Microsoft SQL Server 2022
directly from the Microsoft Evaluation Center.
Microsoft provides SQL Server 2022 installation media in formats including:
✅ 64-bit ISO
✅ 64-bit CAB
The Evaluation version is available for:
180 Days
Administrative privileges are required to install SQL Server.
Installation Options
When you launch SQL Server Setup, Microsoft provides several installation choices.
For a new installation, select:
New SQL Server standalone installation or add features to an existing installation
You can then configure the SQL Server components required by your environment.
Common components include:
✅ Database Engine Services
✅ SQL Server Replication
✅ Full-Text Search
✅ Analysis Services where required
✅ Integration Services where required
✅ Connectivity Components
Only install the components you actually require.
SQL Server Management Studio
SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is Microsoft's graphical administration environment for managing SQL Server.
It can be downloaded separately from Microsoft.
SSMS can be used to:
✅ Create databases
✅ Run SQL queries
✅ Manage tables
✅ Configure users and permissions
✅ Create backups
✅ Restore databases
✅ Monitor SQL Server
✅ Manage SQL Server Agent
✅ Configure security
✅ Perform database administration
Installing SSMS is recommended for administrators who prefer a graphical management interface.
Evaluation to Standard Activation
If you initially install the official SQL Server 2022 Evaluation edition, do not reinstall SQL Server simply to enter your Standard key.
Microsoft supports an Edition Upgrade from SQL Server 2022 Evaluation to SQL Server 2022 Standard for eligible standalone instances.
Activation Instructions
Step 1 — Download SQL Server 2022
Download the official SQL Server 2022 installer from the:
Microsoft Evaluation Center
Choose the appropriate 64-bit installation media.
Step 2 — Install SQL Server 2022 Evaluation
Launch:
setup.exe
Select:
New SQL Server standalone installation or add features to an existing installation
Follow SQL Server Setup and install the features required by your environment.
Step 3 — Configure Your SQL Server Instance
During installation, configure options such as:
- Instance name
- SQL Server services
- Authentication mode
- SQL administrators
- Data directories
- Required SQL Server features
Complete the installation.
Step 4 — Back Up Important Databases
Before performing an edition upgrade on an existing SQL Server installation, create current backups of all important databases.
This is strongly recommended before making major SQL Server configuration or edition changes.
Step 5 — Mount or Open SQL Server 2022 Installation Media
Run:
setup.exe
using Administrator privileges.
This opens the:
SQL Server Installation Center
Step 6 — Open Maintenance
From the left-hand menu, select:
Maintenance
Then choose:
Edition Upgrade
Step 7 — Product Key
SQL Server Setup will open the Edition Upgrade wizard.
When you reach the Product Key section, select the option for entering a product key and enter the SQL Server 2022 Standard key supplied with your order.
Continue to the next step.
Step 8 — Accept Microsoft License Terms
Review the Microsoft Software License Terms.
Accept the terms to continue.
Step 9 — Select Your SQL Server Instance
Choose the existing SQL Server 2022 Evaluation instance you want to convert.
Make sure you select the correct instance if multiple SQL Server instances are installed.
Step 10 — Edition Upgrade Rules
SQL Server Setup will automatically check the server configuration.
Review any warnings or errors.
Resolve blocking issues before continuing.
Step 11 — Start Edition Upgrade
On the:
Ready to Upgrade Edition
screen, review the configuration.
Select:
Upgrade
SQL Server will begin converting the Evaluation instance to:
SQL Server 2022 Standard
SQL Server services may restart during this process.
Step 12 — Complete the Upgrade
Wait until SQL Server Setup reports that the Edition Upgrade has completed successfully.
Close SQL Server Setup.
Restart the SQL Server services or server if requested.
Verify SQL Server Edition
After the upgrade, open SQL Server Management Studio and connect to your SQL Server instance.
Run:
SELECT SERVERPROPERTY('Edition') AS Edition;
The result should identify the installed edition as:
Standard Edition
You can also run:
SELECT @@VERSION;
to view SQL Server version and build information.
Your Microsoft SQL Server 2022 Standard installation is now ready to use.
Important Edition Upgrade Information
⚠️ Evaluation → Standard Is Supported
Microsoft supports upgrading a standalone:
SQL Server 2022 Evaluation
installation to:
SQL Server 2022 Standard
using the Edition Upgrade process.
⚠️ Failover Cluster Limitation
Microsoft does not support converting a SQL Server 2022 Evaluation failover cluster instance directly to SQL Server 2022 Standard through this Edition Upgrade path.
Clustered SQL Server environments require additional planning.
⚠️ Back Up Your Databases
Always create verified backups before:
- Edition upgrades
- Version upgrades
- Major configuration changes
- Server migrations
⚠️ Check Feature Compatibility
Evaluation edition provides Enterprise-level functionality during the trial.
SQL Server Standard does not include every Enterprise feature.
Before converting an existing Evaluation environment to Standard, make sure your databases and applications do not depend on Enterprise-only functionality.