diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index e368b84e5..86cc31ae3 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -20,10 +20,10 @@ env:
   - TEST_PHP_SQL_PWD=Password123
 
 before_install:
-  - docker pull mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2019-GA-ubuntu-16.04
+  - docker pull mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2019-latest
  
 install:
-  - docker run -e 'ACCEPT_EULA=Y' -e 'SA_PASSWORD=Password123' -p 1433:1433 --name=$TEST_PHP_SQL_SERVER -d mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2019-CTP3.2-ubuntu
+  - docker run -e 'ACCEPT_EULA=Y' -e 'SA_PASSWORD=Password123' -p 1433:1433 --name=$TEST_PHP_SQL_SERVER -d mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2019-latest
   - docker build --build-arg PHPSQLDIR=$PHPSQLDIR -t msphpsql-dev -f Dockerfile-msphpsql .
 
 before_script:
diff --git a/azure-pipelines.yml b/azure-pipelines.yml
index b4acecbf0..68c85525a 100644
--- a/azure-pipelines.yml
+++ b/azure-pipelines.yml
@@ -75,10 +75,12 @@ jobs:
 
   - script: |
       sudo update-alternatives --set php /usr/bin/php$(phpver)
+      sudo update-alternatives --set phpize /usr/bin/phpize$(phpver)
       sudo update-alternatives --set phar /usr/bin/phar$(phpver)
       sudo update-alternatives --set phpdbg /usr/bin/phpdbg$(phpver)
       sudo update-alternatives --set php-cgi /usr/bin/php-cgi$(phpver)
       sudo update-alternatives --set phar.phar /usr/bin/phar.phar$(phpver)
+      sudo update-alternatives --set php-config /usr/bin/php-config$(phpver)
       php -version
     displayName: 'Use PHP version $(phpver)'
 
diff --git a/source/shared/core_results.cpp b/source/shared/core_results.cpp
index 1fbe005f1..5141ecc98 100644
--- a/source/shared/core_results.cpp
+++ b/source/shared/core_results.cpp
@@ -508,6 +508,7 @@ sqlsrv_buffered_result_set::sqlsrv_buffered_result_set( _Inout_ sqlsrv_stmt* stm
                 break;
             case SQL_CHAR:
             case SQL_VARCHAR:
+            case SQL_SS_VARIANT:
                 if ( meta[i].length == sqlsrv_buffered_result_set::meta_data::SIZE_UNKNOWN ) {
                     offset += sizeof( void* );
                 }
@@ -610,6 +611,7 @@ sqlsrv_buffered_result_set::sqlsrv_buffered_result_set( _Inout_ sqlsrv_stmt* stm
                 
             case SQL_CHAR:
             case SQL_VARCHAR:
+            case SQL_SS_VARIANT:
             case SQL_LONGVARCHAR:
                 // If encoding is set to UTF-8, the following types are not necessarily column size.
                 // We need to call SQLGetData with c_type SQL_C_WCHAR and set the size accordingly. 
diff --git a/test/functional/pdo_sqlsrv/MsCommon_mid-refactor.inc b/test/functional/pdo_sqlsrv/MsCommon_mid-refactor.inc
index 969d14469..1f5d997bc 100644
--- a/test/functional/pdo_sqlsrv/MsCommon_mid-refactor.inc
+++ b/test/functional/pdo_sqlsrv/MsCommon_mid-refactor.inc
@@ -1707,19 +1707,21 @@ function CallProcEx($conn, $procName, $procPrefix, $procArgs, $procValues)
 function CreateFunc($conn, $funcName, $funcArgs, $retType, $funcCode)
 {
     DropFunc($conn, $funcName);
-    $stmt = sqlsrv_query($conn, "CREATE FUNCTION [$funcName] ($funcArgs) RETURNS $retType AS BEGIN $funcCode END");
-    if ($stmt === false) {
-        FatalError("Failed to create test function");
+    try {
+        $stmt = $conn->query("CREATE FUNCTION [$funcName] ($funcArgs) RETURNS $retType AS BEGIN $funcCode END");
+    } catch (PDOException $e) {
+        echo "Failed to create test function\n";
+        var_dump($e);
     }
-    sqlsrv_free_stmt($stmt);
+    unset($stmt);
 }
 
