Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2012

The following sections list the minimum hardware and software requirements to install and run SQL Server 2012. For more information about requirements for Analysis Services in SharePoint integrated mode, see Hardware and Software Requirements (PowerPivot for SharePoint and Reporting Services in SharePoint Mode).

For both 32-bit and 64-bit editions of SQL Server 2012, the following considerations apply:

  • We recommend that you run SQL Server 2012 on computers with the NTFS file format. Installing SQL Server 2012 on a computer with FAT32 file system is supported but not recommended as it is less secure than the NTFS file system.

  • SQL Server Setup will block installations on read-only, mapped, or compressed drives.

  • To make sure that the Visual Studio component can be installed correctly, SQL Server requires you to install an update. SQL Server Setup checks for the presence of this update and then requires you to download and install the update before you can continue with the SQL Server installation. To avoid the interruption during SQL Server Setup, you can download and install the update before running SQL Server Setup as described below (or install all the updates for .NET 3.5 SP1 available on Windows Update):

    • If you install SQL Server 2012 on a computer with the Windows Vista SP2 or Windows Server 2008 SP2 operating system, you can get the required update from here.

    • If you install SQL Server 2012 on a computer with the Windows 7 SP1 or Windows server 2008 R2 SP1 or Windows Server 2012 or Windows 8 operating system, this update is included.

  • The installation of SQL Server 2012 fails if you launch the setup through Terminal Services Client. Launching SQL Server Setup through Terminal Services Client is not supported.

  • SQL Server Setup installs the following software components required by the product:

    • SQL Server Native Client

    • SQL Server Setup support files

  • Upgrade to SQL Server 2012: For information about using SQL Server 2012 tools to prepare for an upgrade to SQL Server 2012, see Use Upgrade Advisor to Prepare for Upgrades.

  • For minimum version requirements to install SQL Server on Windows Server 2012 or Windows 8, see Installing SQL Server on Windows Server 2012 or Windows 8 (https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2681562).

Hardware and Software Requirements

The following requirements apply to all SQL Server 2012 installations:

Component

Requirement

.NET Framework

.NET 3.5 SP1 is a requirement for SQL Server 2012 when you select Database Engine, Reporting Services, Master Data Services, Data Quality Services, Replication, or SQL Server Management Studio, and it is no longer installed by SQL Server Setup.

  • If you run Setup on a computer with the Windows Vista SP2 or Windows Server 2008 SP2 operating system, and you do not have .NET 3.5 SP1, SQL Server Setup requires you to download and install.NET 3.5 SP1 before you can continue with the SQL Server installation. The error message includes a link to the download center, or you can download .NET 3.5 SP1 from Windows Update. To avoid interruption during SQL Server Setup, you can download and install .NET 3.5 SP1 before you run SQL Server Setup.

  • If you run Setup on a computer with the Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 operating system, you must enable .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 before you install SQL Server 2012.

  • If you run Setup on a computer with the Windows Server 2012 or Windows 8 operating system, the SQL Server Setup automatically downloads and installs the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1. This process requires internet access.

    If there is no internet access, it is required to download and install .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 before you run Setup to install any of the above mentioned components. For more information about the recommendations and guidance on how to acquire and enable .NET Framework 3.5 in Windows Server 2012 or Windows 8, see Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Deployment Considerations (https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windows/hardware/hh975396).

.NET 4.0 is a requirement for SQL Server 2012. SQL Server installs .NET 4.0 during the feature installation step.

  • If you are installing the SQL Server Express editions, ensure that an Internet connection is available on the computer. SQL Server Setup downloads and installs the .NET Framework 4 because it is not included in the SQL Server Express media.

  • SQL Server Express does not install .NET 4.0 on the Server Core mode of Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 or Windows Server 2012. You must install .NET 4.0 before you install SQL Server Express on a Server Core installation of Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 or Windows Server 2012.

Windows PowerShell

SQL Server 2012 does not install or enable Windows PowerShell 2.0; however Windows PowerShell 2.0 is an installation prerequisite for Database Engine components and SQL Server Management Studio. If Setup reports that Windows PowerShell 2.0 is not present, you can install or enable it by following the instructions on the Windows Management Framework page.

Network Software

Supported operating systems for SQL Server 2012 have built-in network software. Named and default instances of a stand-alone installation support the following network protocols: Shared memory, Named Pipes, TCP/IP and VIA.

Note

  • Shared memory and VIA are not supported on failover clusters.

  • The VIA protocol is deprecated. This feature will be removed in a future version of Microsoft SQL Server. Avoid using this feature in new development work, and plan to modify applications that currently use this feature.

