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Slipstream installation for SQL Server

Applies to: SQL Server - Windows only

Slipstream installation is the process of integrating cumulative updates (CUs) into the SQL Server setup process. This method ensures that SQL Server is installed with the latest fixes and improvements in a single operation, without requiring a post-installation patch.

Slipstreaming is useful for:

  • Avoiding known setup issues in base media

  • Reducing deployment time and manual effort by performing installation and patching in one operation and helping avoid extra operating system reboots.

How slipstreaming works

During setup, you run SQL Server installation with the /UpdateEnabled=True parameter to enable update integration, and specify the folder containing the desired CU using /UpdateSource.

For example:

setup.exe /Action=Install /UpdateEnabled=True /UpdateSource="C:\SQLUpdates"

This example command line operation tells Setup to use the updated binaries from the specified folder instead of the original base media, applying them during the installation process.

Guidance for using slipstream

  • You should integrate the latest cumulative updates into the installation media to ensure the instance starts with the most stable and secure configuration.

  • Test slipstream installations in a staging environment before deploying to production.

  • Use consistent update packages across all servers in an environment to ensure compatibility.

  • If adding features later, use matching installation media or apply the same cumulative update to the existing instance.

When to use slipstream

  • You set up new instances of SQL Server and want them patched during installation to avoid unnecessary restarts.

  • You encounter setup failures with base installation media and need patched setup binaries.

  • You deploy SQL Server across multiple machines and want a consistent, reliable experience.

Slipstream installation steps

Step 1: Create a folder to store the SQL updates

Create a local folder to store the update files. For example:

New-Item -ItemType "Directory" -Path "C:\SQLUpdates" -Force

Step 2: Download the latest update

Download the latest cumulative update for your version of SQL Server into the newly created folder.

Step 3: Run the installer with slipstream parameters

Run SQL Server Setup using the following command:

C:\SqlSetupMedia\setup.exe /Action=Install /UpdateEnabled=True /UpdateSource="C:\SQLUpdates"
Parameter Description
/Action=Install Tells SQL Server Setup to start the installation process. If you leave this parameter out, Setup only opens the Installation Center, and ignores other parameters like update paths.
/UpdateEnabled=True Enables update detection. It tells Setup to look for and include any available updates (like a cumulative update) during the installation.
/UpdateSource=<location> Points to the folder where your update files (CU) are stored.

For more information about setup parameters, see Install and configure SQL Server on Windows from the command prompt

Step 4: Complete setup

Proceed through the setup wizard as usual.

During installation, you see confirmation that the update was integrated.

Screenshot showing the results.

Step 5: Verify installation success

After installation, the applied CU will be visible in:

  • Programs and Features > Installed Updates (from the Windows Start menu)

  • SQL Server features discovery report

  • Setup log (Summary.txt) under Patch Level. For more information, see View and read SQL Server Setup log files.

    Overall summary:
  Final result:                  Passed
  Exit code (Decimal):           0
  Start time:                    2025-08-17 11:55:45
  End time:                      2025-08-17 12:14:24
  Requested action:              Install

Machine Properties:
  Machine name:                  <machine-name>
  Machine processor count:       8
  OS version:                    Microsoft Windows Server 2019 Standard (10.0.17763)
  OS service pack:
  OS region:                     United States
  OS language:                   English (United States)
  OS architecture:               X64
  Process architecture:          64 Bit
  OS clustered:                  No

Product features discovered:
  Product        Instance      Instance ID      Feature      Language

Package properties:
  Description:                   Microsoft SQL Server 2019
  ProductName:                   SQL Server 2019
  Type:                          RTM
  Version:                       15
  Installation location:         C:\SQL Server\SQL 2019\SQLFull_ENU\x64\setup\
  Installation edition:          Enterprise Edition: Core-based Licensing

  Slipstream:                    True
  SP Level                         0
  Patch Level:                   15.0.4430.1

Product Update Status:
  Success:                       KB 5054833

Product Updates Selected for Installation:
  Title:                         Hotfix Pack
  Knowledge Base Article:        KB 5054833
  Version:                       15.0.4430.0
  Architecture:                  x64
  Language:                      All
  Update Source:                 C:\SQL Server\SQL 2019\SQLFull_ENU\CU

How to identify a slipstream installation

To confirm that slipstreaming was used to run Setup:

  • The setup wizard displays rules such as:

    Update Setup Media Language Rule

  • The install log includes lines such as:

    Slipstream:                    True
SP Level                       0
Patch Level:                   15.0.4430.1

  • Run the SQL Server features discovery report to verify version levels.

Remarks

If Setup fails, review the failure details in the logs file located at C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\<nn>\Setup Bootstrap\Log\Summary.txt, where <nn> is the version you're installing. For more information, see View and read SQL Server Setup log files.

Here's an example of a failed slipstream installation.

Overall summary:
  Final result:                  Failed: see results below
  Exit code (Decimal):           -2068643839
  Start time:                    2025-08-17 09:55:12 
  End time:                      2025-08-17 10:03:01
  Requested action:              Install

Setup completed with required actions for features.
Troubleshooting information for those features:
  Next step for SQLEngine:       Use the following information to resolve the error, uninstall this feature, and then run the setup process again.

Slipstreaming doesn't eliminate the need to monitor future updates post-installation.

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