How to Download SQL 2016 and Why You Should Do It
SQL Server 2016 is a powerful, reliable, and scalable database platform that has everything built in, from in-memory performance and advanced security to in-database analytics and hybrid cloud solutions. If you are looking for a database system that can handle your mission-critical applications, provide rich insights on your data, and support various development tools and languages, then SQL Server 2016 is the right choice for you.
In this article, we will show you how to download SQL Server 2016, what are the requirements and options for installation, what are the benefits and features of using it, and what are the common issues and solutions that you may encounter. By the end of this article, you will have a clear understanding of how to get started with SQL Server 2016 and how to use it effectively for your business needs.
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What is SQL Server 2016 and What are its Features
SQL Server 2016 is the latest version of Microsoft's flagship database product, released in June 2016. It offers a comprehensive data platform that can handle various types of workloads, such as online transaction processing (OLTP), data warehousing, business intelligence (BI), advanced analytics, mobile applications, and cloud services. It also supports multiple development environments, such as Windows, Linux, Docker containers, Kubernetes clusters, Azure Synapse Analytics, Power BI, and more.
SQL Server 2016 has many new features and enhancements that make it a leader in the database industry. Some of these features include:
SQL Server 2016 Database Engine
Query Store: A new feature that stores query texts, execution plans, and performance metrics within the database, allowing easy monitoring and troubleshooting of performance issues.
Temporal Tables: A new type of history tables that record all data changes, complete with the date and time they occurred.
JSON Support: A new feature that supports JSON imports, exports, parsing, and storing.
PolyBase: A new query engine that integrates SQL Server with external data sources in Hadoop or Azure Blob storage.
Stretch Database: A new feature that lets you dynamically archive data from a local SQL Server database to an Azure SQL database in the cloud.
In-memory OLTP: An improved feature that provides up to 30x faster transactions, more than 100x faster queries than disk-based relational databases, and real-time operational analytics.
Always Encrypted: A new security feature that protects data at rest and in motion by encrypting it with keys that are never revealed to SQL Server.
Dynamic Data Masking: A new security feature that hides sensitive data from unauthorized users by masking it with dummy characters or replacing them with other symbols.
Row-level Security: A new security feature that restricts access to rows in a table based on the user's identity or role.
SQL Server 2016 Analysis Services
Tabular Model: An improved model that supports bi-directional cross-filtering, calculated tables, and many-to-many relationships.
Data Analysis Expressions (DAX): An enhanced language that supports variables, table constructors, and more functions.
DirectQuery Mode: A new mode that allows querying data directly from the source without loading it into memory.
Parallel Processing: A new feature that enables faster processing of large models by using multiple cores and threads.
SQL Server 2016 Integration Services
Incremental Package Deployment: A new feature that allows deploying only the changes made to a package or a project.
AlwaysOn Availability Groups Support: A new feature that enables high availability and disaster recovery for SSIS packages.
Hadoop File System Task and Hadoop File System Source: New tasks and sources that allow reading and writing data from Hadoop file systems.
OData Source and OData Connection Manager: New sources and connections that allow accessing data from OData services.
SQL Server 2016 Reporting Services
Mobile Reports: A new type of reports that are optimized for mobile devices and can be viewed in any browser or in the Power BI app.
KPIs: A new type of reports that display key performance indicators (KPIs) with graphical indicators and values.
New Report Portal: A new web portal that replaces the Report Manager and provides a modern and responsive user interface for managing and viewing reports.
New Chart Types: New chart types such as treemap, sunburst, histogram, boxplot, and waterfall.
How to Download SQL Server 2016 and What are the Requirements
If you are ready to download SQL Server 2016, you need to know what are the requirements and options for installation. Here are some important points to consider before you start:
SQL Server 2016 Editions and Supported Features
SQL Server 2016 comes in different editions, each with different features and pricing. The main editions are:
Enterprise: The most comprehensive edition that offers the highest performance, availability, scalability, and security. It supports all the features of SQL Server 2016, such as in-memory OLTP, PolyBase, Always Encrypted, Stretch Database, Advanced Analytics, and more. It is suitable for large-scale and mission-critical applications. It costs $14,256 per core (minimum of 4 cores).
