--- title: "SQL Server installation guide" description: An index of content that helps you install SQL Server and associated components using options such as the installation wizard, command prompt, or sysprep. author: rwestMSFT ms.author: randolphwest ms.date: "03/05/2021" ms.prod: sql ms.technology: install ms.topic: conceptual helpviewer_keywords: - "AdventureWorks sample database" - "installing SQL Server, preparing to install" - "installation [SQL Server]" monikerRange: ">=sql-server-2016" --- # SQL Server installation guide [!INCLUDE [SQL Server -Windows Only](../../includes/applies-to-version/sql-windows-only.md)] This article is an index of content that provides guidance for installing SQL Server on Windows. For other deployment scenarios, see: - [Linux](../../linux/sql-server-linux-setup.md) - [Docker containers](../../linux/sql-server-linux-docker-container-deployment.md) - [Kubernetes - Big Data Clusters](../../big-data-cluster/deploy-get-started.md) Beginning with [!INCLUDE[sssql16-md](../../includes/sssql16-md.md)], [!INCLUDE[ssnoversion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] is only available as a 64-bit application. Here are important details about how to get SQL Server and how to install it. ## Getting started * **Editions and features**: Review the supported features for the different editions and versions of SQL Server to determine which best suits your business needs. - [[!INCLUDE[ss2019](../../includes/sssql19-md.md)]](~/sql-server/editions-and-components-of-sql-server-version-15.md). - [[!INCLUDE[ss2017](../../includes/sssql17-md.md)]](~/sql-server/editions-and-components-of-sql-server-2017.md). - [[!INCLUDE[ss2016](../../includes/sssql16-md.md)]](~/sql-server/editions-and-components-of-sql-server-2016.md). - [[!INCLUDE[ss2014](../../includes/sssql14-md.md)]](/previous-versions/sql/2014/getting-started/features-supported-by-the-editions-of-sql-server-2014) * **Requirements**: Review hardware and software installation requirements for [SQL Server 2016 & 2017](../../sql-server/install/hardware-and-software-requirements-for-installing-sql-server.md), [SQL Server 2019](../../sql-server/install/hardware-and-software-requirements-for-installing-sql-server.md) or [SQL Server on Linux](../../linux/sql-server-linux-setup.md), as well as system configuration checks, and security considerations in [Planning a SQL Server Installation](../../sql-server/install/planning-a-sql-server-installation.md) * **Sample databases and sample code**: * They are not installed as part of SQL Server setup by default but can be found * To install them for non-Express editions of SQL Server, see the [Where are samples](../../samples/sql-samples-where-are.md) ## Installation media The download location for [!INCLUDE[ssnoversion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] depends on the edition: * **SQL Server Enterprise, Standard, and Express Editions** are licensed for production use. For the Enterprise and Standard Editions, contact your software vendor for the installation media. You can find purchasing information and a directory of Microsoft partners on the [Microsoft licensing page](https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/product-licensing/sql-server). * If you have a volume licensing agreement, for example an [Enterprise Agreement](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/licensing/licensing-programs/enterprise), you can download software from the [Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC)](https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/servicecenter/default.aspx). * [Free versions](https://www.microsoft.com/sql-server/sql-server-downloads). Other SQL Server components can be found here: * [All cumulative updates](https://sqlserverbuilds.blogspot.com/) * [SQL Server Reporting Services](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?id=100122). * [SQL Server Management Studio](https://aka.ms/ssmsfullsetup) * [Azure Data Studio](https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2109256) ## Considerations - Installation fails if you launch setup through Remote Desktop Connection with the media on a local resource in the RDC client. To install remotely the media must be on a network share or local to the physical or virtual machine. [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] installation media may be either on a network share, a mapped drive, a local drive, or presented as an ISO to a virtual machine. - [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Setup installs the following software components required by the product: - [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Native Client - [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Setup support files ## SQL Server installation |Article|Description| |-----------|-----------------| |[Installation Wizard](../../database-engine/install-windows/install-sql-server-from-the-installation-wizard-setup.md)|Install SQL Server using the Installation Wizard GUI launched from the setup.exe setup media. | |[Command Prompt](./install-sql-server-from-the-command-prompt.md)|Sample syntax and installation parameters for running a SQL Server installation from the command prompt. | |[Server Core](../../database-engine/install-windows/install-sql-server-on-server-core.md)|Install [!INCLUDE[ssnoversion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] on Windows Server Core.