How to Download and Install SQL Server 2022

Back to: ASP.NET Core Tutorials For Beginners and Professionals

How to Download and Install SQL Server 2022

In this article, I will discuss how to Download and Install SQL Server 2022 on the Windows Operating System. Please read our previous article discussing how to Download and Install Visual Studio Code. Now, we are going to install SQL Server 2022. Remember, we will develop Data-Driven Web Applications; we need some data. We can hard code the data in memory. But in real time, we need to work with databases. As a database, in this course, we are going to use SQL Server. Now, let us see how to download and Install SQL Server 2022 Developer Edition.

What is SQL Server?

SQL Server is a relational database management system (RDBMS) developed by Microsoft. It is designed to store and retrieve data as requested by other software applications. These applications can run on the same computer or another computer across a network, including the Internet. SQL Server provides a robust platform for data management, analysis, and reporting, suitable for enterprise-level applications as well as smaller-scale applications. SQL Server supports both on-premises and cloud environments.

How to Download and Install SQL Server 2022?

Downloading and Installing SQL Server 2022 involves a series of steps that vary slightly depending on whether you are installing it on a Windows environment or planning to use it with Linux or Docker. Now, let us see how to download and install SQL Server 2022 Developer Edition.

How to Download SQL Server 2022

So go to Google.com or your favorite search engine and search for Download SQL Server 2022. You will see that the top instance is from Microsoft.com. So click on it, as shown in the image below.

You can also directly visit the following URL to download SQL Server Latest Version:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sql-server/sql-server-downloads

Once you click the above link, you will see three big entries at the top, as shown in the image below.

We don’t want any of those. Instead, go down and download a free specialized edition. And in this case, we’re going to download the developer edition. So, click the Download Now button as shown in the image below.

Once you click on the Download Now button, a very small document (actually the SQL Server Developer Edition 2022 EXE file) downloads, which is only about five megabytes, as shown in the image below.

Now click on the above EXE file or double-click on the EXE file from its downloaded folder. A popup will open. Click yes, then it will ask you what you want to download, as shown in the image below. Here, you can see three Options: Basic, Custom, and Download Media. I like to Download Media simply because I want to reuse it on multiple computers. So, I click the Download Media option, as shown in the image below.

Basic Installation Option:

• This option is designed for users who want to install the core components of SQL Server quickly.
• It typically installs the SQL Server Database Engine with default configurations and automatically chooses all necessary settings.
• The Basic installation does not allow you to select individual components or configure detailed settings during the installation.
• It is Ideal for Users who need a straightforward, out-of-the-box installation without specific configuration requirements, such as developers on personal projects or small applications. It is ideal for development, testing, or learning environments where advanced customization is not required.

Custom Installation Option:

• The Custom installation allows users to choose specific features and configurations, giving them full control over the installation process.
• It allows users to select individual components to install, such as SQL Server Database Engine, SQL Server Replication, Data Quality Services, Analysis Services, Reporting Services, and more.
• The user can choose exactly what features to install, where to install them, and how to configure each component. This option lets you specify instance features, server configuration settings, and more.
• It is Ideal for Advanced users and administrators who need to customize the SQL Server setup for development, testing, security settings, network configuration, or production environments with specific requirements.

Download Media Option:

• This option is for users who want to download SQL Server installation media for later use or install SQL Server on machines without an internet connection.
• It allows us to download the SQL Server setup’s ISO or CAB file formats. It includes all the components available for custom installation.
• It is ideal for users who need to perform installations on multiple machines and have a ready-to-install package without an internet connection during setup.

Once you click on the Download Media option, the following window will open. I am going to download it here as a CAB, which is compressed media that contains .exe and .box files. Next, select the English language and the download location. Here, I am going with the default location. Finally, click the Download button, as shown in the image below.

ISO or CAB Format:

The ISO and CAB formats mentioned during the download of SQL Server installation media refer to different types of file containers used to distribute software. These formats are commonly used for packaging multiple files into one file, making them easier to distribute and manage.

• ISO Format: When downloading SQL Server in ISO format, you receive a single file that contains all the data needed to perform an installation. This file can be virtually considered as a disk drive on most operating systems without needing physical media.
• CAB Format: When Downloading SQL Server in CAB format, it provides a compressed archive that might be used for network installations or situations where bandwidth or storage efficiency is important.

When you click on the Download button, downloading the required files will take some time. Once the download is successful, you will get the following message: Next, I am going to open the folder. To open the folder, click the Open Folder button, as shown in the image below.

The following image shows the folder’s content. It just contains two files: one .exe and one .box file.

Installing SQL Server 2022 on Windows Operating System:

In order to install SQL Server, double-click on the EXE file as shown in the below image.

Once you double-click on the exe file, one popup will appear asking, “Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?” click Yes, and we will make changes. Once you click yes, it will ask you to select the location for the extracted files, as shown in the image below. In my case, I am going with the default location, C:\Users\Pranaya\Downloads\SQLServer2022-DEV-x64-ENU\, and clicking on the OK button, as shown in the image below.

It will extract all the files into the specified folder, as shown in the below image.

Once the extraction is completed, it will open the following SQL Server Installation Center. There are a lot of tabs on the left-hand side, and we don’t need to know much about them at the moment. We are only interested in the Installation tab, so click on the Installation tab as shown in the below image.

Once you click on the Installation tab, the following window will open. To proceed, we need to click the New SQL Server Standalone Installation and Add Features to an Existing Installation option, as shown in the image below.

