Windows Server Core is a minimal server installation option for computers running on the Windows Server 2008 R2 operating system. You can learn more about Server Core here –
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee391626(v=VS.85).aspx
SQL Server Denali supports installing on Windows server core. You can refer to following link to learn more about new features in SQL Server Denali.
http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/en/us/future-editions/denali-mission-critical-confidence.aspx
This blog entry explains the following
- The steps you could follow to setup SQL Server Denali CTP3 on a Hyper-V based Windows 2008 R2 Server Core virtual machine for testing purpose.
- Using SYSPREP feature in SQL Server to prepare image and later clone many virtual machines.
- Enabling SQL Server instance to be remotely manageable from SQL Server Management Studio.
Requirements:
- SQL Server Denali Installation media
- Windows 2008 R2 Hyper V enabled machine with free hard disk space of at least 50 GB.
- Windows 2008 R2 Server Core installation media
Downloading Denali CTP3:
- Download Denali CTP3 from Download SQL Server “Denali” CTP3
- Save downloaded files to c:\CTP3 on host machine
- Open command prompt, CD c:\ctp3
- Run SQLFULL_x64_ENU_Install.exe – This extracts downloaded contents to c:\CTP3\SQLFULL_x64_ENU
- Create a ISO image of folder c:\CTP3\SQLFULL_x64_ENU using CD / DVD burning software. You can also use tools like Oscdimg -
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc749036(WS.10).aspx
Preparing Server core Virtual machine:
1. Setup a Windows 2008 R2 Server Core Virtual machine ( reference:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc732470(WS.10).aspx
)
2. Start Virtual machine, you will see a command prompt window after logging on
Installing SQL Server on Server core Virtual machine:
1. Deploy SQL Server components with prepare image option. The Prepare Image step installs the SQL Server product and features but does not configure the installation.
a) Mount SQL Server Denali CTP3 ISO image to Virtual machine, In command window, check if the mounted drive folder has access ISO image contents
b) Prepare Image
In command prompt , CD d:\
SETUP /Q /IAcceptSQLServerLicenseTerms
/ACTION=PrepareImage
/FEATURES=SQLENGINE
/INSTANCEID=”DENALICTP3″
/INDICATEPROGRESS
Sysprep & Export Virtual machine:
1. Seal Image ( Additional details on Sysprep –
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302577
)
2. Export this virtual machine so that multiple copies of this Virtual machine can be imported back. ( Reference:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/chenley/archive/2011/03/23/exporting-cloning-virtual-machines-on-hyper-v-with-windows-server-2008-r2.aspx
)
Complete SQL Server installation on Virtual machine:
1. Import Virtual machine, start virtual machine
2. Rename machine name (join domain if needed) – use sconfig.cmd and follow instructions
3. Complete SQL Server installation with
- In command prompt, CD d:\
Setup /QS /ACTION=CompleteImage /INSTANCEID=”DENALICTP3″
/INSTANCENAME=”MSSQLSERVER”
/IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS=1
/SQLSYSADMINACCOUNTS=”WIN-Q1A9DGJ2BNU\Administrators”
/BROWSERSVCSTARTUPTYPE=AUTOMATIC
/SECURITYMODE=SQL
/SAPWD=”ThisIsNotMyPassword#1234$”
/INDICATEPROGRESS
/TCPENABLED=1
Note: replace “WIN-Q1A9DGJ2BNU” with your machine name
Above command line installs default SQL Server instance with
- SQL Authentication is enabled.
- TCP protocol is enabled.
- Adds local Administrators group as sysadmin in SQL Server
4. Configure Firewall rules to allow remote clients to connect to SQL Server instance
· In command prompt , enter the following command
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name = SQLPort dir = in protocol = tcp action = allow localport = 1433 remoteip = localsubnet profile = DOMAIN
Reference:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc646023.aspx
Remote management using SQL Management Studio:
1. On a remote machine install SQL Server Management tools
2. Connect to Server core instance like any other SQL Server instance, now you can perform administrative tasks from remote machine.
If you have any issues in these steps please email me at sethu.srinivasan@microsoft.com . We would like to hear your feedback.
This posting is provided “AS IS” with no warranties, and confers no rights.
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