Installing Updates from the Command Prompt
Test and modify installation scripts to meet the needs of your organization.
Sample Syntax for Installation
The name of the update package can vary and may include a language, edition, and processor component. Apply an update at a command prompt, replacing <package_name> with the name of your update package:
Update a single instance of SQL Server and all shared components, like Integration Services and Management Tools: You can specify the instance either by using the InstanceName parameter or the InstanceID parameter. To update a prepared instance of SQL Server, you must specify the InstanceID parameter<package_name>.exe /qs /IAcceptSQLServerLicenseTerms /Action=Patch /InstanceName=MyInstance or <package_name>.exe /qs /IAcceptSQLServerLicenseTerms /Action=Patch /InstanceID=<Instance ID>.
Setup can integrate the latest product updates with the main product installation so that the main product and its applicable updates are installed at the same time. You can prepare an installation of database engine instance to include product update: setup.exe /q /IAcceptSQLServerLicenseTerms /ACTION=PrepareImage /UpdateEnabled=True /UpdateEnabled=True /UpdateSource=<path where the update is downloaded> /INSTANCEID=<Instance ID> /FEATURES=SQLEngine.
Update SQL Server shared components only, like Integration Services and Management Tools: <package_name>.exe /qs /IAcceptSQLServerLicenseTerms /Action=Patch
Update all instances of SQL Server on the computer and all shared components, like Integration Services and Management Tools: <package_name>.exe /qs /IAcceptSQLServerLicenseTerms /Action=Patch /AllInstances.
Remove an update from the command prompt replacing <package_name> with the name of your update package:
Remove an update from a single instance of SQL Server and all shared components, like Integration Services and Management Tools: <package_name>.exe /qs /Action=RemovePatch /InstanceName=MyInstance.
Remove an update from SQL Server shared components only, like Integration Services and Management Tools: <package_name>.exe /qs /Action=RemovePatch
Note
The update installer ensures that the shared components are always at or above the version of the instance at the highest level.
Supported Command Prompt Parameters
Important
When possible, supply security credentials at run time. If you must store credentials in a script file, secure the file to prevent unauthorized access.
| Switch | Description |
|---|---|
| /? | Displays unattended installation command prompt help |
| /action=Patch or /action=RemovePatch | Specifies the installation action: Patch or RemovePatch. |
| /allinstances | Applies the SQL Server update to all instances of SQL Server and to all SQL Server shared, instance-unaware components. |
| /instancename=InstanceName 1 | Applies the SQL Server update to an instance of SQL Server named InstanceName, and to all SQL Server shared, instance-unaware components. |
| /InstanceID=Inst1 | Applies the SQL Server update to an instance of SQL Server Inst1, and to all SQL Server shared, instance-unaware components. |
| /quiet | Runs the SQL Server update Setup in unattended mode. |
| /qs | Displays only the progress UI dialog. |
| /UpdateEnabled | Specifies whether SQL Server setup should discover and include product updates. The valid values are True and False or 1 and 0. By default, SQL Server setup will include updates that are found. |
| /IAcceptSQLServerLicenseTerms | Required only when the /Q or /QS parameter is specified for unattended installations. |
1 You cannot specify this parameter to apply an update to a prepared instance of SQL Server. You must specify the /instanceID parameter instead.