This is a short post on enabling file streaming. I have read a few sources that cover the same topic but I like to write about these things to reinforce my knowledge. If you are interested in these other useful resources and to be honest this is where I learned about this process, along with actually doing it for myself check out these websites:
The SQL Server Storage Engine Blog
Filestream Storage in SQL Server 2008 - A white paper by Paul Randal
Lets assume that you have just completed your installation of SQL Server 2008 and applied SP1 and you also know that this new instance will be used to house a file stream database.
Open SQL Server configuration manager:
<START><Program Files><Microsoft SQL Server 2008><Configuration Tools><SQL Server Configuration manager>
When configuration manager has opened right click on the SQL Server 2008 instance
Select <Properties>
Select the <FILESTREAM> tab
Ensure that the following check boxes are selected:
- Enable FILESTREAM for Transact=SQL access
- Enable FILESTREAM for file I/O streaming access (allows you to read and write file stream data from windows). Enter the name of the share.
- Allow remote clients to have streaming access to FILESTREAM data. (enabling this option will allow remote clients to have access to FILESTREAM data.)
- Select <APPLY><OK>
You then need to run the following script from management studio.
EXEC sp_configure filestream_access_level, 2
RECONFIGURE
So we have enabled FILESTREAM for the 2008 instance. The next task is to create a Filestream enabled database.
