SQL Server 2016 Express Edition: Free Download and Installation Guide
How to Download and Install SQL Server 2016
If you are looking for a powerful and reliable data management system that can handle your online transaction processing (OLTP), data warehousing, and business intelligence (BI) needs, you might want to consider Microsoft SQL Server 2016. In this article, we will show you what SQL Server 2016 is, what features and benefits it offers, and how to download and install it on your computer.
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What is SQL Server 2016?
SQL Server 2016 is a relational database management system (RDBMS) developed by Microsoft. It is designed to store, process, and analyze large amounts of structured and unstructured data. SQL Server 2016 supports various data types, such as relational, XML, JSON, spatial, temporal, graph, and binary. It also supports various languages, such as Transact-SQL (T-SQL), C#, Java, Python, R, and more.
Features and benefits of SQL Server 2016
SQL Server 2016 has many features and benefits that make it a great choice for your data platform. Here are some of them:
It has in-memory performance and advanced security features that enable you to build mission-critical applications with high scalability, availability, and reliability.
It has in-database advanced analytics that allow you to analyze data directly within the SQL Server database using R, the popular statistics language.
It has built-in integration with Microsoft Azure, the cloud platform that offers various services, such as storage, backup, disaster recovery, machine learning, and more.
It has reporting and visualization tools, such as Power BI, that help you deliver insights on any device, online or offline.
It has a low total cost of ownership (TCO) compared to other self-service solutions.
System requirements for SQL Server 2016
Before you download and install SQL Server 2016, you need to make sure that your computer meets the minimum system requirements. Here are some of them:
You need a Windows operating system that supports SQL Server 2016. The supported versions are Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1), Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.
You need a processor that supports SSE2 instruction set. The minimum speed is 1.4 GHz for x64 processors or 1 GHz for x86 processors.
You need at least 512 MB of RAM for Express Edition or at least 4 GB of RAM for other editions.
You need at least 6 GB of available hard disk space for Express Edition or at least 10 GB of available hard disk space for other editions.
You need an internet connection to download the installation files and access online services.
How to download SQL Server 2016 Express Edition
One of the editions of SQL Server 2016 that you can download for free is the Express Edition. The Express Edition is a lightweight and free version of SQL Server 2016 that is suitable for learning, developing, and testing small-scale applications. It has a database size limit of 10 GB and supports up to 4 cores and 1 GB of memory per instance. Here are the steps to download SQL Server 2016 Express Edition:
Step 1: Go to the Microsoft download center
Open your web browser and go to the . You will see a page that looks like this:
Step 2: Choose your language and click Download
On the download page, you can choose your preferred language from the drop-down menu. Then, click on the Download button. You will see a pop-up window that looks like this:
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Step 3: Select the files you want to download
In the pop-up window, you can select the files you want to download. There are two types of files: executable files and ISO files. Executable files are easier to install, but they require an internet connection during the installation. ISO files are larger, but they can be burned to a DVD or mounted to a virtual drive for offline installation. You can choose one or more files depending on your needs. Here are some of the common files:
SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe: This is the executable file for installing SQL Server 2016 Express Edition on a 64-bit Windows operating system.
SQLEXPR_x86_ENU.exe: This is the executable file for installing SQL Server 2016 Express Edition on a 32-bit Windows operating system.
SQLEXPRADV_x64_ENU.exe: This is the executable file for installing SQL Server 2016 Express Edition with Advanced Services on a 64-bit Windows operating system. Advanced Services include Reporting Services, Full Text Search, and more.
SQLEXPRADV_x86_ENU.exe: This is the executable file for installing SQL Server 2016 Express Edition with Advanced Services on a 32-bit Windows operating system.
SQLServer2016-SSEI-Expr.iso: This is the ISO file for installing SQL Server 2016 Express Edition on any Windows operating system.
SQLServer2016-SSEI-ExprAdv.iso: This is the ISO file for installing SQL Server 2016 Express Edition with Advanced Services on any Windows operating system.
After you select the files you want to download, click on the Next button. The download will start automatically.
Step 4: Save the files to your computer
Choose a location on your computer where you want to save the downloaded files. Make sure you have enough space available. The file size may vary depending on your selection, but it can range from 500 MB to 5 GB. Wait until the download is complete.
How to install SQL Server 2016 Express Edition
After you have downloaded the files, you can proceed to install SQL Server 2016 Express Edition on your computer. Here are the steps to install it:
Step 1: Run the setup file
If you downloaded an executable file, double-click on it to run it. If you downloaded an ISO file, you need to either burn it to a DVD or mount it to a virtual drive using a tool like . Then, run the setup.exe file from the DVD or virtual drive. You will see a screen that looks like this:
Step 2: Accept the license terms and click Next
On the setup screen, you need to accept the license terms and conditions to proceed with the installation. Read the terms carefully and check the box that says "I accept the license terms". Then, click on the Next button. You will see a screen that looks like this:
Step 3: Choose the installation type and click Next
On the next screen, you need to choose the installation type that suits your needs. There are two options: Basic and Custom. Basic is the recommended option for most users, as it installs the default configuration of SQL Server 2016 Express Edition with minimal user input. Custom is the option for advanced users, as it allows you to customize the installation by selecting the features, location, and configuration of SQL Server 2016 Express Edition. For this article, we will choose the Basic option. Click on the Basic button. You will see a screen that looks like this:
Step 4: Select the features you want to install and click Next
On the next screen, you can select the features you want to install with SQL Server 2016 Express Edition. The features include:
Database Engine Services: This is the core service that manages, stores, and processes data in SQL Server 2016 Express Edition.
SQL Server Replication: This is the serv