How to install SQL Server Management Studio

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is used for convenient administration of your SQL Server. With SSMS, you can connect your database after transferring it to another disk or computer, as well as connect multiple separate databases. SSMS allows you to manage multiple SQL servers of different versions.

Before installing, make sure to check which SQL Server versions are supported by the current version of SSMS and review the system requirements. Download the installer of the current version of SSMS from the Microsoft website. The installation process is demonstrated for SQL Server Management Studio version 20.2. 

Installing SQL Server Management Studio

Run the installer and optionally change the installation location of SSMS. Start the installation by clicking the “Install” button. Grant the installer permission to access your computer, after which it will automatically install the necessary components for SSMS to work.

Upon completion of the installation process, click “Close”. In the “Start” menu, a folder “Microsoft SQL Server Tools” with the SQL Server Management Studio program will appear.

Connecting to a SQL Server instance

After launching SSMS, you will be greeted by a window to connect to SQL Server. If this window does not appear, in the SSMS window, open "File" > "Connect Object Explorer". In the connection window, sequentially follow these steps:

1. Server name — enter the name of the computer on which the SQL Server instance is installed. And through the slash, specify the name of the instance as shown in the image.

2. Authentication — Choose the authentication method:

• Windows Authentication — allows login only for users of the server where the SQL Server instance is installed, to whom you have granted access to the instance.

• SQL Server Authentication — allows login for users created within the SQL Server instance.

3. Trust server certificate — Check if the "Trust server certificate" checkbox is selected. If it is not selected, you will receive an SSL certificate error for your server.

After a successful connection, the Server name dropdown will store the servers you have successfully connected to. On our website, you can find additional articles on how to create a new SQL Server instance and set it up to work with Torgsoft in a local network.