Installing SQL Server 2008R2 on a Windows 2008R2 Core Server

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Installing SQL Server 2008R2 on a Windows 2008R2 Core Server

Rudy Panigas

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November 14, 2011 at 10:10 pm

#246063

Comments posted to this topic are about the item Installing SQL Server 2008R2 on a Windows 2008R2 Core Server
Rudy

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pjs52 SSC Veteran Points: 212 More actions · Answer 1

If you are using SSMS from your desktop, I've noticed that you cannot manage maintenance plans. How would you do that in this scenario?

Rudy Panigas SSChampion Points: 10702 More actions · Answer 2

Because the Windows Core server has no GUI, you need to run SSMS from your desktop. You should be able to do all your work from there. Make sure you are using an id that has all the proper rights.

Also, SQL 2008R2 installed on Windows Core is not supported by Microsoft. Only their new version 2012 is supported to run under Core.

Rudy

pjs52 SSC Veteran Points: 212 More actions · Answer 3

pjs52

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November 15, 2011 at 12:31 pm

#1408124

Good to know, thanks. 🙂

doctor.net SSC Journeyman Points: 99 More actions · Answer 4

Hi Ruby,

SQL Server 2008 R2 is not supported on Windows Server Core. SQL Server 2012 will be the first version of SQL Server that is fully supported on Server Core. You can find information on how to install SQL Server 2012 on Server Core in this article: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh231669(SQL.110).aspx.

This blog is also a good resource: http://blogs.technet.com/b/andrew/archive/2011/08/12/sql-server-on-windows-server-core-part-1-server-core-installation.aspx

VladaL Valued Member Points: 71 More actions · Answer 5

So shall we conclude that it is not possible to install SQL 2008 R2 on Windows Core 2008 R2? I did try to do it following described steps but SQL installation ended with error when NetFx35 role has come into the game. SQL installer needs .Net 3.5 SP1 but it is not on the list of existing features. Please do correct me if this is not correct.

Rudy Panigas SSChampion Points: 10702 More actions · Answer 6

Hey you are correct, SQL 2008R2 is not supported on Windows Core but you can install it. The purpose of this exercise was to learn more about how SQL server works on Windows Core. I do not recomment using this unsupported installation and since SQL 2012 is now available you should play with that on Core.

Thanks,

Rudy

Rudy Panigas SSChampion Points: 10702 More actions · Answer 7

VladaL (7/8/2012)
So shall we conclude that it is not possible to install SQL 2008 R2 on Windows Core 2008 R2? I did try to do it following described steps but SQL installation ended with error when NetFx35 role has come into the game. SQL installer needs .Net 3.5 SP1 but it is not on the list of existing features. Please do correct me if this is not correct.

Your conclusion is incorrect as you can install SQL 2008R2 onto Windows Core. The issue you are having is explained in the article. See below.

Finally click on “Add or Remove Roles”. There are many roles and features you can install but .NET is what you will need to get the SQL Server installation going. Scroll down the list until you see “NetFx3-ServerCore”, select it and click on apply. Once completed you will be ready to install SQL server.

Since SQL 2012 is now available, you should try install it onto Core. The purpose of this article was to show that you can install SQL 2008R2 onto Core and to allow you to play with SQL and Core.

Thanks,

Rudy