Installing/Configuring SQL Server 2008 Express Edition for Use with Xfmea/RCM++ 5
This document provides instructions for installing and configuring SQL Server 2008 Express Edition for use with an Enterprise database in ReliaSoft's Xfmea/RCM++ software. If you are using or wish to implement a SQL Server 2005 Express installation and are using Xfmea/RCM++ 5, please see these instructions. If you are using a SQL Server 2005 Express installation and ReliaSoft's retired Xfmea/RCM++ 4, please see these instructions.
You may choose to use the free version of SQL Server (SQL Server 2008 Express), which is available via download from the Microsoft website, if:
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You want an easy way for a limited number of users to evaluate the capabilities of Xfmea/RCM++ using a free demo implementation that requires little or no special IT support.
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Your organization would like to take advantage of the additional capabilities available in Xfmea/RCM++ without the need to purchase SQL Server licenses and the expected load for the database fits within the limited capabilities of the Express Edition.
In either case, if you have a reasonably powerful computer and "administrative rights" to install and configure software, you can establish a functioning Xfmea/RCM++ implementation using the step-by-step instructions provided below. When you choose to purchase the software and/or if your organization's needs grow beyond the capabilities of SQL Server Express, you can upgrade to a more robust version of SQL Server with the appropriate IT infrastructure and support.
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These instructions assume that you will be installing SQL Server 2008 Express and the Xfmea/RCM++ application on your own computer and that other users who have the Xfmea/RCM++ application installed will connect to the SQL Server database that has been established on your computer.
Minimum Requirements to Run SQL Server 2008 Express and SQL Server Management Studio
To begin, please make sure the computer you will be using meets these minimum requirements:
- Windows XP (SP2 or later), Vista or Windows 7.
- Internet Explorer 6.01 or higher. A free download is available from Microsoft -- please click here.
- 1 GHz Intel or compatible processor (2 GHz or higher recommended) with 512 MB RAM (1 GB or more is recommended), SVGA display (1,024x768 pixels) and at least 2 GB of hard disk space (for SQL Server Express and related components).
- Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 or later. (This is included in the SQL Server 2008 installation files or a free download is also available separately from Microsoft -- please click here.)
For more details on Microsoft's recommended minimum specifications for SQL Server 2008 Express, click here. For more details on Microsoft's recommended minimum specifications for SQL Server Management Studio Express, click here. The above requirements will also satisfy the Xfmea/RCM++ minimums, with the following addition:
- Microsoft Office 2000 or higher (Excel and Word) for automated report generation.
Downloading SQL Server 2008 Express and SQL Server Management Studio Express
You will need to download the individual installations for the SQL Server 2008 Express Database Engine and the SQL Server Management Studio Express from the Microsoft website, or the single installation file that includes both the database and the tools (this is the method that will be used in these instructions). Alternatively, if you want to include full text and reporting functionality, you can download the more comprehensive SQL Server 2008 Express Database with Advanced Services installation file (which also includes SQL Server Management Studio). To help you choose the SQL Server 2008 Express version that best suits your company's needs, please see the comparison here.
The instructions below describe a basic installation that is adequate to support the needs of Xfmea Enterprise. While other settings may work, we suggest that you start with these settings unless you have an advanced knowledge of the products and are comfortable with customizing the configurations on your own.
Installing SQL Server 2008 Express Edition
To begin the installation of the SQL Server 2008 Express Edition package, choose the Database with Management Tools version and click Install. This will bring you to Microsoft's Web Platform Installer website. You will need to install this in order to download and install SQL Server 2008 Express. Click Get the Web Platform Installer and then click Run when prompted. After the installation completes, the Platform Installer displays a window that shows the version of SQL Server 2008 Express that you previously selected. Confirm that the window shows "Install SQL Server 2008 Express with Tools" and then click Install.
Click I Accept on the next screen to confirm your choice.
For the Authentication Mode selection, choose Windows Integrated Authentication (this will use your Windows login). Xfmea uses Windows Authentication mode, but if you are planning to use this SQL Server Express installation for other purposes, you may wish to choose Mixed Mode Authentication. Click Continue.
The files will now be downloaded and installed.
When the process is done, you will see a window that confirms that the installation completed successfully. Click Finish.
Configuring SQL Server to Allow Remote Connections
The following steps are needed to ensure that the Xfmea/RCM++ applications (i.e. the application on your computer and the applications on other users' computers) will have access to the SQL Server database on your computer. Specifically, you will need to enable remote connections for SQL Server, start the Browser Service and create exceptions that allow traffic to pass through any firewalls that may be active on your computer or network.
Enable the Browser Service and Remote Connections for SQL Server 2008 Express
You must enable remote connections for each instance of SQL Server 2008 that you want to connect to from a remote computer. To do this, follow these steps:
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Choose Start > Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 2008 > Configuration Tools > SQL Server Configuration Manager.
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Click SQL Server Services and then double-click the SQL Server Browser on the right. The Properties window will open. Click the Service tab and change Start Mode to Automatic. Click OK. Right-click the SQL Server Browser and click Start to start the service.