Standard: The most popular edition that offers basic database functionality and BI features. It supports some of the features of SQL Server 2016, such as Query Store, Temporal Tables, JSON Support, Row-level Security, Basic Availability Groups, Basic Reporting Services, Basic Analysis Services, and more. It is suitable for medium-scale applications. It costs $3,717 per core (minimum of 4 cores) or $931 per server plus $209 per CAL (client access license).
Express: The free edition that offers limited database functionality and BI features. It supports some of the features of SQL Server 2016, such as Query Store, Temporal Tables, JSON Support, Row-level Security, Basic Reporting Services, Basic Analysis Services, and more. It is suitable for small-scale applications or learning purposes. It has a maximum database size of 10 GB and a maximum memory usage of 1 GB per instance.
Developer: The free edition that offers the same features as the Enterprise edition but is licensed only for development and testing purposes. It is suitable for developers who want to test their applications with the full functionality of SQL Server 2016. It has no limitations on database size or memory usage.
SQL Server 2016 Installation Media and Options
You can download SQL Server 2016 from the Microsoft website or use a DVD or USB drive that contains the installation files. You can also use an ISO file that you can mount as a virtual drive or burn to a physical media. You can choose from different installation options depending on your needs and preferences. Some of these options are:
Basic: A simple and fast option that installs the default configuration of SQL Server 2016 with the Database Engine and Management Tools.
Custom: A flexible and advanced option that allows you to choose the features, components, and settings that you want to install.
Download Media: An option that allows you to download the installation files to a local or network location for later use.
Evaluation: An option that allows you to install a trial version of SQL Server 2016 Enterprise edition for 180 days.
SQL Server 2016 Installation Steps and Considerations
The installation steps for SQL Server 2016 vary depending on the edition, media, and option that you choose. However, there are some common steps and considerations that you should follow regardless of your choice. These are:
Check the system requirements: Before you install SQL Server 2016, make sure that your system meets the minimum hardware and software requirements for the edition and features that you want to install. You can find the system requirements here:
Run the setup wizard: After you download or insert the installation media, run the setup.exe file to launch the setup wizard. Follow the instructions on the screen to select the installation type, features, components, and settings that you want. You can also use command-line parameters or configuration files to automate or customize the installation process. You can find more information about the setup wizard here:
Configure the server instance: After you install SQL Server 2016, you need to configure the server instance to suit your needs and preferences. You can use SQL Server Configuration Manager, SQL Server Management Studio, or Transact-SQL commands to configure various aspects of the server instance, such as network protocols, service accounts, firewall rules, memory allocation, database settings, security options, and more. You can find more information about configuring the server instance here:
Verify the installation: After you configure the server instance, you should verify that the installation was successful and that everything is working as expected. You can use SQL Server Management Studio, SQL Server Data Tools, or other tools to connect to the server instance, create and manage databases, run queries, perform backups and restores, monitor performance and activity, and troubleshoot issues. You can find more information about verifying the installation here:
What are the Benefits of SQL Server 2016 and How to Use It Effectively
Now that you have installed SQL Server 2016, you may wonder what are the benefits of using it and how to use it effectively for your business needs. SQL Server 2016 offers many benefits and features that can help you achieve your goals and objectives. Some of these benefits and features are:
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SQL Server 2016 Performance and Scalability Enhancements
SQL Server 2016 delivers faster performance and greater scalability than previous versions of SQL Server. It leverages modern hardware technologies such as solid-state drives (SSDs), non-volatile memory express (NVMe), and non-uniform memory access (NUMA) to optimize data access and processing. It also uses advanced techniques such as columnstore indexes, batch mode processing, adaptive query processing, automatic tuning, and in-memory OLTP to improve query performance and concurrency. With SQL Server 2016, you can handle larger volumes of data and transactions with less resources and time.
SQL Server 2016 Security and Compliance Features
SQL Server 2016 provides enhanced security and compliance features that protect your data from unauthorized access and breaches. It uses encryption technologies such as Always Encrypted, Transparent Data Encryption (TDE), Backup Encryption, and Cell-level Encryption to secure your data at rest and in motion. It also uses masking technologies such as Dynamic Data Masking and Static Data Masking to hide sensitive data from unauthorized users. It also uses filtering technologies such as Row-level Security and Data Classification to restrict access to rows and columns based on the user's identity or role. With SQL Server 2016, you can comply with various regulations and standards such as GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and more.
