Installing SQL Server 2012 for Configuration Manager Current Branch 1511

We will start our configuration Manger Current Branch 1511 installation by installing SQL server.

The standalone SQL server will host the Configuration Manger site database and later we add WSUS database as well.

Quick note on using remote SQL server, there are various arguments and disagreements in-between various IT pros in the industry in using remote SQL database Vs local SQL database.

The decision is made of various technical or political considerations, at the end It is up to you or your organization to decide which approach suitable for your organization.

There are many articles on the web which was already created for configuration manger 1511 installation based on the local SQL database server on the primary site server.

For this article I am using remote SQL server (SCCB-SQL) to host the site database, which has bit different settings then local instance installation.

Prerequisites for SQL server:

Windows Features:	·         .Net Framework 3.5 (Includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0) ·         .NET Framework 4.5
SQL Server:	·         Database Engine
Firewall Exception:	·         TCP 1433 ·         TCP 4022
Optional Configuration / Installs:	·         SQL Server service account ·         SQL Server Reporting Services ·         SQL Management tool ·         SQL BI

Let’s start the installer by running setup as Administrator;

Click on Installation tab on the left side then click on New SQL Server stand-alone installation;

The installer will scan for setup support rules. 

If you see any failed operations, then that needs to be fixed before moving ahead.

When all the operations are passed click next;

Select a desired SQL Server edition you want to install then click next;

Accept the license terms then click next;

On the Product Updates window, you will see available applicable updates.

If you wish to add the update click next, otherwise unselect Include SQL product updates then click next;

If you selected to include the updates, then the installer will start downloading the update then install them.

Occasionally, you may get setup extract error as below.

To fix the error re-start the server then start the installation process again.

If restart won’t solve the problem, then unselect the Include SQL product updates then click next;

Installer will run setup support rules again and will show the results of completed operations.

Any errors need to be fixed before going ahead. When all the rules are passed click next;

On the Setup Role page, select SQL Server Feature Installation then click next;

On the Feature selection page, by default none of the instance features will be selected;

Select the required features on the Feature Selection page.

At this stage, this SQL server is dedicated for only to host the CM site database. So will install only Database Engine Services.

If you want, you can install Reporting Services – Native instance for Reporting Services point.

You may consider installing SQL Server Data tools as well, so you can use SQL management studio to connect the database.

Once you select the Instance feature, the installer will again run the installation rules.

Once all the operations completed successfully then click next;

Once you select the Instance feature, the installer will again run the installation rules.

Once all the operations completed successfully then click next;

Click next once the installation rules are completed successfully;

Review and Click next on the Disk Space Requirements window;

On the Server Configuration, we need to configure an account for SQL Server Database Engine and enter the password.

Next click on Collation tab next to the Service Accounts tab;

Select SQL Collation, used for backwwards compatibility option then from the list select SQL_Latin1_general_CP1_CI_AS and click OK.

On the Database Engine Configuration window select Windows authentication mode;

Add a domain account to Specify SQL server administrators field.

Choose whether you want to send error reports to Microsoft or not then click next;

The installer will validate and run the installation configuration rules based on the selected instances.

Once all the operations passed then click next;

Review the summary on Ready to install Window;

The installation will take some time based on selected instances;

Once the installation is completed, the feature installation status will show as succeeded as below;

That’s it. The Microsoft SQL server 2012 Database engine installation completed successfully.

Install SQL 2012 SP3:

It is required to install SQL Server 2012 SP3 before installing Configuration Manager Primary site or CAS. Without SP3, The installer will not connect to the database and will generate setup error. Download SQL 2012 SP3 from below link;

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/confirmation.aspx?id=49996

Run SQLServer2012SP3-KB3072779-x64ENU as Administrator;

Installer will check the applicability of the update, click next to proceed;

Agree the license terms then click next;

The installer will select the instances by itself. Accept the defaults then click next;

Wait until the Check Files In Use scan is complete then click next;

Review the summary  on Ready to update page then click on update;

The update process will take time based on the installed instances;

An installed feature status summary will be displayed on the Complete window;

We have now completed installation of SQL server with Service pack 3.

As we are still with SQL server configuration stage, it is recommended to configure;

-          Open required firewalls (4022 and 1433)
-       Set maximum memory usage

Click here for complete SCCM 1511 Current Branch setup step by step guide.

Click here for complete SCCM 1511 Current Branch step by step guide, step by step migration guide, step by step monitoring and health check guide and step by step SCCM Current Branch servicing guide.