Sql Server 2014 Express - Service pack

Question

Hello,
We have Sql Server 2014 12.0.2000.8 (X64) - EXPRESS Edition and we would like to apply the Patch to make it update date.

Should I go directly with latest SP3 or I have to go with each SP, SP2 and SP3 or any CU pack?
For Express, it has specific patch path for Service pack download?

when I was looking download and I see there are different downloads and it was also separate showing for Express?

If someone has info and proper link then it will be great.

I wanted to just make sure before I apply the Service pack as we have base version of Express Sql 2014

Answer 1

Hi @pdsqsql ,

Let me introduce you to some concepts about SQL Patch.
RTM: stands for Release to Manufacturing, which is the original release version of the product and the default version when downloaded from the CD or MSDN. However, nowadays, when you download the SQL Server version, there is also a version with SP integrated.
Hotfix: An issue that needs to be fixed. Every year, there are many bugs or vulnerabilities in SQL Server, and the fixes for these issues are defined as Hotfix.
Cumulative Update (CU): Cumulative update package, which consists of Hotfixes. CU is released every 8 weeks, so there will be CU1, CU2 ......, etc. Each latest CU version contains Hotfixes from the previous CU. CU is installed based on the original version (RTM) or SP.
Service Package (SP): SP is the package with the most integrated Hotfixes, which are officially and fully tested. SP is the largest patch file for a SQL Server product release, and is released every 12 to 18 months.
GDR (General Distribution Release) is different from CU in that each latest CU contains cumulative updates based on RTM/SP, while GDR contains only serious updates. They have the same baseline.
Each latest CU contains fixes for issues integrated with the previous CU, and each SP contains fixes for issues included in the previous SP. Now look at the picture again.

You can install SP3 firstly(KB4022619) then install the latest CU(KB4500181)
In the first KB, download the SP link for Express Edition.

After every installation you can use the SELECT * @@version statement to check the current version to see if the installation was successful.

Finally, here is the document of SQL SERVER 2014 Build Versions: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb2936603-sql-server-2014-build-versions-6f75da99-d86f-53fa-23ce-3d2b4825eccb

Best regards,
Seeya

---

If the answer is the right solution, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".
Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Answer 2

Thank you Seeya.

Somehow, I am confused as after selecting KB4022619 then SQL Server 2014 SP3 Express downlead package and I am selecting SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe ( Is it I am selecting wrong??) after downloading, when I am selecting SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe (DC) it's starting to extract the files and prompting me for regular installation screen like Select features to upgrade, not typical SP installation, all the steps looks like I am doing new installation instead of SP3 patch instalaltion.

Can someone please guide me?

Answer 3

Please see following link:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb4022619-sql-server-2014-service-pack-3-release-information-64f341d3-2b74-0d86-e857-b9fd0775e493

It has SQL Server 2014 SP3 and SQL Server 2014 SP3 Express download package and I am selecting SQL Server 2014 SP3 Express download package so I am getting different options to load like following files options and I am selecting SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe

Version:  
12.0.6024.0  
  
File Name:  
ENU\x64\SqlLocalDB.msi  
  
ENU\x86\SqlLocalDB.msi  
  
**SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe**  
  
SQLEXPR_x86_ENU.exe  
  
SQLEXPR32_x86_ENU.exe  
  
SQLEXPRADV_x64_ENU.exe  
  
SQLEXPRADV_x86_ENU.exe  
  
SQLEXPRWT_x64_ENU.exe  
  
SQLEXPRWT_x86_ENU.exe  
  
SQLManagementStudio_x64_ENU.exe  
  
SQLManagementStudio_x86_ENU.exe  

then It's start to extract the file on same directories - presented with the “Choose Directory for Extracted Files” dialog, once you start extracting then it opens installation page and it has similar steps like new instalaltion

Answer 4

Let me answer your questions.

No, you do not need to download and install anything except the latest "Service Pack" and the "Cumulative Update" for that service pack to be current.

Please see:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-US/troubleshoot/sql/releases/download-and-install-latest-updates

Answer 5

Thanks Tom.

It was useful link.
Actually when you apply the patch, somehow it taking to the route like normal fresh installation and asking for new installation or feature update so when you select feature update, it's not helping as nothing to update for new features.

IF you select upgrade option then it's asking for to choose named instance or default instance, you can't select default instance as instance is already there and if choose named instance then it will be another named instance install so it didn't helping although if you do regular service pack for other edition like standard or enterprise then it's very straight forward installation either SP or CU.

I was able to do using command line which was very quick and easy.