| |[Check Parameters for the System Configuration Checker](../../database-engine/install-windows/check-parameters-for-the-system-configuration-checker.md)|Discusses the function of the System Configuration Checker (SCC).| |[Configuration File](./install-sql-server-using-a-configuration-file.md)|Sample syntax and installation parameters for running Setup through a configuration file.| |[SysPrep](../../database-engine/install-windows/install-sql-server-using-sysprep.md)|Sample syntax and installation parameters for running Setup through SysPrep.| |[Add Features to an Instance](./add-features-to-an-instance-of-sql-server-setup.md)|Update components of an existing instance of [!INCLUDE[ssnoversion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)].| |[SQL Server Failover Cluster Installation](../../sql-server/failover-clusters/install/sql-server-failover-cluster-installation.md)| Install a SQL Server failover cluster instance. | |[Repair a Failed [!INCLUDE[ssnoversion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Installation](../../database-engine/install-windows/repair-a-failed-sql-server-installation.md)|Repair a corrupt [!INCLUDE[ssnoversion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] installation.| |[Rename a computer with SQL Server](../../database-engine/install-windows/rename-a-computer-that-hosts-a-stand-alone-instance-of-sql-server.md)|Update system metadata that is stored in sys.servers after the hostname of a computer hosting a stand-alone instance of SQL Server has been renamed. | |[Install [!INCLUDE[ssnoversion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Servicing Updates](../../database-engine/install-windows/install-sql-server-servicing-updates.md)|Install updates for [!INCLUDE[ssnoversion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)].| |[Setup Log Files](../../database-engine/install-windows/view-and-read-sql-server-setup-log-files.md)| View and read the errors in the SQL Server setup log files. | |[Validate an Installation](../../database-engine/install-windows/validate-a-sql-server-installation.md)|Review the use of the SQL Discovery report to verify the version of [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] and the [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] features installed on the computer.| ## Individual component installation |Article|Description| |-----------|-----------------| |[SQL Server Database Engine](../../database-engine/install-windows/install-sql-server-database-engine.md)|Install and configure the [!INCLUDE[ssDEnoversion](../../includes/ssdenoversion-md.md)].| |[SQL Server Replication](../../database-engine/install-windows/install-sql-server-replication.md)|Install and configure [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Replication.| |[Distributed Replay](../../tools/distributed-replay/install-distributed-replay.md)|Lists articles to install the Distributed Replay feature.| |[SQL Server Management Tools with SSMS](../../ssms/download-sql-server-management-studio-ssms.md)|Install and configure [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] management tools.| |[SQL Server PowerShell](../../database-engine/install-windows/install-sql-server-powershell.md)|Considerations for installing [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] PowerShell components.| ## SQL Server configuration |Article|Description| |-----------|-----------------| |[Configure Windows Firewall (SQL Server)](../../sql-server/install/configure-the-windows-firewall-to-allow-sql-server-access.md)|Overview of firewall configuration and how to configure the Windows firewall to allow access to SQL Server.| |[Configure the Windows Firewall (SSAS)](/analysis-services/instances/configure-the-windows-firewall-to-allow-analysis-services-access)|Configure both port and firewall settings to allow access to [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] or [!INCLUDE[ssGemini](../../includes/ssgemini-md.md)] for SharePoint.| |[Configure a Multi-Homed Computer](../../sql-server/install/configure-a-multi-homed-computer-for-sql-server-access.md)|Configure [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] and Windows Firewall with Advanced Security to provide for network connections to an instance of [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] in a multi-homed environment.| ## See also [Upgrade [!INCLUDE[ssnoversion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)]](../../database-engine/install-windows/upgrade-sql-server.md) [Uninstall [!INCLUDE[ssnoversion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)]](../../sql-server/install/uninstall-sql-server.md) [Install SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS)](../../reporting-services/install-windows/install-reporting-services.md) [Install SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS)](/analysis-services/instances/install-windows/install-analysis-services) [Install [!INCLUDE[ssnoversion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Business Intelligence Features](../../sql-server/install/install-sql-server-business-intelligence-features.md) [High Availability Solutions (SQL Server)](../sql-server-business-continuity-dr.md)