How to Install SQL Server 2016 on Windows Server 2016

SQL Server 2016 is the newest Version of the Microsoft SQL Relational Database Management System.  In this article I will explain how to install MS SQL Server on Windows Server 2016.

You can also use Following guide to Install Microsoft SQL Server on Windows 10.

Download SQL Server 2016

First, download the SQL Server download setup from the following URL www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-sql-server-2016

Once you run the download setup, you have options to perform a basic Installation, Custom Installation or you can download the SQL Server ISO Image to Your Computer.

It is better to Download ISO image so we can use it to Install SQL Server whenever we want. You can burn ISO Image to a DVD or mount the ISO image to the Windows Server if you are running a Virtual Machine.

Install SQL Server 2016 on Windows Server 2016

Once you run the SQL Server Installer, It will launch the SQL Server Installation Center.

From the  Installation Center, Select  installation and click on “New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation” Link to start install SQL Server 2016.

Feature Selection

In the Feature Section, you need to select what features you need to install. Make sure to select Database Engine Services as below screenshot shows. Also select “Client Tool Connectivity” From the Shared features Section.

Authentication Mode

Select Mixed Mode as the Authentication Mode and Set Password for the “sa” user. Also click on “Add Current User” button to add yourself as a SQL Server Administrator.

At the end of the SQL Server 2016 Setup, Click on the Install Button to Install Microsoft SQL Server on Windows Server 2016.

Install SQL Server Management Studio

SQL Server Management Studio provides the Graphical User Interface (GUI) to manage MS SQL Server 2016.

You can download  Server Management Studio Installation setup From the Following URL https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt238290.aspx (Also Available in the  SQL Server Installation Center).

Connect to the MS SQL Database Server

Now we can use Server Management Studio to connect to the our MS SQL Database server.

We can use either sa user account or windows user account to authenticate to the Microsoft SQL Server 2016.