 function DropFunc($conn, $funcName)
 {
-    $stmt = sqlsrv_query($conn, "DROP FUNCTION [$funcName]");
-    if ($stmt === false) {
-    } else {
-        sqlsrv_free_stmt($stmt);
+    try {
+        $conn->query("DROP FUNCTION [$funcName]");
+    } catch (PDOException $e) {
+        ; // do nothing
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/test/functional/pdo_sqlsrv/pdo_1079_sql_variant_buffered_queries.phpt b/test/functional/pdo_sqlsrv/pdo_1079_sql_variant_buffered_queries.phpt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1ba60606b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/functional/pdo_sqlsrv/pdo_1079_sql_variant_buffered_queries.phpt
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+--TEST--
+GitHub issue 1079 - fetching sql_variant types using client buffers
+--DESCRIPTION--
+This test verifies that fetching sql_variant types using client buffers is supported.
+--ENV--
+PHPT_EXEC=true
+--SKIPIF--
+<?php require('skipif_mid-refactor.inc'); ?>
+--FILE--
+<?php
+require_once("MsSetup.inc");
+require_once("MsCommon_mid-refactor.inc");
+
+try {
+    $conn = connect();
+
+    $funcName = 'PDO1079';
+    dropFunc($conn, $funcName);
+
+    $tsql = "CREATE FUNCTION [$funcName](@OP1 sql_variant, @OP2 sql_variant) RETURNS sql_variant AS
+    BEGIN DECLARE @Result sql_variant SET @Result = CASE WHEN @OP1 >= @OP2 THEN @OP1 ELSE @OP2 END RETURN @Result END";
+
+    $conn->exec($tsql);
+    
+    $tsql = "SELECT [dbo].[$funcName](5, 6) AS RESULT";
+    $stmt = $conn->prepare($tsql, array(PDO::ATTR_CURSOR => PDO::CURSOR_SCROLL, PDO::SQLSRV_ATTR_CURSOR_SCROLL_TYPE => PDO::SQLSRV_CURSOR_BUFFERED));
+    $stmt->execute();
+
+    $metadata = $stmt->getColumnMeta(0);
+    var_dump($metadata);
+
+    dropFunc($conn, $funcName);
+
+    unset($stmt);
+    unset($conn);
+} catch (PdoException $e) {
+    echo $e->getMessage() . PHP_EOL;
+}
+
+?>
+--EXPECT--
+array(8) {
+  ["flags"]=>
+  int(0)
+  ["sqlsrv:decl_type"]=>
+  string(11) "sql_variant"
+  ["native_type"]=>
+  string(6) "string"
+  ["table"]=>
+  string(0) ""
+  ["pdo_type"]=>
+  int(2)
+  ["name"]=>
+  string(6) "RESULT"
+  ["len"]=>
+  int(10)
+  ["precision"]=>
+  int(0)
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/functional/pdo_sqlsrv/pdo_fetch_variants_diff_styles.phpt b/test/functional/pdo_sqlsrv/pdo_fetch_variants_diff_styles.phpt
index e99aae85f..954efbdc3 100644
--- a/test/functional/pdo_sqlsrv/pdo_fetch_variants_diff_styles.phpt
+++ b/test/functional/pdo_sqlsrv/pdo_fetch_variants_diff_styles.phpt
@@ -170,11 +170,15 @@ function doValuesMatched($value1, $value2, $row, $col)
     }
 }
 
-function fetchColumns($conn, $tableName, $numRows, $numCols)
+function fetchColumns($conn, $tableName, $numRows, $numCols, $buffered = false)
 {
     try {
         // insert column data from a row of the original table
-        $stmtOriginal = $conn->prepare("SELECT * FROM $tableName WHERE c1_int = :row");
+        if ($buffered) {
+            $stmtOriginal = $conn->prepare("SELECT * FROM $tableName WHERE c1_int = :row", array(PDO::ATTR_CURSOR => PDO::CURSOR_SCROLL, PDO::SQLSRV_ATTR_CURSOR_SCROLL_TYPE => PDO::SQLSRV_CURSOR_BUFFERED));
+        } else {
+            $stmtOriginal = $conn->prepare("SELECT * FROM $tableName WHERE c1_int = :row");
+        }
 
         for ($i = 1; $i <= $numRows; $i++) {
             $c1_int = $i;
@@ -263,6 +267,7 @@ try {
 