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Expand SQL Server Network Configuration and click Protocols for SQLEXPRESS. The TCP/IP protocol status to the right is listed as disabled. Right-click TCP/IP and select Enable. Click OK when you receive the following message: Any changes made will be saved; however, they will not take effect until the service is stopped and restarted.
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Click SQL Server Services, then right-click SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS) and click Restart.
Firewall Considerations
If you are running a firewall on the computer that is running SQL Server 2008, external connections to SQL Server 2008 will be blocked unless both SQL Server 2008 and the SQL Server Browser Service can communicate through the firewall. You must create an exception for each instance of SQL Server 2008 that you want to accept remote connections and an exception for the SQL Server Browser Service. The following instructions apply to the version of Windows Firewall that is included in Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) and in Windows Server 2003. If you are using a different firewall system, consult your firewall documentation for more information.
NOTE: SQL Server 2008 uses an instance ID as part of the path when you install its program files. If this is the only instance of SQL Server on this computer, use the following steps, which show the default instance ID. If you have other instances installed, click here for more detailed information about identifying the instance ID.
Create an Exception for SQL Server 2008 in Windows Firewall
- To open the Windows Firewall, choose Start > Run, type firewall.cpl, and then click OK.
- In Windows Firewall, click the Exceptions tab and then click Add Program.
- In the Add a Program window, click Browse.
- Select the C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.SQLEXPRESS\MSSQL\Binn\sqlservr.exe executable program, click Open and then click OK to close the Add a Program window. Remain in the Windows Firewall window for the following steps to add the SQL Server Browser Service to the Exceptions list.
NOTE: The path may be different depending on where SQL Server 2008 is installed. "MSSQL.10" is the default instance ID.
Create an Exception for the SQL Server Browser Service in Windows Firewall
- In the Windows Firewall window on the Exceptions tab, click Add Program.
- In the Add a Program window, click Browse.
- Select the C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Shared\sqlbrowser.exe executable program, click Open and then click OK. Click OK to close Windows Firewall.
NOTE: The path may be different depending on where SQL Server 2008 is installed.
Installing Xfmea/RCM++
If you have not already installed Xfmea/RCM++, locate and double-click the Xfmea/RCM++ installation file you received from ReliaSoft and follow the instructions to complete the installation. After installation has completed, open the program and enter the license information you received from ReliaSoft and continue through the registration steps as directed.
Creating a New Enterprise Database
Open Xfmea/RCM++ and click New Enterprise Database in the Get Started window (or you can choose File > Enterprise Database > Create New) to open a wizard that will guide you through the steps to create a new database.
The first step in the wizard allows you to specify where you want to create the new database. Choose SQL from the Server Type drop-down list.
In the Server Name field, type the name of the SQL Server implementation where the new database will be created. For default installations this will be server\SQLEXPRESS, where "server" is the name of your computer.
In the Database Name field, type the name of the new Enterprise database that will be created. Click Next to create the database.
NOTE: The following images were created using Xfmea software, but all windows will appear the same (except for the colors and the software-specific logos) in RCM++.
When prompted, enter the Admin user information. The Admin access level in an Xfmea/RCM++ Enterprise database grants the user the ability to add, edit and delete user accounts. This access level provides full permissions for every aspect of the database. Additionally, when working with SQL Server databases in Xfmea/RCM++, the database creator/admin can create other user accounts through Xfmea/RCM++ that will automatically have associated SQL Server Logins. Click Next.
You will be asked if you want to add additional authorized users. At this time, select No (we will add users after completing the database and project creation) and click Finish.
You will be prompted to enter the name for the New Project in the database. A project can be created later, so click Cancel to close this window.
Now that you have created the database, you can add authorized users by choosing File > Database Setup > Manage Users.
The software has automatically created a user account for you with the highest possible access level within the Xfmea/RCM++ software, "Admin." You can double-click the account to edit the contact information stored in the system for your account.
If you want to add one new user account at a time, click the Add button to define each account in a window like the one shown next. To create a valid user account, you must enter the same domain and username that is required for that user to log in to Windows.
As mentioned previously, if you (the Admin/database creator) add/import a user in the Xfmea/RCM++ interface, that user account will automatically have a SQL Server Login generated, and there will be no need to log in to the SQL Server directly to create a login to "enable" this account in Xfmea. The user will be able to log in to the Xfmea/RCM++ database once their account has been created and you can disregard the instructions in the Xfmea/RCM++ 5 User's Guide.
If your organization uses Microsoft Active Directory and you want to add multiple users simultaneously by importing their contact information from Active Directory, click the Import Users button.
The base installation and configuration of your new Xfmea/RCM++ database using SQL Server 2008 Express has been completed.
Protecting Your Data Through Regular Backups
As the database administrator for your organization's implementation of Xfmea/RCM++, you have the ability to perform the backups and other maintenance activities necessary to protect the information stored in the SQL Server database. Please refer to the SQL Server documentation for detailed coverage of this topic. For an introduction to the backup process, we have created a page providing basic instructions for creating a backup, automating the backups and restoring a database from a backup. You can view the document here.
If you have any further questions about how to use the product or experienced any problems with this instruction document, please contact us.
Additional online support for SQL Server can also be found at this location:
SQL forums: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sqlexpress/threads