SQL Server 2016 Advanced Analytics and Business Intelligence Capabilities
SQL Server 2016 provides advanced analytics and business intelligence capabilities that enable you to gain deeper insights and make better decisions from your data. It integrates with various tools and platforms such as R, Python, Azure Machine Learning, Power BI, Excel, and more to support data analysis, data mining, machine learning, data visualization, and reporting. It also supports features such as PolyBase, JSON Support, Temporal Tables, and Query Store to facilitate data integration, processing, and management. With SQL Server 2016, you can transform your data into actionable information and insights.
SQL Server 2016 Hybrid Cloud and Data Platform Solutions
SQL Server 2016 provides hybrid cloud and data platform solutions that enable you to leverage the benefits of both on-premises and cloud environments. It supports features such as Stretch Database, Backup to URL, Managed Backup, AlwaysOn Availability Groups, and SQL Server Migration Assistant (SSMA) to facilitate data migration, backup, recovery, availability, and disaster recovery across different locations and platforms. It also supports features such as Azure SQL Database Managed Instance, Azure SQL Database Hyperscale, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Data Factory, Azure Data Lake Storage, and more to provide scalable, flexible, and cost-effective cloud services for your data needs. With SQL Server 2016, you can build hybrid solutions that suit your business goals and budget.
What are the Common Issues with SQL Server 2016 and How to Troubleshoot Them
Despite the many benefits and features of SQL Server 2016, you may still encounter some issues and challenges when using it. Some of these issues are common and can be easily resolved with some simple steps and tips. Some of these issues are:
SQL Server 2016 Connectivity Issues and Solutions
One of the most common issues with SQL Server 2016 is connectivity issues. You may experience problems such as unable to connect to the server instance, connection timeout or failure, authentication error, network error, firewall blocking, or driver mismatch. To troubleshoot these issues, you can try the following steps:
Check the server name and port number: Make sure that you are using the correct server name and port number when connecting to the server instance. You can use the ping command or the SQL Server Configuration Manager to verify the server name and port number.
Check the authentication mode: Make sure that you are using the correct authentication mode when connecting to the server instance. You can use either Windows authentication or SQL Server authentication depending on your configuration. You can use the SQL Server Management Studio or the sp_configure stored procedure to check or change the authentication mode.
Check the network protocol: Make sure that you are using the correct network protocol when connecting to the server instance. You can use either TCP/IP or Named Pipes depending on your configuration. You can use the SQL Server Configuration Manager or the netsh command to check or change the network protocol.
Check the firewall settings: Make sure that you have allowed SQL Server through your firewall settings. You can use the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security or the netsh command to check or change the firewall settings.
Check the driver version: Make sure that you have installed the latest version of the driver that matches your SQL Server version and platform. You can use the ODBC Data Source Administrator or the sqlcmd utility to check or update the driver version.
SQL Server 2016 Slow I/O Performance Issues and Solutions
Another common issue with SQL Server 2016 is slow I/O performance. You may experience problems such as slow query execution, high disk latency, high CPU usage, low memory availability, or high I/O wait time. To troubleshoot these issues, you can try the following steps:
Check the disk configuration: Make sure that you have configured your disk subsystem properly for optimal performance. You can use the Disk Management tool or the diskpart command to check or change the disk configuration. Some of the best practices for disk configuration are:
Use separate disks or partitions for the operating system, data files, log files, tempdb, and backups.
Use RAID arrays or Storage Spaces to provide redundancy and fault tolerance.
Use SSDs or NVMe devices for faster data access and lower latency.
Use 64-KB allocation unit size for NTFS volumes that store SQL Server data and log files.
Align the partitions with the physical sector boundaries of the disk.
Check the database configuration: Make sure that you have configured your database settings properly for optimal performance. You can use the SQL Server Management Studio or the ALTER DATABASE statement to check or change the database configuration. Some of the best practices for database configuration are:
Use appropriate recovery models for your databases depending on your backup and restore requirements.
Use appropriate filegroups and files for your databases depending on your data organization and access patterns.
Use appropriate file sizes and growth settings for your databases depending on your data volume and growth rate.
Use appropriate compression options for your databases depending on your data type and workload.
Use appropriate collation settings for your databases depending on your data language and sorting requirements.
