Install SQL Server Developer on Windows Server 2022 with Easy Steps

This tutorial is designed to guide you through the process of installing SQL Server Developer on Windows Server 2022. An SQL Server developer plays a crucial role in the design, development, and maintenance of SQL databases. They are also responsible for creating applications that seamlessly interact with these databases. Furthermore, they often analyze an organization’s data management and input requirements, contributing to the design of systems that effectively organize, store, and provide access to this data.

You can follow the steps below to install SQL Server Developer on Windows Server 2022.

To get started, log in to your Windows Server and proceed with the following steps.

Download SQL Server Developer Edition

The first step is to download the SQL Server 2022 Developer Edition from the official Microsoft website. Visit the Microsoft SQL Server Downloads page.

Once the download is complete, follow the steps below to install SQL Server 2022.

Install SQL Server 2022 Developer

After downloading the SQL Server Developer Edition, you need to initiate the installation process.

Upon opening the downloaded file, you’ll encounter a screen prompting you to select the installation type. For this guide, we will choose the "Custom" installation of SQL Server 2022 Developer on Windows Server 2022.

Next, specify the directory where SQL Server will store the files required for installation. Ensure that the selected disk has sufficient available space. Then, click "Install".

The process of downloading and installing the necessary packages will take some time.

SQL Server Installation Center

Once the initial setup is complete, you’ll be directed to the SQL Server Installation Center. Click on "Installation".

From the presented options, choose the first one, "New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation", and proceed to the next step.

SQL Server 2022 Setup

Specify the edition of SQL Server you want to install. Since we are installing the "Developer" edition, select that option from the drop-down list and click "Next".

Accept the license terms and Privacy Statement by selecting the corresponding checkbox, and then click "Next".

In the next window, select "Microsoft Update" to automatically check for updates. Click "Next".

The "Install Rules" window will appear. If your firewall is enabled, you might see a warning for "Windows Firewall". Remember to open the appropriate ports after the installation is complete. Click "Next" to proceed.

You will then see the Azure extension for SQL Server 2022 Developer. This step can be skipped. If you have an Azure account and wish to integrate it, provide your credentials and click "Next".

In this step, you’ll be presented with a list of features included in SQL Server. Select the features you want to include in your SQL instance by checking the corresponding boxes. Then, click "Next".

Assign a name to your SQL Server instance and click "Next".

In the server configuration section, you can set how the various services are started during a reboot (Automatic or Manual). Once you are satisfied with the configuration, click "Next".

Choose an administrator and set the server mode (Mixed Mode or Windows authentication mode) that you prefer. Click "Next".

Ready To Install SQL Server 2022 Developer

You are now ready to install SQL Server 2022 Developer. Click "Install".

Once the installation is complete, you will see a confirmation screen. Click "Close".

That’s it! You have successfully installed SQL Server Developer on Windows Server 2022.

Conclusion

SQL Server Developer assists in designing, developing, and maintaining SQL databases, as well as in designing applications that interact with them. You have now successfully learned how to Install SQL Server Developer on Windows Server 2022.

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Alternative Installation Methods for SQL Server Developer on Windows Server 2022

While the graphical installation method described above is common and user-friendly, there are alternative ways to install SQL Server Developer on Windows Server 2022 that can be more suitable in specific scenarios, such as automation or unattended installations. Here are two such methods:

1. Using PowerShell:

PowerShell provides a powerful and flexible way to automate the installation process. You can use the Invoke-Sqlcmd cmdlet (available after installing the SQL Server PowerShell module) along with a configuration file to perform an unattended installation.

• Explanation: This method involves creating a configuration file that specifies all the necessary installation parameters, such as the edition, features to install, instance name, authentication mode, and administrator accounts. Then, you use a PowerShell script to invoke the SQL Server setup executable with the configuration file as an argument. This automates the entire installation process, making it ideal for deploying SQL Server across multiple servers or in environments where a graphical interface is not available.

