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Automating Installation Of SQL Server

Published 2017-08-08 by Kevin Feasel

Nate Johnson has a script he uses to automate installation of SQL Server on a new server:

We can then use this file in the ConfigurationFile argument of setup.exe from the SQL Server install media.  To put a little more color on that: the .ini file is really just a collection of command-line arguments to setup.exe​; you could also list them all out in-line, but that would be tedious and silly.  Here’s a couple major selling points of creating your own config file:

  1. Slipstream updates (SP’s, CU’s), instead of having it go out to MSFT update servers (or *aghast* sticking with the original RTM bits, you heathen you!)

  2. Specify drive letters / default file locations: sure, this may be considered old-hat if you’re running super slick storage, but I still find it makes management a bit easier if I know where my MDFs, LDFs, TempDB, & backups will always be.

  3. Take advantage of 2016’s better TempDB setup options (# files, size & growth)

Read the whole thing.

Published in Administration and Powershell