Installing the Server Software

Before you start the setup program, you must log on to the system using a username that has administrative privileges. (This is required only when installing server components; you can install the client components using any valid username.)

The SQL Server 6.0 CD contains three separate SETUP directories, one for Intel-based computers (the \I386 directory), one for MIPS-based computers (the \MIPS directory), and one for Alpha AXP-based computers (the \ALPHA directory). You must install SQL Server from the directory containing the software compatible with your hardware platform. You cannot use a different processor architecture's setup program to install SQL Server.

    To install Microsoft SQL Server 6.0
  1. From the directory containing the software compatible with your hardware platform's processor architecture, run SETUP.EXE and complete each dialog box that appears.
  2. If you are installing the software on a remote computer, when the Options dialog box appears, choose the Remote button, complete the Remote Setup dialog box, and then choose the OK button.

    If you are installing the software on the local computer, skip this step.

  3. From the Options dialog box, select the Install SQL Server and Utilities option, and then choose the Continue button.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions. You can choose the Help button or press f1 to access the setup program's online Help.

    For information about each option presented during installation, see Chapter 3, Server Options.

Note When you perform a new installation on a remote computer, the setup program configures the remote SQL Server as if the computer has 16 MB of memory. If this default is not correct, use SQL Enterprise Manager or the sp_configure system procedure on the remote SQL Server to change the setting of the memory configuration option. For information about setting the memory configuration option, see the Microsoft SQL Server Transact-SQL Reference or the Microsoft SQL Server Administrator's Companion.

During installation, selecting the default character set and sort order results in a rapid installation (in most cases, 5 to 10 minutes or less). Choosing an alternate character set or sort order can result in a somewhat longer installation time (but still less than 30 minutes).

After the server is installed, you may need to perform several configuration tasks, such as setting server configuration parameters, setting security parameters, and registering the server and adding it to a server group. For details see Configuring SQL Server, later in this chapter.