Where is SQL Server executable?

Question

I downloaded and installed the free, Developer's version of SQL Server 2019 from the Microsoft site and e3verything went fine, but I don't know how to invoke it. I can't find the .exe file to launch. Any suggestions?

Thanks.
Jim

Answer 1

Assuming a default installation of SQL Server, the executable is in C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL15.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\BINN\sqlservr.exe. However, you would only invoke it directly under very special circumstances. Normally, SQL Server runs as a service, and when you install SQL Server it is configured to start automatically. (This is something you control from SQL Server Configuration Manager.)

To be able to work with SQL Server you need a query tool of some sort. The most popular is SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), although lately Microsoft has put a lot of effort into the newer Azure Data Studio. The latter has the advantage that it also runs non-Windows platforms. However, SSMS, is still the run-of-the-mill that most people use. You can download it here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/ssms/download-sql-server-management-studio-ssms (And the download includes Azure Data Studio.)

Answer 2

Hi @JimFuchs-3383,
Have you download the setup file?
After double-clicking the file SQLServer2019-SSEI-Dev.exe, the installer will ask you to select the installation type, we can choose “custom” type to download SQL Server installation setup file, and specify the folder for storing the installation files that the installer will download.

Then, we can see the setup.exe in the specified folder. Please right click on setup.exe file and select run as administrator when you want to start the SQL Server installation. And please Disable any antivirus/security software or uninstall it temporarily on the machine for the time that the installation is running.

After installation completed, we need to install SSMS to manage SQL Server instance as Erland mentioned.
Please refer to this tutorial which might help.

Best Regards,
Amelia

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