     $numCols = fetchBoundMixed($conn, $tableName, $numRows);
     fetchColumns($conn, $tableName, $numRows, $numCols);
+    fetchColumns($conn, $tableName, $numRows, $numCols, true);
 
     dropTable($conn, $tableName);
     unset($conn);
@@ -278,3 +283,7 @@ Insert all columns from row 1 into one column of type sql_variant
 string(11) "sql_variant"
 Insert all columns from row 2 into one column of type sql_variant
 string(11) "sql_variant"
+Insert all columns from row 1 into one column of type sql_variant
+string(11) "sql_variant"
+Insert all columns from row 2 into one column of type sql_variant
+string(11) "sql_variant"
diff --git a/test/functional/pdo_sqlsrv/pdo_simple_update_variants.phpt b/test/functional/pdo_sqlsrv/pdo_simple_update_variants.phpt
index 866c5e2c2..86c5e3a7e 100644
--- a/test/functional/pdo_sqlsrv/pdo_simple_update_variants.phpt
+++ b/test/functional/pdo_sqlsrv/pdo_simple_update_variants.phpt
@@ -76,10 +76,15 @@ function updateFood($conn, $tableName, $id, $food, $category)
     }
 }
 
-function fetchRows($conn, $tableName)
+function fetchRows($conn, $tableName, $buffered = false)
 {
     $query = "SELECT * FROM $tableName ORDER BY id";
-    $stmt = $conn->query($query);
+    if ($buffered) {
+        $stmt = $conn->prepare($query, array(PDO::ATTR_CURSOR => PDO::CURSOR_SCROLL, PDO::SQLSRV_ATTR_CURSOR_SCROLL_TYPE => PDO::SQLSRV_CURSOR_BUFFERED));
+        $stmt->execute();
+    } else {
+        $stmt = $conn->query($query);
+    }
 
     $stmt->setFetchMode(PDO::FETCH_CLASS, 'Food');
     while ($food = $stmt->fetch()) {
@@ -108,7 +113,7 @@ try {
 
     updateID($conn, $tableName, 4, 'Milk', 'Diary Products');
 
-    fetchRows($conn, $tableName);
+    fetchRows($conn, $tableName, true);
 
     updateFood($conn, $tableName, 4, 'Cheese', 'Diary Products');
 
@@ -118,7 +123,7 @@ try {
     insertData($conn, $tableName, 6, 'Salmon', 'Fish');
     insertData($conn, $tableName, 2, 'Broccoli', 'Vegetables');
 
-    fetchRows($conn, $tableName);
+    fetchRows($conn, $tableName, true);
 
     dropTable($conn, $tableName);
     unset($conn);
diff --git a/test/functional/sqlsrv/sqlsrv_param_input_variants.phpt b/test/functional/sqlsrv/sqlsrv_param_input_variants.phpt
index ee5dbcde1..8adc251cd 100644
--- a/test/functional/sqlsrv/sqlsrv_param_input_variants.phpt
+++ b/test/functional/sqlsrv/sqlsrv_param_input_variants.phpt
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@ function insertData($conn, $tableName, $index)
 function fetchData($conn, $tableName, $numRows)
 {
     $select = "SELECT * FROM $tableName ORDER BY c1_int";
-    $stmt = sqlsrv_query($conn, $select);
+    
+    $stmt = sqlsrv_query($conn, $select, array(), array("Scrollable"=>"buffered")); 
     $stmt2 = sqlsrv_query($conn, $select);
 
     $metadata = sqlsrv_field_metadata($stmt);
diff --git a/test/functional/sqlsrv/sqlsrv_simple_fetch_variants.phpt b/test/functional/sqlsrv/sqlsrv_simple_fetch_variants.phpt
index 07a598205..0022509b8 100644
--- a/test/functional/sqlsrv/sqlsrv_simple_fetch_variants.phpt
+++ b/test/functional/sqlsrv/sqlsrv_simple_fetch_variants.phpt
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ function Fetch($conn, $tableName, $numRows)
 {
     $select = "SELECT * FROM $tableName ORDER BY c1_int";
     $stmt = sqlsrv_query($conn, $select);
-    $stmt2 = sqlsrv_query($conn, $select);
+    $stmt2 = sqlsrv_query($conn, $select, array(), array("Scrollable"=>"buffered"));
     $stmt3 = sqlsrv_query($conn, $select);
 