• Steps:

  1. Create a Configuration File: Create a text file (e.g., ConfigurationFile.ini) containing the desired SQL Server settings. A sample configuration file might look like this:

  [SQLSERVER]
  ACTION=Install
  FEATURES=SQLEngine,SSMS,FullText
  INSTANCENAME=MSSQLSERVER
  SQLSVCACCOUNT="NT AUTHORITYNETWORK SERVICE"
  SQLSYSADMINACCOUNTS="BUILTINAdministrators"
  AGTSVCACCOUNT="NT AUTHORITYNETWORK SERVICE"
  SECURITYMODE=SQL
  SAPWD=MyStrongPassword
  TCPENABLED=1
  BROWSERSVCSTARTUPTYPE=Automatic
  IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS=True

  Note: Replace MyStrongPassword with a strong and secure password. Also, adjust the FEATURES parameter to include only the features you need.

  2. Download the SQL Server Installation Media: Download the SQL Server ISO image and mount it, or extract the files to a local directory.
  3. Run PowerShell Script: Open PowerShell as an administrator and execute the following script, modifying the paths to match your environment:

  $SetupPath = "D:Setup.exe"  # Path to the SQL Server setup executable
  $ConfigurationFilePath = "C:ConfigurationFile.ini" # Path to the configuration file
  
  Start-Process -FilePath $SetupPath -ArgumentList "/ConfigurationFile=$ConfigurationFilePath /Q /IAcceptSQLServerLicenseTerms" -Wait
  
  Write-Host "SQL Server installation completed."

  Explanation of parameters:

  • /ConfigurationFile: Specifies the path to the configuration file.
  • /Q: Specifies a quiet (unattended) installation.
  • /IAcceptSQLServerLicenseTerms: Accepts the SQL Server license terms. This is required for unattended installations.
  • -Wait: Makes the script wait for the installation to complete before exiting.

2. Using Docker Containers:

Docker provides a containerization platform that allows you to package and run applications in isolated environments. You can use Docker to deploy SQL Server Developer Edition on Windows Server 2022 without the need for a traditional installation.

• Explanation: Docker containers provide a lightweight and portable way to run SQL Server. The official Microsoft SQL Server Docker images are pre-configured and optimized for container environments. This approach simplifies deployment, ensures consistency across different environments, and allows for easy scaling and management of SQL Server instances.

• Steps:

  1. Install Docker Desktop on Windows Server 2022: Follow the instructions on the Docker website to install Docker Desktop on your Windows Server 2022 instance. Make sure you have enabled virtualization in your BIOS.
  2. Pull the SQL Server Docker Image: Open a PowerShell window and run the following command to pull the official SQL Server 2022 Developer Edition image from Docker Hub:

  docker pull mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2022-latest-ubuntu

  3. Run the SQL Server Container: Create a Docker container using the pulled image. You’ll need to specify an environment variable for the SQL Server system administrator password (SA_PASSWORD) and accept the license terms (ACCEPT_EULA). You can also map a host directory to a container directory to persist data.

  docker run -d -p 1433:1433 --name sqlserver2022 -e "ACCEPT_EULA=1" -e "SA_PASSWORD=MyStrongPassword" -v sqlvolume:/var/opt/mssql mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2022-latest-ubuntu

  Explanation of parameters:

  • -d: Runs the container in detached mode (in the background).
  • -p 1433:1433: Maps port 1433 on the host to port 1433 in the container.
  • --name sqlserver2022: Assigns the name "sqlserver2022" to the container.
  • -e "ACCEPT_EULA=1": Accepts the SQL Server license terms.
  • -e "SA_PASSWORD=MyStrongPassword": Sets the SQL Server system administrator password. Replace MyStrongPassword with a strong and secure password.
  • -v sqlvolume:/var/opt/mssql: Creates a volume named sqlvolume and mounts it to /var/opt/mssql inside the container, ensuring data persistence.
    4. Verify the Installation: After the container is running, you can connect to the SQL Server instance using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) or other SQL client tools. Use localhost,1433 as the server name and the SA_PASSWORD you specified when creating the container.

These alternative methods offer more flexibility and control over the installation process, especially in automated or containerized environments. Choose the method that best suits your specific needs and technical expertise when installing SQL Server Developer on Windows Server 2022.