On September 28, 2022, Microsoft released SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update 18. This is Build 15.0.4261.1. By Microsoft’s count, there are 26 public fixes and improvements in this CU, so it has a larger than average number of fixes. It is always a good idea to read through the CU KB article to see more information about each fix and improvement.
I was pleasantly surprised to see this CU actually release a couple of weeks early by the calendar. CU17 was released on August 11, 2022, so I was not expecting CU18 until the second week of October.
No Service Packs for SQL Server 2019
SQL Server 2017 and newer does not have Service Packs. Microsoft is not using Service Packs as a servicing mechanism for SQL Server, only cumulative updates.
Microsoft released a new CU every month for SQL Server 2019 for the first four months after GA. Due to human malware concerns, CU5 was delayed until June 22, 2020. From CU6 through CU8, they seemed to be back to a normal monthly release schedule.
Then Microsoft announced a release delay in order to give their employees some well deserved time off over the holidays. After that, there was silence until the Extended Events security update was released on January 12th, 2021.
Since SQL Server 2019 has been GA for more than a year, Microsoft has switched to releasing a new CU every two months. This is what they will do until SQL Server 2019 falls out of Mainstream Support on January 7, 2025. When SQL Server 2019 falls out of Mainstream Support, there won’t be any more cumulative updates.
Final Words
SQL Server cumulative updates are actually cumulative, which might seem obvious from the name. This means that when you install SQL Server 2019 CU18, you are going to get all of the hotfixes and product improvements from ALL of the previous CUs. Microsoft has fixed hundreds of bugs since SQL Server 2019 RTM, and they have also added a significant number of product improvements and new features since the RTM release.
Despite some stumbles by Microsoft (including SQL Server 2019 CU7), I am still a big proponent of trying to keep your SQL Server instances as up to date as possible. That does not mean throwing a new CU into Production the day it is released, but it also does not mean avoiding patching SQL Server indefinitely either. You really are better off trying to stay as current as possible on your SQL Server builds.
Here is Microsoft’s official guidance:
Microsoft recommends ongoing, proactive installation of CUs as they become available
KB5011644 – Cumulative Update 18 for SQL Server 2019 (microsoft.com)
- SQL Server CUs are certified to the same levels as Service Packs, and should be installed at the same level of confidence.
- Historical data shows that a significant number of support cases involve an issue that has already been addressed in a released CU.
- CUs may contain added value over and above hotfixes. This includes supportability, manageability, and reliability updates.
If you have any questions about this post, please ask me here in the comments or on Twitter. I am pretty active on Twitter as GlennAlanBerry. Thanks for reading!
Its Dec 9, 2022 – Any chance MS may put out SS 2019 CU19 this month?
Were trying to plan some Windows and SQL upgrades and need to apply whatever is available in our Sandbox env middle of next week after MS patch Tuesday next week. Its been 2.3 months since the last CU.
Unfortunately, only Microsoft knows when they are planning to release SQL Server 2019 CU19. By the calendar, it should have been released during the last week of November. If you ask them, they typically don’t want to give an answer.
It’s 15/02/2023, and no sign of it 🙁
Maybe tomorrow