By José Carlos Palma *
Here are the steps to follow:
- Determine Hardware and Software Requirements
Before installing SQL Server, you need to determine the hardware and software requirements for the server. The requirements vary depending on the version of SQL Server and the operating system you are using. You can find the hardware and software requirements in the Microsoft documentation.
- Choose the Installation Method
There are different ways to install SQL Server, depending on the version and the operating system. You can choose to install SQL Server from a DVD or a downloaded installation package, or you can use a command-line installation. For this guide, we will use the graphical user interface (GUI) installation.
- Start the SQL Server Installation Wizard
Insert the SQL Server installation media or run the downloaded installation package. Click on the “Installation” option on the left-hand side of the screen and then click on “New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation.” This will start the SQL Server Installation Wizard.
- Enter Product Key and License Terms
On the “Product Key” page, enter the product key for your SQL Server edition. Then accept the license terms and click “Next.”
- Choose Installation Type
On the “Installation Type” page, choose the “New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation” option and click “Next.”
- Choose Features to Install
On the “Feature Selection” page, select the features you want to install. The features available depend on the SQL Server edition and version you are installing. Select the features you need and click “Next.”
- Specify Instance Configuration
On the “Instance Configuration” page, specify the instance name and instance ID. The instance name is used to identify the SQL Server instance, and the instance ID is used to identify the files and directories associated with the instance. You can choose to install a default instance or a named instance. Click “Next” when you’re done.
- Specify Server Configuration
On the “Server Configuration” page, specify the SQL Server service accounts and startup type. You can choose to use the default service accounts or specify custom service accounts. The startup type determines how the SQL Server service starts up when the server is started. Click “Next” when you’re done.
- Choose Database Engine Configuration
On the “Database Engine Configuration” page, choose the authentication mode and configure the SQL Server administrators. You can choose between Windows authentication mode or mixed mode (Windows and SQL Server authentication). You also need to specify the SQL Server administrators. Click “Next” when you’re done.
- Choose Analysis Services Configuration
If you’re installing Analysis Services, you will be prompted to configure it on the “Analysis Services Configuration” page. Choose the appropriate configuration options and click “Next.”
- Choose Reporting Services Configuration
If you’re installing Reporting Services, you will be prompted to configure it on the “Reporting Services Configuration” page. Choose the appropriate configuration options and click “Next.”
- Review Configuration Settings
On the “Ready to Install” page, review your configuration settings. If you need to make changes, click on the appropriate link to go back to the configuration page. When you’re ready, click “Install” to start the installation process.
- Wait for Installation to Complete
The installation process can take some time depending on the features you’ve chosen to install and your hardware configuration. Wait for the installation to complete.
- Configure Firewall
After the installation is complete, you need to configure the firewall to allow incoming connections to the SQL Server. You can do this by adding a rule to the Windows Firewall or any other firewall you’re using.
- Verify Installation
Once you’ve completed the installation, you can verify the installation by checking the SQL Server Configuration Manager. To do this, follow these steps:
- Click the Windows “Start” button and search for “SQL Server Configuration Manager.”
- Open SQL Server Configuration Manager.
- Check that the SQL Server service is running. You can do this by expanding “SQL Server Services” and checking that the status of the SQL Server service is “Running.”
- Check that the SQL Server Browser service is running. You can do this by expanding “SQL Server Configuration Manager” and checking that the status of the SQL Server Browser service is “Running.”
- Open SQL Server Management Studio to verify that you can connect to the SQL Server instance. Enter the instance name and your authentication credentials and click “Connect.”
If you can connect to the SQL Server instance using SQL Server Management Studio, then the installation was successful.
In summary, installing and configuring SQL Server involves determining the hardware and software requirements, choosing the installation method, specifying the installation and configuration settings, waiting for the installation to complete, configuring the firewall, and verifying the installation. Following these steps will ensure that you have a properly installed and configured SQL Server instance that is ready to use.
* IT Consultant – Developer – Network Engineer -Telco