SQL Server 2008 provides a comprehensive data platform that is secure, reliable, manageable, and scalable for your mission critical applications. With it, developers can create new applications that can store and consume any type of data on any device, enabling your users to make informed decisions with relevant insights.

SQL Server 2008 RC0 is available in two downloadable formats: a DVD image file that you can use to burn your own DVD, and a self-extracting executable file you can download and install without a DVD burner.

For DVD image files:
Using your DVD-burning software, select the options to burn a DVD from an .ISO image. When you are prompted for a file to use, select the image file that you downloaded. After burning the DVD, locate and double-click Setup.exe on the DVD to begin the installation.

For self-extracting executable files:
Double-click the downloaded file. At the prompt, select a directory and click Next. When the self-extraction step is finished, locate and double-click Setup.exe in your selected directory to begin installation of SQL Server 2008 RC0

DVD image files:

X86 DVD Image
X64 DVD Image
IA64 DVD Image

Self-extracting executables:

X86 Executable
X64 Executable
IA64 Executable

SQL Server 2008 RC0 is available in Enterprise, Standard, Evaluation, and Express editions. Use the downloaded file to install SQL Server 2008 RC0, entering the corresponding product key to unlock the edition you want.

SQL Server 2008 Enterprise: A comprehensive data platform that meets the high demands of enterprise online transaction processing and data warehousing applications. Unlock SQL Server 2008 Enterprise with the following key: MQWT2-9MKBY-K8PXQ-6K4BW-TY4BD.

SQL Server 2008 Standard: Complete data management and business intelligence platform, providing best-in-class ease of use and manageability for running departmental applications. Unlock SQL Server 2008 Standard with the following key: XP4FP-3VTDK-37TWH-TW77J-9MFM3.

SQL Server 2008 Evaluation: Trial version to build and test any type of application. It includes all of the functionality of SQL Server 2008 Enterprise, but is licensed only for development, test, and demo use. (No product key is required to unlock. This is the default version).

SQL Server 2008 Express: Fully functional edition is ideal for learning and running desktop and small server database applications. SQL Server 2008 Express supports 1 CPU, 1 GB of RAM and databases that are up to 4GB in size. (No product key is required).

SQL Server Express is only available in the self-extracting format. Run the download file to copy the installation files to a pre-install directory. Double-clicking the executable files will automatically extract to Temp and setup will be started once extraction is complete. There is no need to locate and start setup.exe manually.

Express 2008 x86 Executable
Express 2008 x64 Executable

SQL Server 2008 Express Advanced: Fully functional entry level data management and reporting platform ideal for learning and building desktop and small server applications. (No product key is required). The download file format and starting the installation process are identical to SQL Express.

Express Advanced 2008 x86 Executable
Express Advanced 2008 x64 Executable

Requirements:

· For Visual Studio 2005, install Visual Studio 2005 Support for SQL Server 2008 RC0.
· For Visual Studio 2008, install Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1 Beta.
· For Visual Studio 2008 with SQL Server 2008 RC0 Express, download and install Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Express Edition with SP1 Beta .


Limitations:

· SQL Server 2008 RC0 will automatically expire after 180 days.


SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1

SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1 (SP1) is now available. You can use these packages to upgrade any SQL Server 2008 edition.

Note:
We remain committed to our plans to keep service packs contained, focusing on essential updates only, primarily a Roll-up of Cumulative Update 1 to 3, Quick Fix Engineering (QFE) updates, as well as fixes to issues reported through the SQL Server community. While keeping product changes contained, we have made significant investments to ease deployment and management of Service Packs:

Slipstream – You are now able to integrate the base installation with service packs (or Hotfixes) and install in a single step.