For more information about Network Protocols and Network Libraries, see Network Protocols and Network Libraries.

Virtualization

SQL Server 2012 is supported in virtual machine environments running on the Hyper-V role in:

  • Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard, Enterprise and Datacenter editions

  • Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Standard, Enterprise, and Datacenter editions.

  • Windows Server 2012 Datacenter and Standard editions.

In addition to resources required by the parent partition, each virtual machine (child partition) must be provided with sufficient processor resources, memory, and disk resources for its SQL Server 2012 instance. Requirements are listed later in this topic.1

Within the Hyper-V role on Windows Server 2008 SP2 or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, a maximum of 4 (four) virtual processors can be allocated to virtual machines running Windows Server 2008 SP2 32-bit/64-bit or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 64-bit or Windows Server 2012 64-bit editions.

Within the Hyper-V role on Windows Server 2012,

  • A maximum of 8 (eight) virtual processors can be allocated to virtual machines running Windows Server 2008 SP2 32-bit/64-bit.

  • A maximum of 64 (sixty-four) virtual processors can be allocated to virtual machines running Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 64-bit or Windows Server 2012 64-bit editions.

For more information on compute capacity limits for different editions of SQL Server 2012 and how they differ in physical and virtualized environments with hyperthreaded processors, see Compute Capacity Limits by Edition of SQL Server. For more information about the Hyper-V role, see the Windows Server 2008 Web site.

Notes:

Important

Internet Software

Internet Explorer 7 or a later version is required for Microsoft Management Console (MMC), SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT), the Report Designer component of Reporting Services, and HTML Help.

Hard Disk

SQL Server 2012 requires a minimum of 6 GB of available hard-disk space.

Disk space requirements will vary with the SQL Server 2012 components you install. For more information, see Hard Disk Space Requirements (32-Bit and 64 Bit) later in this topic. For information on supported storage types for data files, see Storage Types for Data Files.

Drive

A DVD drive, as appropriate, is required for installation from disc.

Monitor

SQL Server 2012 requires Super-VGA (800x600) or higher resolution monitor.

Internet

Internet functionality requires Internet access (fees may apply).

1Running SQL Server 2012 on a virtual machine will be slower than running natively because of the overhead of virtualization.

Processor, Memory, and Operating System Requirements

The following memory and processor requirements apply to all editions of SQL Server 2012:

Component

Requirement

Memory[1]

Minimum:

Express Editions: 512 MB

All other editions: 1 GB

Recommended:

Express Editions: 1 GB

All other editions: At least 4 GB and should be increased as database size increases to ensure optimal performance.

Processor Speed

Minimum:

  • x86 Processor: 1.0 GHz

  • x64 Processor: 1.4 GHz

Recommended: 2.0 GHz or faster

Processor Type

  • x64 Processor: AMD Opteron, AMD Athlon 64, Intel Xeon with Intel EM64T support, Intel Pentium IV with EM64T support

  • x86 Processor: Pentium III-compatible processor or faster

[1]The minimum memory required for installing the Data Quality Server component in Data Quality Services (DQS) is 2 GB of RAM, which is different from the SQL Server 2012 minimum memory requirement. For information about installing DQS, see Install Data Quality Services.

WOW64 Support:

WOW64 (Windows 32-bit on Windows 64-bit) is a feature of 64-bit editions of Windows that enables 32-bit applications to run natively in 32-bit mode. Applications function in 32-bit mode, even though the underlying operating system is a 64-bit operating system.

  • On a supported 64-bit operating system, SQL Server 32-bit edition can be installed to the WOW64 32-bit subsystem of a 64-bit server. WOW64 is supported only for stand-alone instances of SQL Server. WOW64 is not supported for SQL Server failover cluster installations.

  • For SQL Server 64-bit edition installations on supported 64-bit operating systems, Management Tools are supported in WOW64. For more information about supported operating systems, select an edition of SQL Server 2012 from the sections below.

Server Core Support:

SQL Server 2012 is now supported on a Server Core installation of Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2. Installing SQL Server 2012 is supported on the Server Core mode of the following editions of Windows Server:

  • Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter 64-bit

  • Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard 64-bit

  • Windows Server 2012 Datacenter 64-bit

  • Windows Server 2012 Standard 64-bit

  • Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Datacenter 64-bit

  • Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Enterprise 64-bit

  • Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Standard 64-bit

  • Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Web 64-bit

For more information on installing SQL Server 2012 on Server Core, see Install SQL Server 2012 on Server Core.