The automatically installed setup files will open once you click on the above link. Click Next if you get the following screen: If you are getting a Windows Firewall Warning, this is fine, and you can proceed by clicking on the Next button, as shown in the image below.

Once you click on the Next button, the Installation Type window will open. Here, you can choose whether you want a new SQL Server Installation or to add features to an existing one. I chose the Perform a new installation of SQL Server 2022 radio button and clicked on the Next button, as shown in the image below.

Once you click on the Next button, the following Product Key window will open. Now, in this window, it asks what edition you want. Do you want the Developer Edition, or do you want the Express Edition? Or are you downloading one of the standard or enterprise editions and want to give it a 180-day trial, or do you have a product? Well, I’m going to download the developer edition. I’m going to install the developer edition. So, I select the Developer Edition and click the Next button, as shown in the image below.

Once you click on the Next button, it will open the following License Term window. Here, you need to accept the License Term by checking the checkbox and clicking the Next button, as shown in the image below.

Once you click on the Next button, the Azure Extension for SQL Server will open. Since we currently don’t have an Azure account, we need to uncheck the Azure Extension for SQL Server checkbox and click the Next button, as shown in the image below.

Once you click on the Next button, it will open the Feature Selection window. Here, you need to select what you want to install. If you want to build your select statements and database administrator, you need to select the Database Engine Services checkbox.

If you are looking for SSAS, you need to select the Analysis Services checkbox. Similarly, if you’re looking for SQL Server Integration Services, you need to select the Integration Services checkbox. If you’re looking for anything else, you can select that checkbox from the list. If you want to select everything, you can click on the Select All button.

For the purpose of this course, I am just going to install the Database Engine Services only, not the analysis services or integration services. If you want, you can install them. You can change the instant root directory to any other drive if you do not have enough space in the C drive. But I have enough space on the C drive, so I am going to create the instant root directory on the C drive. So, from this window, select the Database Engine Services checkbox and click on the Next button, as shown in the below image.

Once you click on the Next button, it will open the following Instance Configuration window. If you are installing SQL Server for the first time, then you need to select the Default Instance radio button. But I have already installed a different instance of SQL Server. So, I cannot select the Default Instance radio button as I have already selected the same with a different SQL Server Installation. So, I am selecting the other radio button, i.e., Named Instance, giving the name SQLServer2022Dev, and clicking the Next button, as shown in the image below. Notice that whatever name we provided, either in Default Instance or Named Instance, will become the Instance ID for this SQL Server installation.

Once you click the Next button, the following Server Configuration window will open. I suggest you don’t make any changes in this window and click on the Next button, as shown in the image below.

What is SQL Server Agent?

SQL Server Agent is a Microsoft Windows service that executes scheduled administrative tasks called jobs in SQL Server. Jobs can be scheduled to run at a set time or in response to specific events. SQL Server Agent plays an important role in the day-to-day functions of a SQL Server environment by automating routine tasks. It is used to automate a variety of tasks, such as database backups, maintenance, and running scripts.

What is SQL Server Database Engine?

The SQL Server Database Engine is the core service for storing, processing, and securing data. It handles data storage, processing, and security and offers robust transaction processing capabilities.

What is SQL Server Browser?

The SQL Server Browser service plays an essential role in SQL Server environments where multiple SQL Server instances are installed on a single machine. It listens for incoming requests for Microsoft SQL Server resources and provides information about SQL Server instances installed on the computer. This helps client applications connect to the correct SQL Server instance, especially when multiple instances are running on the same machine.

Once you click on the Next button, it will open the Database Engine Configuration window. We are going to install the SQL Server with Mixed Authentication Mode. This means that we can log in to the database using the Windows Credentials as well as SQL Server Credentials. Here, I am providing the password as SQLServer@2022. And I want to add the current user as an administrator. To do this, click on the Add Current User button. Administrators have all of the power that you need in the instance. Then click on the Next button, as shown in the below image.

Once you click on the Next button, the Ready to Install window will open. This means the SQL Server instance is ready to install. So, click the Next button, as shown in the image below, to start installing.

Once you click on the Install button, the installation will start. Once the installation is completed, you will get the following message: Click on the Close button to close the installation.

The backend is whatever we installed now. Next, we need to install the front end, which is the interface or client tool we can use to connect to the database and perform database operations.

Key Features of SQL Server

• Database Management: SQL Server provides tools for managing databases in a structured manner, using SQL (Structured Query Language) to perform operations like data retrieval, insertion, updating, and deletion.
• Performance: SQL Server is known for its high performance, with advanced features like in-memory OLTP (Online Transaction Processing) and intelligent query processing.
• Security: It offers robust security features, including row-level security, always encrypted technology, and dynamic data masking, ensuring data safety and compliance with regulatory standards.
• Analytics: It integrates with tools like SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) to provide comprehensive analytical capabilities for data analysis and business intelligence.
• Integration Services: SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) allows for efficient data integration and transformation solutions, making it easier to manipulate and cleanse data.
• High Availability: Features like Always On Availability Groups provide high availability and disaster recovery capabilities to ensure business continuity.
• Developer Tools: It includes SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and Visual Studio integration, providing a rich set of tools for developers to manage databases and develop applications.
• Cloud Integration: SQL Server can be hosted in the cloud with services like Azure SQL Database, which offers a managed database service with built-in intelligence and scalability.

In the next article, I will discuss How to Download and Install SSMS on Windows Operating System. In this article, I explain How to Download and Install SQL Server 2022 on the Windows Operating System. I hope you enjoy this Download and Install SQL Server 2022 article.