The age of the Service Pack is over. The time of the Modern Servicing Model has come

It's the end of an era. Microsoft has finally released its very last SQL Server service pack. Microsoft first warned the end was nigh some years ago, but the reality is here: SP3 for SQL Server 2016 is to be the last, the service pack beloved by administrators around the world killed off in favour of a "Modern Servicing Model …

[martyn.hare]

Nothing has changed then

CUs are just hotfix collections which are just Service Packs without feature changes. They used to be called Update Rollups and they’re not modern. Microsoft are at the point where they’ve ran out of tricks, just like all the other vendors.

The real question is: How quickly can FOSS catch up before Microsoft forces subscription prices for on-prem licences?

[bombastic bob]

That word 'modern' does not mean what they think it means

Just sayin' ...

[karlkarl]

Re: That word 'modern' does not mean what they think it means

It is a word used to entice the dimwits. I think they have used it correctly haven't they? ;)

[Neil Barnes]

"with the same level of confidence..."

Now what level would that be?

[YetAnotherJoeBlow]

"...you should plan to install a CU with the same level of confidence you plan to install SPs as they are released."

Said with a straight face...

Well then I'll wait a month before installing the CU too,,,

[Peter D]

A bullet dodged

Had this come to pass over a decade earlier we could have had Cummulative Updates for NT. I would have confused the acronym with how I felt about my, then, boss.

[Primus Secundus Tertius]

Right first time

What pity they can't just get the software right at the outset.