Note

SQL Server editions that are supported on Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard 64-bit are also supported on Windows Small Business Server 64-bit.

Operating System Support:

The SQL Server 2012 editions are classified into the following:

Principal Editions of SQL Server 2012

The following table shows the operating system requirements for the principal editions of SQL Server 2012:

SQL Server Edition

32-bit

64-bit

SQL Server Enterprise

Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter 64-bit 1

Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Web 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Web 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Datacenter 32-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Enterprise 32-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 32-bit Standard

Windows Server 2008 SP2 32-bit Web

Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter 64-bit 1

Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Web 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Web 64-bit

SQL Server Business Intelligence

Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter 64-bit 1

Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Web 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Web 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Datacenter 32-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Enterprise 32-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard 32-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Web 32-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter 64-bit 1

Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Web 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Web 64-bit

SQL Server Standard

Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter 64-bit 1

Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Web 64-bit

Windows 8.1 32-bit

Windows 8.1 Professional 32-bit

Windows 8.1 Enterprise 32-bit

Windows 8.1 64-bit

Windows 8.1 Professional 64-bit

Windows 8.1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows 8 32-bit

Windows 8 Professional 32-bit

Windows 8 Enterprise 32-bit

Windows 8 64-bit

Windows 8 Professional 64-bit

Windows 8 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Ultimate 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Professional 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 32-bit Ultimate

Windows 7 SP1 32-bit Enterprise

Windows 7 SP1 32-bit Professional

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Web 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Datacenter 32-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Enterprise 32-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard 32-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Web 32-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Ultimate 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Business 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 32-bit Ultimate

Windows Vista SP2 32-bit Enterprise

Windows Vista SP2 32-bit Business

Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter 64-bit 1

Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Web 64-bit

Windows 8.1 64-bit

Windows 8.1 Professional 64-bit

Windows 8.1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows 8 64-bit

Windows 8 Professional 64-bit

Windows 8 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Ultimate 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Professional 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Web 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Ultimate 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Business 64-bit

Specialized Editions of SQL Server 2012

The following table shows the operating system requirements for the specialized editions of SQL Server 2012:

SQL Server Edition

32-bit

64-bit

SQL Server Web

Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter 64-bit 1

Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Web 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Web 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Datacenter 32-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Enterprise 32-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard 32-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Web 32-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter 64-bit 1

Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Web 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Web 64-bit

Breadth Editions of SQL Server 2012

The following table shows the operating system requirements for the breadth editions of SQL Server 2012:

SQL Server Edition

32-bit

64-bit

SQL Server Developer

Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter 64-bit 1

Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Web 64-bit

Windows 8.1 32-bit

Windows 8.1 Professional 32-bit

Windows 8.1 Enterprise 32-bit

Windows 8.1 64-bit

Windows 8.1 Professional 64-bit

Windows 8.1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows 8 32-bit

Windows 8 Professional 32-bit

Windows 8 Enterprise 32-bit

Windows 8 64-bit

Windows 8 Professional 64-bit

Windows 8 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Ultimate 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Professional 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Home Premium 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Home Basic 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 32-bit Ultimate

Windows 7 SP1 32-bit Enterprise

Windows 7 SP1 32-bit Professional

Windows 7 SP1 32-bit Home Premium

Windows 7 SP1 32-bit Home Basic

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Web 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Datacenter 32-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Enterprise 32-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard 32-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Web 32-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Ultimate 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Business 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Home Premium 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Home Basic 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 32-bit Ultimate

Windows Vista SP2 32-bit Enterprise

Windows Vista SP2 32-bit Business

Windows Vista SP2 32-bit Home Premium

Windows Vista SP2 Home Basic 32-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter 64-bit 1

Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Web 64-bit

Windows 8.1 64-bit

Windows 8.1 Professional 64-bit

Windows 8.1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows 8 64-bit

Windows 8 Professional 64-bit

Windows 8 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Ultimate 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Professional 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Home Premium 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Home Basic 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Web 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Ultimate 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Business 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Home Premium 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Home Basic 64-bit

SQL Server Express

Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter 64-bit 1

Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Web 64-bit

Windows 8.1 32-bit

Windows 8.1 Professional 32-bit

Windows 8.1 Enterprise 32-bit

Windows 8.1 64-bit

Windows 8.1 Professional 64-bit

Windows 8.1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows 8 32-bit

Windows 8 Professional 32-bit

Windows 8 Enterprise 32-bit

Windows 8 64-bit

Windows 8 Professional 64-bit

Windows 8 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Ultimate 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Professional 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Home Premium 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Home Basic 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 32-bit Ultimate

