THIS TOPIC APPLIES TO:
SQL Server (starting with 2016)
Azure SQL Database
Azure SQL Data Warehouse
Parallel Data Warehouse
For content related to previous versions of SQL Server, see Installation for SQL Server 2014.
Documentation to help you install, configure, and use SQL Server. The content includes end-to-end examples, code samples, and videos. For SQL Server language topics, see Language Reference.
SQL Server 2017
SQL Server 2016:
- SQL Server 2016 Release Notes
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Try SQL Server!
SQL Server Technologies
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Database Engine The Database Engine is the core service for storing, processing, and securing data. The Database Engine provides controlled access and rapid transaction processing to meet the requirements of the most demanding data consuming applications within your enterprise. The Database Engine also provides rich support for sustaining high availability. |
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R Services Microsoft R Services provides multiple ways to incorporate the popular R language into enterprise workflows. R Services (In-Database) integrates the R language with SQL Server, making it easy to build, retrain, and score models by calling Transact-SQL stored procedures. Microsoft R Server provides multi-platform, scalable support for R in the enterprise, and supports data sources such as Hadoop and Teradata. |
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Data Quality Services SQL Server Data Quality Services (DQS) provides you with a knowledge-driven data cleansing solution. DQS enables you to build a knowledge base, and then use that knowledge base to perform data correction and deduplication on your data, using both computer-assisted and interactive means. You can use cloud-based reference data services, and you can build a data management solution that integrates DQS with SQL Server Integration Services and Master Data Services. |
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Integration Services Integration Services is a platform for building high performance data integration solutions, including packages that provide extract, transform, and load (ETL) processing for data warehousing. |
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Master Data Services Master Data Services is the SQL Server solution for master data management. A solution built on Master Data Services helps ensure that reporting and analysis is based on the right information. Using Master Data Services, you create a central repository for your master data and maintain an auditable, securable record of that data as it changes over time. |
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Analysis Services Analysis Services is an analytical data platform and toolset for personal, team, and corporate business intelligence. Servers and client designers support traditional OLAP solutions, new tabular modeling solutions, as well as self-service analytics and collaboration using Power Pivot, Excel, and a SharePoint Server environment. Analysis Services also includes Data Mining so that you can uncover the patterns and relationships hidden inside large volumes of data. |
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Replication Replication is a set of technologies for copying and distributing data and database objects from one database to another, and then synchronizing between databases to maintain consistency. By using replication, you can distribute data to different locations and to remote or mobile users by means of local and wide area networks, dial-up connections, wireless connections, and the Internet. |
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Reporting Services Reporting Services delivers enterprise, Web-enabled reporting functionality so you can create reports that draw content from a variety of data sources, publish reports in various formats, and centrally manage security and subscriptions. |
Earlier SQL Server versions
- Books Online for SQL Server 2014 Books Online
- Install SQL Server 2014 Express and other older SQL Server versions. (Thank you to Scott Hanselman for collecting all of the installer package links in one place!)
- SQL Server 2012 technical documentation
- SQL Server 2008 R2 Product Documentation
- SQL Server 2008 technical documentation
- SQL Server 2005 archived documentation
Sample databases
- Wide World Importers sample database
- AdventureWorks sample databases and scripts for SQL Server 2016
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More information
- SQL Server Configuration Manager
- SQL Server Update Center links and information for all supported versions
- Install SQL Server Database Engine
- Install SQL Server Management Tools with SSMS
- SQL Server Data Tools in Visual Studio 2015
- Videos, samples, and community resources












