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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 Download the package now.

SQL Server 2012 SP3 Express

Download Download the package now.

Microsoft SQL Server 2012 SP3 Feature Pack

Download 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.

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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.

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