Is it possible to run SQL-Server 2008R2 or 2012 on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core installation.
There are three questions to answer:
This question came up on a question about WSUS on Server Core, other products require SQL-Server as well, so it would nice nice to know.
While SQL-Server 2012 has been tested and and is fully supported by Microsoft, this is not the case for SQL-Server 2008R2. However is it still possible to install and run this version of SQL-Server on Windows Server Core installations.
Here's what to do to install SQL 2008R2 on a Server 2008R2 core edition:
install dot.NET Framework 3.51
pkgmgr /iu:NetFx2-ServerCore;NetFx2-ServerCore-WOW64
ocsetup ServerCore-WOW64
ocsetup NetFx2-ServerCore
ocsetup NetFx2-ServerCore-WOW64
DISM /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFx3-ServerCore
DISM /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFx3-ServerCore-WOW64
install PowerShell
pkgmgr /iu:MicrosoftWindowsPowerShell
Prepare a SQL-Server setup configuration file, this example is for SQL-Express:
;SQLSERVER2008 Configuration File
[SQLSERVER2008]
INSTANCEID="MSSQLSERVER"
INSTANCENAME="MSSQLSERVER"
ACTION="Install"
FEATURES=SQLENGINE,FullText
HELP="False"
INDICATEPROGRESS="False"
QUIET="True"
QUIETSIMPLE="False"
X86="False"
ENU="True"
ERRORREPORTING="False"
INSTALLSHAREDDIR="C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server"
INSTALLSHAREDWOWDIR="C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server"
INSTANCEDIR="C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server"
;The Database Engine root data directory.
INSTALLSQLDATADIR="D:\SqlData"
;Directory for Database Engine TempDB files.
SQLTEMPDBDIR="D:\SqlData\SysData"
;Directory for the Database Engine TempDB log files.
SQLTEMPDBLOGDIR="D:\SqlData\SysLogs"
SQLSVCSTARTUPTYPE="Automatic"
FILESTREAMLEVEL="0"
ENABLERANU="False"
SQLCOLLATION="SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS"
SQLSVCACCOUNT="NT SERVICE\MSSQLSERVER"
SAPWD = "*********"
SECURITYMODE = "SQL"
ADDCURRENTUSERASSQLADMIN="True"
TCPENABLED="1"
NPENABLED="0"
BROWSERSVCSTARTUPTYPE="Disabled"
SQLBACKUPDIR = "D:\Backups\Sql"
SQLUSERDBDIR = "D:\SqlData\UserData\Data"
SQLUSERDBLOGDIR = "D:\SqlData\UserData\Logs"
For more information about the configuration file see the TechNet article: How to: Install SQL Server 2008 Using a Configuration File
If you have downloaded an .exe rather than using a DVD/ISO, you have to extract the setup files first:
SQLEXPRADV_x64_ENU.exe -x
Run the installed in quiet mode:
setup.exe /ACTION=Install /IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS /q /ConfigurationFile=C:\SQL2008ForCore.ini
Extract the Service Pack files:
SQLServer2008R2SP1-KB2528583-x64-ENU.exe -x
Installing the service pack from a network drive did not work for me, make sure the files are on a local disk.
Install the service pack:
setup.exe /quiet /allinstances /IAcceptSQLServerLicenseTerms
You should now be able to connect to the instance from a remote SQL-Server Management Studio. You can also use sqlcmd.exe on the command line.
If you need a local GUI tool to run your queries, you can use Query Express, a small no-install single file application that works in Server Core.
I've been using SQL 2008R2 on Server Core for about six months now. I have not tested it with heavy loads but I don't see why it would behave any different from a version installed on a full-GUI windows.
yes sql 2012 will install on server core either version w2k12 or 2k8.
Ah, it apparently depends on the version of MS SQL Server. MS SQL Server 2008, no. MS SQL Server 2012, yes.
Starting with SQL Server 2012, you can install SQL Server on a Server Core installation of Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 or Windows Server 2012. This topic provides setup-specific details for installing SQL Server 2012 on Server Core.
