Deploying Microsoft SQL 2014 Standalone Server

In this blog I will be installing Microsoft SQL 2014 in a Standalone configuration. I needed to setup a SQL server for my home lab so thought i’d document the installation process.

Before You Start:

Microsoft SQL 2014 1 - .Net 3.5 Installation

Installing SQL Server Standalone Installation:

Mount/Extract the SQL 2014 ISO and run Setup.exe. On the Installation Center window click Installation then New SQL Server stand-alone installation:

Microsoft SQL 2014 2 - New SQL Server standalone

If you have a SQL Product Key enter it now. Otherwise you can continue using evaluation mode. Click Next:

Microsoft SQL 2014 3 - Product Key

You must accept the license agreement before being able to proceed. Click Next:

Optional: There is a box to participate in the Customer Experience Improvement Program.

Microsoft SQL 2014 4 - License Terms

Microsoft advises to select the box to check Microsoft Update for updates. Click Next:

Microsoft SQL 2014 5 - Microsoft Update

Installation will run through downloading updates and run through some preinstall tests. If everything checks out click Next:

Microsoft SQL 2014 6-1 - Install Rules

Feature Selection this will vary depending on your environment. The selection I made should cover the majority of your needs. If you want the Analysis and Reporting Services I would advise putting those on a separate server so it doesn’t consume resources that SQL should have.

Microsoft SQL 2014 7 - Feature Selection

Default Instance: You can have multiple SQL Server instances on a single server but only one instance can be the default instance. All others must be a named instance.

Instance ID: Here you can name this SQL instance and give a instance ID name.

Click Next:

Microsoft SQL 2014 8 - Instance Configuration

You can leave the default usernames but I like to run my services with a service account that I have added into the local admin group. Microsoft recommends having different accounts for each service, since this is my lab i’ll use the same account. Change the SQL Server Agent startup type to Automatic. Click Next:

Microsoft SQL 2014 9 - Server Configuration

You have two options for authentication mode, Windows and Mixed Mode. Some applications you have may not supported Windows authentication. This can be changed after installation. To proceed leave on Windows Activation and add a AD Group or User to be a SQL Server Administrators. Click Next:

Microsoft SQL 2014 10 - Database Enginer Configuration

If everything is correct click Install:

Microsoft SQL 2014 11 - Ready to Install

Complete! Click Close:

Microsoft SQL 2014 12 - Complete

Enable SQL on Network IP:

This step will enable the default SQL port of 1433 to listen for requests. Without this step your application would never be able to connect to your SQL server. Open the Start menu, you will now see quite a few new SQL applications. Find the one named SQL Server 2014 Configuration Manager and launch it:

Microsoft SQL 2014 15 - SQL Server Configuration

Drill down to SQL Server Network Configuration -> Protocols for MSSQLSERVER -> right click TCP/IP then Properties:

Microsoft SQL 2014 16 - Protocol TCPIP Properties

On the IP Addresses tab look for your IP address of the SQL Server. You will want to change the drop down menu from No to Yes. Click Apply:

Microsoft SQL 2014 17 - Change to Enabled

You will get a prompt requesting the services be restarted. To make it easy click Ok then reboot the SQL server. This will let everything come up clean and fresh.

Microsoft SQL 2014 17-1 Accept Warning Popup

SQL Server 2014 Management Studio:

Once your SQL Server comes back up from rebooting login and let’s launch the SQL Server Management Studio. This program is where you will create databases and perform SQL administration.

SQL Server 2014 Studio Manager

Login using a account you have SQL Administrator permissions during the installation.

Login to SQL Studio Management

Once logged in you are ready to create a database! I won’t go into creating a database in this post as it was meant to document the SQL installation process. For a example of database creation check out my post VMware Horizon View 7 – Events Database Creation (link coming soon).

Microsoft SQL 2014 14 - New Database Time

Change SQL Authentication Modes:

If you have a application that does not support Windows Authentication then you will need to switch SQL Authentication modes. To do this login to Management Studio, right click your SQL Server Name -> then click Properties:

Microsoft SQL 2014 18 - SQL Properties

On the Security page there is a Server Authentication section. Change it to mixed mode by changing the radio button to SQL Server and Windows Authentication mode then click Ok:

Microsoft SQL 2014 19 - Enable SQL and Windows Authentication Mode

Now you will be able to create SQL login accounts and use Windows AD users and groups.

Additional Resources: Check out the Microsoft TechNet Blog on Installing SQL Server 2014 Tutorial

You now have Microsoft SQL Server 2014 installed and ready to serve your application databases!

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