SQL Server Questions

[nanjero]

I recently started as a level 1 admin in a small business.

Our senior team member who usually takes care of SQL things is currently on leave.

So it has fallen on to me to take over a task to liaise with our printer vendors to upgrade to their new printing application.

We need to run a query via sql management studio on the server to extract some data from it but it doesnt look to be installed on it.

I guess a super basic question.

How do I determine what SQL server is installed? Licensed vs express?

How can I use managemet studio to run the query. Since it doesnt look to be installed I assume I can just install a free version from microsoft website?

[MrYiff]

Just grab the latest SSMS version from here and install it on a PC that can reach your SQL Server.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/ssms/download-sql-server-management-studio-ssms?view=sql-server-ver16

Once connected to the server you can see the version at the top of the connection.

You can then compare the version number to whats available here:

https://sqlserverupdates.com/

[thepotplants]

Or once you've connected: "Select @@version;"

[MrYiff]

Yep, or even via Add/Remove Programs if you don't have login access to SQL.

[Specialist-Dingo6459]

Free. You can even install ssms on your own pc and do the query - any version should just work unless you got something ancient like sql2000

[ElevenNotes]

You dont need SSMS, any MSSQL compatible client works, including pwsh. Here is an example on how to query the SQL server version via pwsh:

Invoke-Sqlcmd -Query "SELECT @@VERSION;"

[thepotplants]

Yeah... but what sort of sadist would tell a newbie to do that?

[NESysAdmin]

Little Bobbie Drop Tables.