The 3rd and final Service Pack release for SQL Server 2016 is now available for download at the Microsoft Downloads site. This is also the last Service Pack for any SQL Server version, as previously announced in the Modern Servicing Model for SQL Server. Please note that registration is no longer required to download.
This last Service Pack includes new functional fixes and enhancements, such as the ability to create an Availability Group (AG) listener without the load balancer to reduce AG failover latency. And also includes supportability enhancements in parity with enhancements already available for newer versions of SQL Server, such as new XEvents, improved statistics corruption detection, and a more scalable system health session.
To learn more about these enhancements and fixes included in SP3, see the SQL Server® 2016 SP3 KB Article (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/5003279).
To download SQL Server® 2016 SP3, please visit:
- Microsoft® SQL Server® 2016 Service Pack 3: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=103440
- Update Center for Microsoft SQL Server: https://docs.microsoft.com/sql/database-engine/install-windows/latest-updates-for-microsoft-sql-server