Configuring SQL Server Express 2005 - The Easy Part – Installation

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The easiest way to download and install SQL Server Express is with the installer for any of the other Express tools, found at http://msdn.microsoft.com/express. You can download it on its own and install, but the major problem with this route is that there is no GUI tools, you need the 'database explorer' in the other tool(s) to actually administer the database. Not to mention that the very reason you're going to be using the system is to create dynamic applications and websites, so you'll need the other tools anyways!

I used Web Dev Express for working with Asp.Net. A word of caution: I tried to use the installer to do the downloading from behind a proxy, and it wouldn't work. At home I was able to use the installer, at work I was forced to download the individual packages for Web Dev and SQL Server Express, as well as one for the .Net 2.0 framework.

Anyways, once you've downloaded the packages, it's mind-numbingly easy to do the installation. Just allow the install shield to install with all defaults.

But that's where the ease ends. You see, the installation of SQL Express is nothing like that of SQL Server 2000. Here are some potential headaches:

• You are at no time prompted for the desired server name. This is set by the installer, and you are given absolutely no indication as to what it is.
  
  
• In an automated install you don't get to set the 'sa' password, it's set to a random strong password by the installer.
  
  
• I feel the need to mention this again, as it's really the driver behind this article: there are absolutely no GUI admin tools provided with SQL Express!

So without knowledge of how to connect to the server, what authentication to use, and what to do once you're connected, you'll soon be seeking some Aspirin! To prevent hours of frustration and hundreds of “access denied/authentication failed” messages, read on!

Next: The Not-So-Easy Part – Configuration >>
 

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