Welcome to our blog post on how to install SQL Server Express edition. In this article, we will guide you through the step-by-step process of installing SQL Server Express edition using the custom installation option.
What is SQL Server Express Edition?
SQL Server Express edition is the entry-level and free-to-use edition of SQL Server. It is designed for small applications or websites and can be used in a production environment without incurring any license costs. It is a cost-effective solution for organizations looking to reduce the overall license cost, such as when deploying database mirroring.
Installation of SQL Server Express Edition
The SQL Server 2017 Express edition comes in three variants:
- SQL Server 2017 Express edition
- SQL Server 2017 Express edition with advanced series
- SQL Server 2017 Express edition with localDB
To begin the installation process, download the installation file from the official Microsoft website. Once downloaded, run the installer by double-clicking on it.
During the installation process, you will be presented with three installation types:
- Basic Installation: Installs SQL Server with pre-defined basic configuration.
- Custom Installation: Allows you to customize the database configurations and install specific components only.
- Download Media: Downloads the ISO file of the SQL Server Express edition for installation at a later time.
For this tutorial, we will be performing a custom installation. Select the custom installation option and specify the location where you want to download the SQL Server Express edition media files.
Once the download is complete, the installer will extract the files and begin the installation process. You will be presented with various installation options, such as installing a new instance of SQL Server, adding features to an existing installation, or upgrading from an old version to a new version of SQL Server.
Follow the on-screen instructions to configure the installation settings, such as accepting the license terms, selecting the features you want to install, configuring the authentication mode, and specifying database directories.
Once all the options are configured, click on the “Next” button to continue the setup process. The installer will check all the feature configuration rules and if everything is in order, it will start installing the SQL Server Express edition on your computer.
After the installation is complete, you can review the list of installed features and components. If there are any errors or warnings, you can review the installer logs for more information.
Connecting to SQL Server Express Edition
To connect to the SQL Server Express edition, you can use SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). Open SSMS and on the “Connect to Server” dialog box, provide the server name, choose the authentication type, and click on the “Connect” button.
If you have installed a named instance, the server name should be in the format “
Conclusion
In this article, we have provided a step-by-step guide on how to install SQL Server Express edition using the custom installation option. SQL Server Express edition is a free and entry-level edition of SQL Server that can be used for small applications or websites. It offers a cost-effective solution for organizations looking to reduce license costs. We hope this guide has been helpful in assisting you with the installation process.