1.3. SSMS Installation & Configuration

Step 1:

First of all you need to download SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) installation files (SQLManagementStudio_x64_ENU.exe / SQLManagementStudio_x86_ENU.exe) from the SQL Server download page depending on your server type (x64,x86), and keep it in a separate folder.

Figure illustrating the SQL Server Management Studio download page


Step 2:

Once you downloaded the respective file as per your server type, you need to execute it. It will then take you to the first screen namely SQL Server Installation Center as shown below. This is the primary installation screen of SQL Server. Other SQL server tools installations can be launched from here as well. Once you are on this screen, you need to select “New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation” to proceed with the installation.

Selecting New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation from the SQL Server Installation Center


Step 3:

Once you select the “New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation” option, it will check the setup rules (pre-requisites) on the server and take you to the license terms screen. The license terms must be read and accepted like with any other application’s license terms. Please note that your server must pass the setup rules in order to proceed with the installation.

SQL Server 2012 Setup - accepting license terms


Step 4:

Once you accept the license terms, it is time to scan all the available product updates. The required updates, size and details will be displayed. However, if you need further details, you can select More Information which will take you to the support page where you will find all the details related to the updates. You can ignore these updates by deselecting the ‘Include SQL Server product updates’ option at this stage.

SQL Server product updates dialog


Step 5:

The next step is the Install Setup Files step, where SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) setup will download, extract and install all necessary setup files to your server.

Figure illustrating the Install Setup Files step


Step 6:

When we run the installation, it selects Management Tools by default, so you do not need to select anything here. In addition you can select Management tools – Basic. To get more information on this feature you can view the detailed feature description on right hand side.

This screen also gives you the ability to select and deselect all features in one go. This saves lots of time when you need to install multiple features. It also provides detailed information about the prerequisites, the selected features, which prerequisites have already been installed and which will be installed through this installation. You just need to click on the Next button to continue.

Figure illustrating Feature Selection step in SQL Server 2012 setup


Step 7:

In this step, SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) setup will check the installation rules (pre-requisite for the SSMS). Just click on the Next button to continue.

Figure illustrating the Installation Rules step in SQL Server 2012 Management Studio Setup


Step 8:

In this step setup will verify the disk space. Please make sure that you have sufficient disk space available. Not having sufficient disk space may result in a faulty installation. Just click on the Next button to continue.

Figure illustrating the Disk Space Requirements step in SQL Server Management Studio 2012 Setup


Step 9:

In this step, you have the opportunity to decide whether or not to send the error notifications to Microsoft.

Figure illustrating SQL Server 2012 Setup step where you decide whether or not to send the error notifications to Microsoft


Step 10:

Once you click on the Next button, setup checks the installation configuration rules and if it passed, setup continues. This step will take some time to install SQL Server Management Studio.

Figure illustrating the Installation Progress in SQL Server Management Studio 2012 Setup


Step 11:

This step displays the installation status of SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) along with each feature, like a summary. This screen really helps to view what has been installed and what has not. In case one of the features could not be installed, you can re-run the same installation procedure and install that particular feature.

Figure illustrating what has been installed and what has not in SQL Server Management Studio setup


Step 12:

In order to check whether SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) has been installed successfully, you need to select start menu of your server and then further select the SQL Server 2012 menu. You will find the link to SQL Server Management Studio there.

Link to SQL Server Management Studio there


Last modified: Thursday, 5 December 2019, 10:44 AM