Slipstreaming SQL Server 2019 3


A while ago, I published a post to slipstream the SQL Server 2008 media. It is time to update it for SQL Server 2019.

Fortunately the setup.exe hasn’t changed much, so it is still a matter of:

  1. Copying the RTM ISO on a read-write filesystem
  2. Unpack the Cumulative update of your choice
  3. Amend the defaultsetup.ini file to indicate where the Cumulative Update files are to be found
  4. Rebuild the ISO with a tool such as OSCDIMG.EXE. This tool can be found in the Windows Assessment and Deployment kit

Here’s the code which can be also found on GitHub.


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3 thoughts on “Slipstreaming SQL Server 2019

  • S. Germeshausen

    Slipstreaming SQL Server images is mostly a waste of time as there is a more lightweight option available since SQL Server 2012.
    You can download the latest Service Pack and Cumulative Update and copy them in a folder or share. From SQL 2017 on, there are no more Service Packs available. Just run the setup.exe with following parameters and provide the path to the update files:
    setup.exe /action=install /updateenabled=true /updatesource=”\\fileserver\Install\SQL Updates\”

    The setup will create an updated setup and install the latest version based on the updates found in the folder on the fly.
    Additional parameter can also be provided for a specific ini-file or other settings.
    There is no more maintenance for the iso required as you can update the setup just by dropping the updates in the provided folder.

    • Dimitri Post author

      Indeed, there are alternative ways to install cumulative updates nowadays.
      However, the ISO method allows to make available to colleagues a “verified” all-in-one version with a single checksum, for example.
      When using a share, you must compute several hashes and make sure the correct update package is linked to.