The Basic install path gets you a working SQL Server 2022 in a few minutes, and it makes two decisions for you that are worth knowing about before you click it. Below, I’ll walk you through how to download the installation media and successfully install SQL Server 2022, and then what those two settings are.
Downloading SQL Server 2022
To guarantee you’re downloading the latest and official version of SQL Server, visit Microsoft’s SQL Server Downloads page. From here, you can download the most recent release of SQL Server.
If you’re looking for older or specific versions, you’ll need to head over to the Microsoft Evaluation Center. Once there, navigate to the SQL Server section and select the appropriate version.
At the download stage, you’ll be prompted to choose between the Developer Edition and Express Edition. The Developer Edition is feature-complete and ideal for testing, while Express Edition has limitations but can be useful for lightweight applications or development environments.
For this guide, I’ll be using the Developer Edition.
Installing SQL Server 2022
After downloading the installer, copy the SQL2022-SSEI-Dev.exe (or SQL2022-SSEI-Expr.exe for Express) to the machine where you want to install SQL Server. To start the installation, right-click on the file and choose “Run as Administrator.”
Once the installer opens, you’ll have three options:
- Basic: A quick installation with default settings.
- Custom: Provides more control over the installation process and allows for specific configurations.
- Download Media: Allows you to download the full installation files for later use.
For most installations, Basic will suffice. Accept the License Terms, select your desired installation location, and click Install. The installation process typically takes a few minutes but can vary depending on your hardware and Windows version.
What Basic decides for you
Going Basic skips the Custom wizard’s configuration pages, and two of them matter enough that I go back and check them afterwards.
MAXDOP is the one Basic handles well. SQL Server 2019 added a MaxDOP page to setup that detects a recommended value from the core count, and the setup documentation says that “if this page is skipped during setup, the default MaxDOP value is the recommended value displayed in this page instead of the default Database Engine value for previous versions (0).” So a Basic install on 2022 leaves you with a sensible MAXDOP rather than 0.
Max server memory is the one it doesn’t. The same page says that if the Memory page is skipped, “the default max server memory value used is the Database Engine default value (2,147,483,647 megabytes),” which is effectively unlimited. On a machine where SQL Server is the only thing running that’s survivable, but on a laptop or a shared box it will take everything the buffer pool asks for and starve Windows. It’s the first thing I set after a Basic install.
Post-Installation
After installation completes, you’ll be presented with configuration details and confirmation of a successful setup. If something went wrong, SQL Server will generate a log file with more detailed information, which you can review to troubleshoot any issues.
If you need to cancel the installation partway through, ensure that you clean up any residual files in the installation directory and uninstall any partially installed SQL Server components. Failing to do so could cause problems during future installation attempts.
This guide focuses solely on the installation process and doesn’t cover security, best practices, or database configuration. With the installation complete, you’re ready to begin using SQL Server 2022 for tasks such as creating new databases or migrating existing ones.
The install itself has never been the part that gives me trouble. What gets me is coming back to an instance months later and finding it’s still on whatever setup chose, because a Basic install doesn’t prompt you about anything and there’s nothing to remind you afterwards. Max server memory is the one I’ve actually been caught by.
Feel free to leave a comment if you run into any issues. Before doing so, make sure to search for the error code, since most installation errors have known solutions readily available online.