SQL Server 2008 Installation Step By Step

In our previous article we learned about FileStream in SQL Server. If you wish to go through the article, below is the link for the same.

• Introduction to SQL Server FileStream in 2008

On my machine, I’ve already installed 3 named instances of SQL 2008 and 2012 and now I’ll be installing default instance of SQL 2008. You can see, there’s a little difference in installation steps when you do a fresh installation.

As this will be my 4th instance, it'll not be a fresh installation. But no worries, we’ll also see the steps for fresh installation.

So, I’ve divided this in 2 sections as listed below.

1. No fresh installation steps
2. Fresh Installation steps

No fresh installation

Step 1: Open explorer and you’ll see setup file as shown below.



Right click on the setup and run it as Administrator.

Step 2: SQL Server Installation Center.



Go to installation section, here you’ll find various options to install instance, add new features and upgrade your SQL Server. As we’re doing a fresh installation, we’ll select first option i.e. “New SQL Server stand-alone installation”.

Step 3: Setup Support Rules



Here setup will perform a check to ensure whether you can proceed with the installation or not. If check fails on any step listed in the rules, you won’t be able to continue the installation.

Step 4: Setup Support Files.



At this step SQL Server Setup look for some components required during installation. After successful check you’ll get Install button to proceed further. Click on Install Button.

Step 5: Setup Support Rules.



Again SQL Server runs a checkup after install to ensure whether your machine is OK or not for the installation. If you get passed in all rules, you’re good to go. Click Next.

Step 6: Installation Type



You find this step only if you previously installed any instances of SQL Server on your machine. At this step, you’ll find 2 options i.e.

• Perform a new Installation
• Add features to an existing instance.

As we want a new installation of default instance, we’ll select first option. If you want to add any additional features to your installed instance, you can go with option 2.

Select option 1 and click Next.

Step 7: Editions and Product Key



Here it’ll ask you the type of SQL Server edition you want to install on your machine or on server. If you want express edition, no need to specify Product Key. Other editions like Enterprise, Standard, etc. requires Product Key. Click Next

Step 8: License Term.



Click on “I accept the license terms” and click Next.

Step 9: Feature Selection.



This is the important step during installation because at this step only you’ll select the features you want to install. As we don’t want Analysis and Reporting services now, we’ll not add these 2 components during installation process.

Select “Database Engine Services” and shared features.

Below you’ll find the path where these shared features will get installed.

If you’re installing this on 64-bit machine, you’ll find 2 path boxes for shared features as shown below.

Shared feature directory: To store 64-bit components.
Shared Feature directory (x86): To store 32-bit components.

I’m using 32-bit machine hence I’m only getting 1 path box as shown in above image.

Click Next.

Step 10: Instance Configuration



This is the step where you can specify what types of instance you want to install.

To install default instance of SQL Server, select “Default Instance” otherwise select “Named Instance” type the instance name and specify the instance root directory.

As we’re installing Default instance, we’ll go with first option and select Default instance.

You can only install 1 default instance on a single machine. If default instance is already installed, you cannot select the “Default Instance” option.

Click Next.

Step 11: Disk Space Requirement.



At this step, it’ll show you the required and available space on the drive you’re installing the instance.

Click Next.

Step 12: Server Configuration.



This step will determine how your SQL Services will run on your machine. Select the account name from which you want to run your services and select the startup type of the service.

Click Next.

Step 13: Database Engine Configuration



This is the 2nd most important step in installation process because here you’ll configure your database engine.

Here you’ll find 3 tabs named

Account Provisioning (Shown in above image):

Here you’ll select your Authentication Mode and also you’ll setup your System Administration (SA) account.

Select Authentication Mode as Mixed Mode and enter SA password. Add users as Sysadmin of the instance by using “Add” button. Add current user as SA admin by clicking “Add Current User”.

Data Directories:



On this tab, you’ll get location of system databases, user databases, log file location, TEMP DB database location and also backup location. You can change these settings as per your choice.

FileStream



This tab will allow you to enable FileStream feature.

If you want to learn FileStream, you can read my article for the same on the following link.

• Introduction to SQL Server FileStream in 2008

Click Next.

Step 14: Error and Usage Reporting



Click Next.

Step 15: Installation Rules



Setup will perform a check to ensure everything Ok to proceed further with installation. If all rule passes, click Next.

Step 16: Ready to Install



On this page, you’ll get the summary of the configuration options you’ve chosen. Click on Install button to start the installation process and track the progress as shown below.







When setup finishes, you’ll get “Success” in status column of each installed components.

Step 17: Installation completed



Your installation is completed and you’ll get a link of a log file of the installation to check if there are any problems. Click close to complete the installation process.

Fresh installation

If you’re doing a fresh installation i.e. you’re installing SQL Server for the first time on your machine, below are the steps to begin with.

Step 1: Open explorer and you’ll see setup file as shown below.



Right click on the setup and run it as Administrator.

Step 2: SQL Server Installation Center.



Go to installation section, here you’ll find various options to install instance, add new features and upgrade your SQL Server. As we’re doing a fresh installation, we’ll select first option i.e. “New SQL Server stand-alone installation”.

Step 3: Setup Support Rules,



Here setup will perform a check to ensure whether you can proceed with the installation or not. If check fails at any step listed in the rules, you won’t be able to continue the installation.

Step 4: Editions and Product Key



Here it’ll ask you the type of SQL Server edition you want to install on your machine or on server. If you want express edition, no need to specify Product Key. Other edition like Enterprise, Standard, etc. requires Product Key. Click Next

Step 5: License Term



Click on “I accept the license terms” and click on Next.

Step 6: Setup Support Files.



At this step SQL Server Setup looked for some components required during installation. After successful check you’ll get Install button to proceed further. Click on the Install Button.

Step 7: Setup Support Rules



Again it’ll run the setup rules to identify problems that might occur during installation. If all checks get passed it is a good signal to proceed further. If any check fails, you won’t be able to proceed further with installation. If status is passed, click Next.

Step 8: Feature Selection.



Click Next and after this, all the steps are same as shown in above installation. After successful installation you’ll get the following window.



Now we’ve successfully installed SQL Server 2008 version on our machine. You can see the installed SQL Server services under SQL Server Configuration manager as shown below.



Hit Start button and type SSMS as shown below and it’ll open the SQL Server Management Studio.





Connect to your default instance name by entering you SYSTEM name or by just putting DOT (.) in server name box as shown below.





Conclusion

We’ve successfully installed SQL Server 2008 version on our machine. We have seen the steps involved in fresh installation and also what are the steps involved when we install another instance. In our next article, we’ll also see how to install named instance on any machine and we’ll also see articles on other SQL concepts. Till then, Keep Learning and keep sharing.