Check the query performance: Make sure that you have optimized your queries for optimal performance. You can use the SQL Server Management Studio, the Query Store, the Execution Plan, or the Database Engine Tuning Advisor to check or improve the query performance. Some of the best practices for query optimization are:
Use appropriate indexes for your tables and views depending on your query predicates and join conditions.
Use appropriate statistics for your tables and views depending on your data distribution and cardinality.
Use appropriate query hints and options depending on your query behavior and requirements.
Use appropriate data types and operators depending on your data values and expressions.
Use appropriate subqueries, joins, aggregations, and window functions depending on your query logic and results.
SQL Server 2016 Other Popular Issues and Solutions
Besides connectivity and performance issues, there are other popular issues that you may encounter with SQL Server 2016. Some of these issues are:
SQL Server 2016 Installation Issues: You may experience problems such as installation failure, missing prerequisites, incompatible components, corrupted media, or insufficient permissions. To troubleshoot these issues, you can try the following steps:
Check the installation logs and error messages to identify the root cause of the issue.
Check the system requirements and compatibility matrix to ensure that your system meets the minimum requirements and supports the features that you want to install.
Check the installation media and options to ensure that you have downloaded or inserted the correct media and selected the correct options.
Check the user account and permissions to ensure that you have sufficient rights and privileges to install SQL Server 2016.
SQL Server 2016 Backup and Restore Issues: You may experience problems such as backup failure, restore failure, corrupted backup files, or insufficient space. To troubleshoot these issues, you can try the following steps:
Check the backup logs and error messages to identify the root cause of the issue.
Check the backup settings and options to ensure that you have configured them properly for your backup strategy and requirements.
Check the backup media and location to ensure that they are accessible, writable, and have enough space.
Check the restore settings and options to ensure that they match with the backup settings and options.
SQL Server 2016 High Availability and Disaster Recovery Issues: You may experience problems such as availability group failure, replication failure, log shipping failure, or mirroring failure. To troubleshoot these issues, you can try the following steps:
Check the availability group logs and error messages to identify the root cause of the issue.
Check the availability group settings and options to ensure that they are configured properly for your availability and disaster recovery strategy and requirements.
Check the availability group replicas and listeners to ensure that they are online, synchronized, and reachable.
Check the replication logs and error messages to identify the root cause of the issue.
Check the replication settings and options to ensure that they are configured properly for your data distribution and synchronization strategy and requirements.
Check the replication agents and publications to ensure that they are running, enabled, and up-to-date.
Check the log shipping logs and error messages to identify the root cause of the issue.
Check the log shipping settings and options to ensure that they are configured properly for your backup and restore strategy and requirements.
Check the log shipping primary and secondary servers to ensure that they are online, connected, and synchronized.
Check the mirroring logs and error messages to identify the root cause of the issue.
Check the mirroring settings and options to ensure that they are configured properly for your high availability strategy and requirements.
Check the mirroring principal and mirror servers to ensure that they are online, connected, and synchronized.
Conclusion and FAQs
In this article, we have shown you how to download SQL Server 2016, what are the requirements and options for installation, what are the benefits and features of using it, and what are the common issues and solutions that you may encounter. We hope that you have found this article useful and informative, and that you have learned something new about SQL Server 2016.
If you have any questions or comments about SQL Server 2016, feel free to leave them below. We will try our best to answer them as soon as possible. Alternatively, you can also check out some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) about SQL Server 2016 below:
FAQs
Q: How can I upgrade from an older version of SQL Server to SQL Server 2016?
A: You can use the SQL Server Installation Center or the Upgrade Advisor to upgrade from an older version of SQL Server to SQL Server 2016. You can also use backup and restore, detach and attach, or copy database wizard methods to migrate your databases from an older version of SQL Server to SQL Server 2016. You can find more information about upgrading to SQL Server 2016 here:
Q: How can I uninstall SQL Server 2016 from my system?
A: You can use the Control Panel or the setup.exe file to uninstall SQL Server 2016 from your system. You can also use command-line parameters or configuration files to automate or customize the uninstallation process. You can find more information about uninstalling SQL Server 2016 here:
Q: How can I get help or support for SQL Server 2016?
A: You can get help or support for SQL Server 2016 from various sources, such as:
The official documentation:
The official forums:
The official blog:
The official support:
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