Can I use SQL-Server on Windows Server 2008 R2 core?

While SQL-Server 2012 has been tested and and is fully supported by Microsoft, this is not the case for SQL-Server 2008R2. However is it still possible to install and run this version of SQL-Server on Windows Server Core installations.

Here's what to do to install SQL 2008R2 on a Server 2008R2 core edition:

• install dot.NET Framework 3.51

  pkgmgr /iu:NetFx2-ServerCore;NetFx2-ServerCore-WOW64
  ocsetup ServerCore-WOW64
  ocsetup NetFx2-ServerCore
  ocsetup NetFx2-ServerCore-WOW64
  DISM /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFx3-ServerCore
  DISM /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFx3-ServerCore-WOW64
  

• install PowerShell

  pkgmgr /iu:MicrosoftWindowsPowerShell
  

• Prepare a SQL-Server setup configuration file, this example is for SQL-Express:

  ;SQLSERVER2008 Configuration File
  [SQLSERVER2008]
  INSTANCEID="MSSQLSERVER"
  INSTANCENAME="MSSQLSERVER"
  ACTION="Install"
  FEATURES=SQLENGINE,FullText
  HELP="False"
  INDICATEPROGRESS="False"
  QUIET="True"
  QUIETSIMPLE="False"
  
  X86="False"
  
  ENU="True"
  ERRORREPORTING="False"
  INSTALLSHAREDDIR="C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server"
  INSTALLSHAREDWOWDIR="C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server"
  INSTANCEDIR="C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server"
  
  ;The Database Engine root data directory.
  INSTALLSQLDATADIR="D:\SqlData"
  ;Directory for Database Engine TempDB files.
  SQLTEMPDBDIR="D:\SqlData\SysData"
  ;Directory for the Database Engine TempDB log files.          
  SQLTEMPDBLOGDIR="D:\SqlData\SysLogs"           
  
  SQLSVCSTARTUPTYPE="Automatic"
  FILESTREAMLEVEL="0"
  
  ENABLERANU="False"
  
  SQLCOLLATION="SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS"
  
  SQLSVCACCOUNT="NT SERVICE\MSSQLSERVER"
  
  SAPWD = "*********"
  SECURITYMODE = "SQL"
  
  ADDCURRENTUSERASSQLADMIN="True"
  
  TCPENABLED="1"
  NPENABLED="0"
  
  BROWSERSVCSTARTUPTYPE="Disabled"
  SQLBACKUPDIR = "D:\Backups\Sql"
  SQLUSERDBDIR = "D:\SqlData\UserData\Data"
  SQLUSERDBLOGDIR = "D:\SqlData\UserData\Logs"
  

For more information about the configuration file see the TechNet article: How to: Install SQL Server 2008 Using a Configuration File

If you have downloaded an .exe rather than using a DVD/ISO, you have to extract the setup files first:

    SQLEXPRADV_x64_ENU.exe -x

• Run the installed in quiet mode:

  setup.exe /ACTION=Install /IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS /q /ConfigurationFile=C:\SQL2008ForCore.ini
  

• Extract the Service Pack files:

  SQLServer2008R2SP1-KB2528583-x64-ENU.exe -x
  

Installing the service pack from a network drive did not work for me, make sure the files are on a local disk.

• Install the service pack:

  setup.exe /quiet /allinstances /IAcceptSQLServerLicenseTerms
  

You should now be able to connect to the instance from a remote SQL-Server Management Studio. You can also use sqlcmd.exe on the command line.

If you need a local GUI tool to run your queries, you can use Query Express, a small no-install single file application that works in Server Core.

I've been using SQL 2008R2 on Server Core for about six months now. I have not tested it with heavy loads but I don't see why it would behave any different from a version installed on a full-GUI windows.

yes sql 2012 will install on server core either version w2k12 or 2k8.

Ah, it apparently depends on the version of MS SQL Server. MS SQL Server 2008, no. MS SQL Server 2012, yes.

Starting with SQL Server 2012, you can install SQL Server on a Server Core installation of Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 or Windows Server 2012. This topic provides setup-specific details for installing SQL Server 2012 on Server Core.