Windows 7 SP1 32-bit Enterprise

Windows 7 SP1 32-bit Professional

Windows 7 SP1 32-bit Home Premium

Windows 7 SP1 32-bit Home Basic

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 64-bit Standard

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Web 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Datacenter 32-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Enterprise 32-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard 32-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Web 32-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Ultimate 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Business 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Home Premium 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Home Basic 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 32-bit Ultimate

Windows Vista SP2 32-bit Enterprise

Windows Vista SP2 32-bit Business

Windows Vista SP2 32-bit Home Premium

Windows Vista SP2 Home Basic 32-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter 64-bit 1

Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Essentials 64-bit

Windows Server 2012 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Web 64-bit

Windows 8.1 64-bit

Windows 8.1 Professional 64-bit

Windows 8.1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows 8 64-bit

Windows 8 Professional 64-bit

Windows 8 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Ultimate 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Professional 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Home Premium 64-bit

Windows 7 SP1 Home Basic 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Datacenter 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Foundation 64-bit

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Web 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Ultimate 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Enterprise 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Business 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Home Premium 64-bit

Windows Vista SP2 Home Basic 64-bit

1 You should install the latest SQL Server 2012 SP1 cumulative update on Windows Server 2012 R2

Cross-Language Support

For more information about cross-language support and considerations for installing SQL Server in localized languages, see Local Language Versions in SQL Server.

Extended System Support

SQL Server 2012 64-bit versions include support for extended systems, also known as Windows 32-bit on Windows 64-bit (WOW64). WOW64 is a feature of 64-bit editions of Windows that enables 32-bit applications to execute natively in 32-bit mode. Applications function in 32-bit mode even though the underlying operating system is 64-bit.

Hard Disk Space Requirements (32-Bit and 64 Bit)

During installation of SQL Server 2012, Windows Installer creates temporary files on the system drive. Before you run Setup to install or upgrade SQL Server, verify that you have at least 6.0 GB of available disk space on the system drive for these files. This requirement applies even if you install SQL Server components to a non-default drive.

Actual hard disk space requirements depend on your system configuration and the features that you decide to install. For a list of features that are supported by the editions of SQL Server, see Features Supported by the Editions of SQL Server 2012.The following table provides disk space requirements for SQL Server 2012 components.

Feature

Disk space requirement

Database Engine and data files, Replication, Full-Text Search, and Data Quality Services

811 MB

Analysis Services and data files

345 MB

Reporting Services and Report Manager

304 MB

Integration Services

591 MB

Master Data Services

243 MB

Client Components (other than SQL Server Books Online components and Integration Services tools)

1823 MB

SQL Server Books Online Components to view and manage help content1

375 KB

1The disk space requirement for downloaded BOL content is 200 MB.

Storage Types for Data Files

The supported storage types for data files are:

  • Local Disk

  • Shared Storage

  • SMB File Share

    Note

    SMB storage is not supported for Analysis Services data files for either standalone or clustered installations. Use direct attached storage or a storage area network instead.

    Important

    SMB storage can be hosted by a Windows File Server or a third party SMB storage device. If Windows File Server is used, the Windows File Server version should be 2008 or later. For more information about installing SQL Server using SMB file share as a storage option, see Install SQL Server with SMB fileshare as a storage option.

    Warning

    SQL Server failover cluster installation supports Local Disk only for installing the tempdb files. Ensure that the path specified for the tempdb data and log files is valid on all the cluster nodes. During failover, if the tempdb directories are not available on the failover target node, the SQL Server resource will fail to come online.

Installing SQL Server on a Domain Controller

For security reasons, we recommend that you do not install SQL Server 2012 on a domain controller. SQL Server Setup will not block installation on a computer that is a domain controller, but the following limitations apply:

  • You cannot run SQL Server services on a domain controller under a local service account.

  • After SQL Server is installed on a computer, you cannot change the computer from a domain member to a domain controller. You must uninstall SQL Server before you change the host computer to a domain controller.

  • After SQL Server is installed on a computer, you cannot change the computer from a domain controller to a domain member. You must uninstall SQL Server before you change the host computer to a domain member.

  • SQL Server failover cluster instances are not supported where cluster nodes are domain controllers.

  • SQL Server Setup cannot create security groups or provision SQL Server service accounts on a read-only domain controller. In this scenario, Setup will fail.

See Also

Concepts

Planning a SQL Server Installation

Security Considerations for a SQL Server Installation

Other Resources

Product Specifications for SQL Server 2012