). TIGER/Line Shapefiles are an extract of selected geographic and cartographic information from the Census MAF/TIGER database. TIGER/Line Shapefiles are available without charge from the U.S. Census Bureau. To obtain more information about the TIGER/Line shapefiles, go to http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger. The boundary information in the TIGER/Line Shapefiles is for statistical data collection and tabulation purposes only; its depiction and designation for statistical purposes does not constitute a determination of jurisdictional authority, rights of ownership, or entitlement, and does not reflect legal land descriptions. Census TIGER and TIGER/Line are registered trademarks of the U.S. Bureau of the Census.
Copyright 2012 Microsoft. All rights reserved.
References
For more information about how to determine the current SQL Server version and edition, click the following article number to go to the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
321185
How to identify your SQL Server version and edition
The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.