     $metadata = sqlsrv_field_metadata($stmt);
diff --git a/test/functional/sqlsrv/sqlsrv_simple_update_variants.phpt b/test/functional/sqlsrv/sqlsrv_simple_update_variants.phpt
index 70fa79557..b4b3b66b2 100644
--- a/test/functional/sqlsrv/sqlsrv_simple_update_variants.phpt
+++ b/test/functional/sqlsrv/sqlsrv_simple_update_variants.phpt
@@ -89,10 +89,15 @@ function updateCountry($conn, $tableName, $id, $country, $continent)
     }
 }
 
-function fetch($conn, $tableName)
+function fetch($conn, $tableName, $buffered = false)
 {
     $select = "SELECT * FROM $tableName ORDER BY id";
-    $stmt = sqlsrv_query($conn, $select);
+    
+    if ($buffered) {
+        $stmt = sqlsrv_query($conn, $select, array(), array("Scrollable"=>"buffered"));
+    } else {
+        $stmt = sqlsrv_query($conn, $select);
+    }
 
     while ($country = sqlsrv_fetch_object($stmt, "Country")) {
         echo "\nID: " . $country->id . " ";
@@ -125,13 +130,13 @@ try {
     updateID($conn, $tableName, 4, 'Canada', 'North America');
 
     // Read data
-    fetch($conn, $tableName);
+    fetch($conn, $tableName, true);
 
     // Update country
     updateCountry($conn, $tableName, 4, 'Mexico', 'North America');
 
     // Read data
-    fetch($conn, $tableName);
+    fetch($conn, $tableName, true);
 
     // Add two more countries
     addCountry($conn, $tableName, 6, 'Brazil', 'South America');
diff --git a/test/functional/sqlsrv/srv_1079_sql_variant_buffered_queries.phpt b/test/functional/sqlsrv/srv_1079_sql_variant_buffered_queries.phpt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..51a98553d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/functional/sqlsrv/srv_1079_sql_variant_buffered_queries.phpt
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+--TEST--
+GitHub issue 1079 - fetching sql_variant types using client buffers
+--DESCRIPTION--
+This test verifies that fetching sql_variant types using client buffers is supported.
+--ENV--
+PHPT_EXEC=true
+--SKIPIF--
+<?php require('skipif_versions_old.inc'); ?>
+--FILE--
+<?php
+require_once('MsCommon.inc');
+
+$conn = AE\connect();
+
+$funcName = 'SRV1079';
+dropFunc($conn, $funcName);
+
+$tsql = "CREATE FUNCTION [$funcName](@OP1 sql_variant, @OP2 sql_variant) RETURNS sql_variant AS
+BEGIN DECLARE @Result sql_variant SET @Result = CASE WHEN @OP1 >= @OP2 THEN @OP1 ELSE @OP2 END RETURN @Result END";
+
+$stmt = sqlsrv_query($conn, $tsql);
+if (!$stmt) {
+    fatalError('Could not create function\n');
+}
+
+$tsql = "SELECT [dbo].[$funcName](5, 6) AS RESULT";
+$stmt = sqlsrv_prepare($conn, $tsql, array(), array("Scrollable" => SQLSRV_CURSOR_CLIENT_BUFFERED, "ClientBufferMaxKBSize" => 1000));
+
+if (!$stmt) {
+    fatalError('Could not prepare query\n');
+}
+
+$result = sqlsrv_execute($stmt);
+if (!$result) {
+    fatalError('Executing the query failed\n');
+}
+
+foreach (sqlsrv_field_metadata($stmt) as $fieldMetadata) {
+    var_dump($fieldMetadata);
+}
+
+dropFunc($conn, $funcName);
+
+sqlsrv_free_stmt($stmt);
+sqlsrv_close($conn);
+
+?>
+--EXPECT--
+array(6) {
+  ["Name"]=>
+  string(6) "RESULT"
+  ["Type"]=>
+  int(-150)
+  ["Size"]=>
+  int(10)
+  ["Precision"]=>
+  NULL
+  ["Scale"]=>
+  NULL
+  ["Nullable"]=>
+  int(1)
+}
\ No newline at end of file