Introduction

SQL Server 2008 RC0 has been out for a while. You can download it here.

This post is not a detailed examination of the setup options. There are much better articles and posts out there if you want more information. This post represents one way to get SQL Server 2008 RC0 up and running so you can start learning the new features!

Getting Started

I downloaded the software and installed it on a brand new virtual machine running Windows Server 2008 Enterprise (without Hyper-V). I used VMWare Workstation for this virtual machine because I need a 64-bit guest OS. I was also able to configure the machine to use both CPUs on my host system. This may be possible with Virtual Server or Virtual PC, but I don't know how to do it (if it is).

I loaded the ISO image for SQL Server 2008 RC0 64-bit into the virtual DVD drive and started the setup application. The following screen displays:

Now this looks a lot different from previous SQL Server installation applications. In general, you navigate between pages using the Page List on the left. To continue installing click the Installation link in the Page List:

Installing a Stand-Alone Default Instance 

To install a new instance of SQL Server 2008, click the "New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation" link. The Setup Support Rules wizard executes and checks your system configuration:

Green checkmarks == good. When you click OK the Product Key screen displays. On this screen you can select any of the available evaluation editions or enter a product key:

Click Next to continue. The License Terms page is next. Accept the license terms and click Next to proceed:

The Setup Support Files page displays next. Click Install to begin application setup:

The first step in setting up the application is checking the Setup Support Rules:

 On this execution, the Setup Support Rules detected Windows Firewall and issued the following warning:

 I will address this warning after setup is complete. The next page is Feature Selection. Select the SQL Server 2008 features you wish to install and their respective directories, then click the Next button:

 The Instance Configuration page allows you to specify the SQL Server instance name and root directory:

Next, disk space is checked. Click Next to proceed:

Before configuring the Server, I created a SQL Server service account. Right-click My Computer and select Manage:

Navigate to Server Manager \ Configuration \ Local Users and Groups \ Users. Right-click in the Users pane and select New User:

I named my service account SQLDude:

Returning to the Server Configuration page of the SQL Server 2008 RC0 installation application, I click the "Use the same account for all SQL Server services" button and supply the credentials for SQLDude:

Click OK to assign the credentials to all services:

Click Next to proceed to the Database Engine Configuration page. On this page, configure administrator accounts, data directories, and the filestream options:

On the Data Directories tab, set a data root directory and edit any associated default paths:

I enabled filestream on the FILESTREAM tab. I haven't tested this yet. Configuring Filestream did not work in the CTPs (this was one the bugs I reported):

The next page is Analysis Services Configuration. Select administrators and data directories for SSAS 2008:

Reporting Services Configuration is the next page. I installed the native mode default configuration:

Click Next to set Error and Usage Reporting options on the next page:

Click Next to execute the Installation Rules. If there are no errors or warnings, click Next to proceed. Otherwise, stop here and address them:

Click Next to navigate to the Ready to Install page. Review the summary and click Back to make any changes. Click Install to install SQL Server 2008 RC0:

Once the installation completes the Next button will enable. Review the Status to make sure all items are marked Success and click Next to complete the installation:

Click Close on the Complete page to unload the SQL Server 2008 RC0 installation application:

That's it! You've successfully installed SQL Server 2008 RC0 - congratulations!

:{> Andy