Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Installing SQL Server 2008 on Server 2008

INSTALLING SQL SERVER 2008 ON SERVER 2008

Before covering the installation of SQL Server 2008, it is best to not assume the reader of this document has installed Server 2008.  With that in mind, the first part of this document is going to cover the installation of Server 2008.
INSTALLING SERVER 2008
Server 2008 images can be 32 bit and 64 bit.  So, the first thing you’ll want to do is download the correct image and burn it onto a DVD.  Once you’ve done this, some other choices should be considered.
There are five different builds of the Operating System (OS):
1.      Standard
2.     Enterprise
3.     Data Center
4.     Web Server
5.     Hyper V
While Hyper V is a separate download, depending on the downloaded image, if you want to download the web server, you may have to also download it as a separate image.
The common three: Standard, Enterprise and Data Center also have their Core versions.  While a bit tricky to work with, Core versions may be a consideration should speed and performance be an issue.
GETTING STARTED
Okay, so now you’ve decided what OS you want to install and you have the CD ready. The next step is to look at disk space and memory.
Server 2008 can take up to 40 GBs disk space and while the OS can run on as little as 1GB of memory, it is a good idea to start with a clean drive and at least 4GBs of memory.
You can also have more than one OS on the same computer. While four installs of the Server 2008 can be installed on the same computer, with speed and performance in mind, it is best to put each OS on a separate drive rather than von the same drive with four partitions.
With that said, so you have a clean drive and at least 4GBs of memory. Name the volume of the drive something that makes the drive standout. 
I used Server 2008 as a volume name as it makes it easier for me to distinguish the drive. Place the install DVD into the DVD ROM Drive and reboot the system. Click the appropriate key to start the correct boot order so that the DVD is the first bootable drive.
Once done, be ready to click any key to initialize the install sequence.
At this point you’ll see the usual Windows initialization screen followed by the usually green – it will be brown or gray -- Windows 2008/Vista backdrop. It may take a few minutes for the program to finally get to a prompt window. 
When it does, the install program will ask for you to click next.  The default settings here are standard and acceptable.
The next screen is the ULA.  Click the agree option and click next.
The next screen is a bit confusing as it asks for a PID and most trial installs don’t come with one. Click next.  A message box will come up and ask you if you want to go back and add the PID, click no.
Now, you’re ready to select either a core or a standard install of STANDARD, ENTERPRISE or DATACENTER. Make your selection and then click that you have selected the version you have purchased.
The next screen that shows up will be the one where you select the drive and have the tools to delete the partition, format the drive and otherwise wreak havoc on data which you may want to backup first before arriving here.
Once you’ve selected a drive, assuming there’s nothing on it, you may want to un partition and repartition it as well as not assign all of the disk space just to the OS and additional programs.  150GB is plenty of space for the majority of applications used in our environment.  You may want to push up the space to 250GB if you want to add Sharepoint, BizTalk and/or Exchange.
WARNING
When you do anything with the disk utilities, once the utility is run, the highlighted/selected drive does moves to the very top of the list of potential drives.
You will need to move the highlight back to the drive you just worked on and then click the next button to install the OS.
From this point on, the program will take about 20 minutes or less to complete and the machine will reboot once to adjust for screen resolution.

  
ROLES AND FEATURES
When the system starts for the first time, it will ask you to change password. After you’ve done this, close the first screen and wait for the second to show.  This window allows you to manage roles and features.
In order to assure a successful install of SQL Server 2008, and to reduce the time it takes to install other services such as SCOM and SCCM, adding roles and features before installing SQL Server 2008 is important. The roles to install are:
1.     Application Server
2.     IIS
The features to install – not all are required -- are:

After installing and rebooting the server, it is time to focus on SQL Server 2008 installation.
INSTALLING SQL SERVER 2008
After downloading the SQL Server 2008 image and burning it onto a DVD, the next step is to start the installation. The program will ask you for a location. C:\ works.

Click on Setup.exe and SQL will check to see if .Net framework 3.51 is installed and if there is a need for installer updates.  If it isn’t, the program will ask you to proceed with SQL Server 2008 requirements as shown. 

Click okay. The next screen is the Framework 3.51 installer:
Accept the ULA and click next.

When completed, you will see this screen:

Once the framework is installed, a reboot is required.
After rebooting, restart the SQL Server 2008 installer.

At this point, a screen with many options should appear.  This is actually 7 screens in one:

To get started here, click the very top one.  Once you do, you should see:



These are fairly self explanatory.  The one we’re most interested in is the installation.
Once selected, a new group of options will appear: