Install SQL Server on a windows VM instance

[mharitakis]

Hello,

is there a way to create a windows VM instance and install the SQL server by my self?

when i create an instance and choose OS: SQL server on windows server  then the SQL server is preinstalled 

Any way to install the SQL server manually?

[sebastianmoreno]

Hi @mharitakis 

As you already discovered, if you choose the SQL Server on Windows Server image when you create your Compute Engine instance, SQL Server will already be installed. That allows you to not taking care about Bringing Your Own License and being charged for the infrastructure and licenses (Windows Server and SQL Server) directly in your Billing Account.

"These images include one of several SQL Server editions that run on Windows Server. You can use these images to run SQL Server on Compute Engine without obtaining your own separate license from Microsoft."

If you want to install SQL Server by yourself you need to create a Compute Engine instance choosing only Windows Server as the OS and then install SQL Server by yourself connecting to the instance using RDP  (https://cloud.google.com/compute/docs/instances/windows/creating-managing-windows-instances)

Please take in consideration that if you install SQL Server by yourself you need to take care about the SQL Server license Bringing Your Own License. (https://cloud.google.com/compute/docs/instances/windows/ms-licensing)

I hope this information is useful to you.

Have a wonderful day.

Best,

Sebastian

[alexmoore]

Just to add - in case you don't want to provide your own license - there is also a guide here on how to install SQL Server with a Google provided license and media:

https://cloud.google.com/compute/docs/instances/sql-server/adding-sql-server-license

[sebastianmoreno]

Thank you very much @alexmoore for providing this extra information to the conversation.

Really appreciate it.