How to Install SQL Express Server on Windows?

Downloading and installation of SQL Express Server is an easy process, but first, let us understand what is SQL Server Express, then we will see the download and installation process of SQL server express.

SQL Express Server 

SQL Express Server is a free Microsoft database edition. It is a version of Microsoft's SQL Server relational database management system, distribute and use. Essentially, the SQL Server is a database management system that can be used to store and access the information stored in many different databases, It consists of a database which is mainly targeted for embedded and smaller-scale applications. It can be upgraded to any paid edition when the need arises it totally depends on the user.

There are some Limitations of SQL server express:

• It only has 1GB maximum memory used by the database engine
• The maximum size of each relational database is 10GB.
• It has a 1MB maximum buffer cache which is too small.
• SQL Agent is not included in Express.
• The relational database engine is restricted to the lesser of 1 socket or 4 cores.

Benefits of SQL server express:

• One huge advantage of SQL Server Express is that it is free.
• Within SQL Server Express there is the option of free online backup that will help to protect our valuable data if anything goes wrong.
• Automated Patching to schedule a maintenance window for installing important windows and SQL Server updates automatically.
• Automated Backup to regularly take backups of the database to blob storage

Installation procedure

Step 1: Download SQL Server Express from this link. Download the Express.

Step 2: Run the Installation part.

Step 3: Choose the Installation Type;

• The Basic installation is the fastest, and it installs the default configuration of SQL Server Database Engine.
• The Custom installation allows us to specify the install location. It also lets you customize what features are to be installed.
• The Download Media installation lets us download the setup files for an offline installation. You can choose the version of SQL Server Engine you want to download.

Let's say we are downloading custom installation here.

•  Click the centre tile to choose this option.

• Specify the install location and click Install to start downloading the setup files.

Step 4: Once the downloading is done, it opens the SQL Server Installation Center.

• Select the New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation option to start the installation process.

• Check the box next to I accept the license terms and Privacy Statement and click Next to continue.

• Check the box next to Use Microsoft Update to check for updates to include updates to SQL Server 2019 in the scheduled Windows updates. Click Next to continue. Then again click next.

• Then 'Install the setup file' screen opens, click next to continue.

• Then 'Install Rules' screen opens, Click Next to continue.

• Next the Feature Selection screen, check the boxes in the Features section to choose which elements of SQL Server to install. Click Next to continue.

• Next the Instance Configuration screen lets us choose between the default and custom instance names. let's say we are using the Named instance option and keeping the default suggested names. Click Next to continue.

• The next screen lets us install Java. Click Next to continue.

• Then a server configuration page opens, just click next.

• We are using the Mixed Mode option and adding the current user as an administrator, enter the password and click Next to continue.

• Click Accept and Next on both to continue.

• Once the installation is complete, the new screen displays an overview of the installed features. Click Close to finish the installation.

That's it you are done!! Installation is completed.

Note: Make sure to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.