This is the first in a series of tutorials presenting the steps necessary to install and configure a new database. Later tutorials will present the steps to configure the SQL Server database instance to work with Microvellum. 

Be sure to have access to archived copies of your company data configurations and library data before you begin this procedure. Completely exit AutoCAD and all Microvellum products. 

1. Download SQL Server 2017 Express at the page accessed by clicking here. 
   
1. Save the file to a known location on your local computer or network. 
   
2. Right-click on the downloaded file and select "Properties." Check the checkbox for "Unblock" at the bottom if it is available. Click OK.
   
3. Again, right-click on the downloaded file and select “Run as administrator.”
   
4. Click “Yes” on the User Account Control box that asks if you want to allow the app to make changes to your device.
   
5. The installation file will initialize and subsequently display the installation type dialog box. Select the Custom installation.
   
6. Select where to download the files. Accept the default location, or Browse to a different file path. Click “Install” to continue. The installation files will now download. This may take some time depending on your internet connection.
   
7. Once the installation package has been downloaded and the necessary files for installation have been initialized, the “SQL Server Installation Center” box will be displayed. Click “New SQL Server stand-alone installation…”
   
You do not need to install SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) unless you will be creating reports outside of Microvellum. 

8. Read the Microsoft License Terms. If acceptable, check the checkbox to accept the license terms to continue the installation. Click Next.
   
9. The install configuration will run a check to make sure that SQL Server is ready to be installed. Here are a couple of items to confirm before proceeding.
   
1. Do not run the SQL Server installation on the same computer or server that is also a domain controller.
   
2. If Windows Firewall is enabled, you will need to set an exception for ports 1433-1434.
   
3. General information about configuring firewalls may be found by clicking here.
   
4. More specific information may be found by clicking here.
   
10. Install Rules: make sure either all the rules pass successfully, or that any warnings are recognized and acted upon as necessary. The firewall may not have a status of Passed, but if you have configured the ports for the firewall as described in the articles above, click Next.
    

11. Feature Selection: accept the default settings and click Next.
    

12. Instance Configuration: name the instance of SQL Server that you are installing. If you don’t have a preference, otherwise, leave it as is and click Next.
    

13. Server Configuration: set the SQL Server Browser Startup Type property to “Automatic” if not already set to that value.
    

Occasionally, installations will fail. If this happens, you may need to change the SQL Server Database Engine's account name to  NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE. 

14. Database Engine Configuration: set the Authentication Mode to “Mixed Mode” and specify the System Administrator account (sa). Enter and make a note of the password in a secure location.
    

15. Install the necessary prerequisites.
    
1. Microsoft R Open: click Accept and then Next. 
   
2. Python: click Accept and then Next.
   
16. The SQL install program now uses the configuration settings you have given it and installs the software. Depending on your system, this could take up to 30 minutes.
    
17. Now that you have SQL Server 2017 Express installed, the next step is to configure the server instance for use with Microvellum. Click here for the next article in the series.