Service Pack Uninstall – You are now able to uninstall only the Service Pack (without removing the whole instance)

Report Builder 2.0 Click Once capability

System Requirements
- Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2003; Windows Server 2008; Windows Vista
- 32-bit systems (x86)
PC with Intel or compatible Pentium III 600 MHz or higher processor (1 GHz or faster recommended)
- 64-bit systems (x64, ia64)
1GHz or faster processor
Minimum of 512 MB of RAM (1 GB or more recommended)
675 MB of available hard disk space

You can download from here:
- IA64 ;
- x64 ;
- x86 ;

SQL Server 2008 Books Online Release Candidate (RC0)

SQL Server 2008, the next release of Microsoft SQL Server, provides a comprehensive data platform. Books Online is the primary documentation for SQL Server 2008. Download a pre-release preview of Books Online for SQL Server 2008.

Books Online includes the following types of information:
· Setup and upgrade instructions.
· Information about new features and backward compatibility.
· Conceptual descriptions of the technologies and features in SQL Server 2008.
· Procedural topics describing how to use the various features in SQL Server 2008.
· Tutorials that guide you through common tasks.
· Reference documentation for the graphical tools, command prompt utilities, programming languages, and application programming interfaces (APIs) that are supported by SQL Server 2008.
· Descriptions of the sample databases and applications that are available with SQL Server 2008.

Requirements:

· NET Framework version 2.0
· Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1 or later
· Windows Installer 4.5


Warning: Do not install this version of the SQL Server 2008 Books Online on a computer running the following:
· Any pre-release versions of Visual Studio 2005 or the .NET Framework 2.0.
· Any SQL Server 2005 Beta release.
· The SQL Server 2005 Community Technology Preview (CTP) June 2005 release.
· The SQL Server 2005 CTP September 2005 release.
Remove these versions from your system before installing this SQL Server 2008 Books Online CTP.

SQL Server 2008 Express Edition Service Pack 1 - CTP

The CTP version of SQL Server 2008 Express Edition Service Pack 1 (SP1) is now available.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express is a powerful and reliable data management system that delivers a rich set of features, data protection, and performance for embedded application clients, light Web applications, and local data stores. Designed for easy deployment and rapid prototyping, SQL Server 2008 Express is available at no cost, and you are free to redistribute it with applications. It is designed to integrate seamlessly with your other server infrastructure investments.

System Requirements
- Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2003; Windows Server 2008; Windows Vista
- 32-bit systems
Computer with Intel or compatible 1GHz or faster processor (2 GHz or faster is recommended. Only a single processor is supported.)
Minimum of 256 MB of RAM (1 GB or more is recommended)
1GB of free hard disk space
- 64-bit systems
1.4 GHz or higher processor (2 GHz or faster is recommended. Only a single processor is supported.)
Minimum of 256MB of RAM (1 GB or more is recommended)
1 GB of free hard disk space

You can download from here:
- SQLEXPR_x64 ;
- SQLEXPR_x86 ;
- SQLEXPR32_x86 ;

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express is a powerful and reliable data management system that delivers a rich set of features, data protection, and performance for embedded application clients, light Web applications, and local data stores. Designed for easy deployment and rapid prototyping, SQL Server 2008 Express is available at no cost, and you are free to redistribute it with applications. It is designed to integrate seamlessly with your other server infrastructure investments.

System Requirements
- Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2; Windows Server 2008; Windows Vista; Windows Vista Service Pack 1; Windows XP Service Pack 2; Windows XP Service Pack 3
32-bit systems
- Computer with Intel or compatible 1GHz or faster processor (2 GHz or faster is recommended. Only a single processor is supported.)
- Minimum of 256 MB of RAM (1 GB or more is recommended)
- 1GB of free hard disk space 
64-bit systems
- 1.4 GHz or higher processor (2 GHz or faster is recommended. Only a single processor is supported.)
- Minimum of 256MB of RAM (1 GB or more is recommended)
- 1 GB of free hard disk space

You can download from here:
- SQLEXPR_x64 ;
- SQLEXPR_x86 ;
- SQLEXPR32_x86 ;

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express with Tools

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express with Tools (SQL Server 2008 Express) is a free, easy-to-use version of SQL Server Express that includes graphical management tools. SQL Server 2008 Express provides powerful and reliable data management tools and rich features, data protection, and fast performance. It is ideal for small server applications and local data stores.

