The SQL Server 2008 RC0 download is available to the general public here.
For goodness’ sake, don’t load this on a real machine. Go get Virtual PC or Virtual Server – they’re both free. You can get the Trial Editions of Windows 2008 Server here:
Windows Server 2008 Standard (x86 and x64)
Windows Server 2008 Enterprise(x86 and x64)
Windows Server 2008 Datacenter(x86 and x64)
Windows Web Server 2008(x86 and x64)
You can also get a configured virtual hard drive here – already installed and ready to run.
Regarding virtual machines: invest a day now if you are not familiar with this technology. It will save you weeks and months in the future, I promise.
After you get your virtual envirnoment set up and running, you can install anything you like. This protects your laptop or desktop from “bad things” happening with a CTP or RC installation. You will thank me later.
Using Virtual PC and Virtual Server, you have to install the x86 versions of the OS and SQL Server 2008 RC0. For me that’s no big deal – I’m not loading it to stress it (not yet anyway), I’m loading it to learn more about it. You can too.
:{> Andy
I wanted to blog about this! 😛
Hopefully this will work…….
I downloaded the 3.1 GB monster file from MSDN twice and both times I couldn’t mount the ISO, when I unrarred it I got CRC errors 🙁
I mounted the ISO from MSDN subscriber downloads without issue. What are you using to mount the ISO file? May I recommend DAEMON Tools (http://www.daemon-tools.cc)
It is possible I had a bad file, if not unrarring it wouldn’t fail either. I use VCdControlTool.exe when not using a Virtual machine since you can mount the ISO directly from within a Virtual PC
I have used VCdControlTool with all the other CTPs, Win2008 server, visual studio 2008 etc etc without a problem
I am installing now but it will take a while. I am also hauling boxes to a storage area. :{|
So far it’s going well.
I forgot to credit Erik Veerman with the link – "thanks Erik for the link!" There. that’s better.
:{> Andy
Must be gremlins, then, or perhaps a bad connection.
I’m up. Downloading AdventureWorks (http://www.codeplex.com/MSFTDBProdSamples/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=14274) now.
:{> Andy
I would say "for godness’ sake, don’t load it on a real machine" is an expression a bit too strong. I’ve been running all CTPs since last summer on my laptop with no big problems. Of course, I could hit a snag and have to reinstall the machine, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take to get optimal performance with no need to boot up virtual machines every time I want to play with it.
Just make sure to thoroughly clean out the previous installation before loading up the next.
Denis, you’re not alone. I just downloaded the self-extracting EXE for 32-bit, and 1 GB of download later, I launched the file and got a very generic "file is corrupt" error when it was extracting dotnetfx35.exe. 🙁
Aaron,
I had no problem with the 1GB file, as a matter of fact I did an install on my other PC, I didn’t like doing an upgrade from 2005
The only beef I have with RC0 is that its setup program has a rule disallowing the installation of sql server, so I can’t test it (I don’t know how to install except by running setup.exe):
Setup for 32-bit Sql RC0 won’t run on x64: exits with an error rejecting x64 OS and rejecting WOW64.
See:
http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=3487869&SiteID=17
I have installed the .net framework 3.5 separately which was succesful, but am still getting the error at startup saying .net framework 3.5 installation failed. any ideas ?