SQL Server 2008 Express with Tools has all of the features in SQL Server 2008 Express, plus you can easily manage and administer SQL Server 2008 Express with a easy-to-use graphical management tool - SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Basic.

Free to download, free to deploy, and free to redistribute as an embedded part of an application, SQL Server 2008 Express with Tools is the fast and easy way to develop and manage data-driven applications.

System Requirements
- Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2; Windows Server 2008; Windows Vista; Windows Vista Service Pack 1; Windows XP Service Pack 2; Windows XP Service Pack 3
32-bit systems
- Computer with Intel or compatible 1GHz or faster processor (2 GHz or faster is recommended. Only a single processor is supported.)
- Minimum of 512 MB of RAM (1 GB or more is recommended)
- 1.9GB of free hard disk space
64-bit systems
- 1.4 GHz or higher processor (2 GHz or faster is recommended. Only a single processor is supported.)
- Minimum of 512MB of RAM (1 GB or more is recommended)
- 1.9 GB of free hard disk space

You can download from here:
- SQLEXPRWT_x64 ;
- SQLEXPRWT_x86 ;

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is the free, easy-to-use, lightweight version of SQL Server 2005.

SQL Server Express makes it easy to develop data-driven applications that are rich in capability, offer enhanced storage security, and are fast to deploy. SQL Server Express is free to redistribute and can be seamlessly upgraded to more sophisticated versions of SQL Server.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition can be downloaded from here.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 November Community Technology Preview - Express Edition

The Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Express November Community Technology Preview (CTP)is a powerful and reliable data management system that delivers a rich set of features, data protection, and performance for embedded applications, light Web applications, and local data stores. Designed for easy deployment and rapid prototyping, this Community Technology Preview (CTP) includes support for Sysprep, Microsoft's System Preparation Utility for Microsoft Windows operating system deployment.

The CTP is being made available for your review in four Editions:
- Express Base : Designed for easy deployment and rapid prototyping, this edition is designed to integrate seamlessly with your other server infrastructure investments.

- Express with Tools : This edition is an easy-to-use version of the SQL Server® Express data platform that includes the graphical management tool SQL Server Management Studio (SMSS) Express. It is ideal for small server applications and local data stores.

- Express with Advanced Services : This edition is an easy-to-use version of the SQL
Server Express data platform that includes an advanced graphical management tool and powerful features for reporting and advanced text-based searches. It is ideal for small server applications and local data stores.

- Tools only : Also called Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Management Studio Express (SSMSE), this is an integrated environment for accessing, configuring, managing, administering, and developing all components of SQL Server. This edition combines a broad group of graphical tools with a number of rich script editors to provide access to SQL Server to developers and administrators of all skill levels. Developers get a familiar experience, and database administrators get a single comprehensive utility that combines easy-to-use graphical tools with rich scripting capabilities.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition November Community Technology Preview can be downloaded from here.

Requirements:

· .NET Framework 2.0

What's New in This Release: [ read full changelog ]

· Building on the trusted, productive, and intelligent data platform delivered with SQL Server 2008, The Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 November Community Technology Preview (CTP) provides a wealth of new improvements that will help your organization scale with confidence, improve IT efficiency, and enable managed self-service BI. This CTP release includes new and enhanced capabilities for application and multi-server management, complex event processing, master data services, and end user reporting. Also introduced is PowerPivot for Microsoft Excel (previously known as project “Gemini’) to empower users to easily access, integrate, analyze and share information using Microsoft Office tools they are already familiar with.

Key features in this CTP release include:
· A new Control Point Explorer for central multi-instance and application utilization management.
· Built-in wizards to help you quickly set up and enroll instances and Data-Tier Application components into central manag...