How to add a new instance of existing MS SQL Server to Plesk

Question

How to add a new instance of existing MS SQL Server to Plesk? For example, a second instance of SQL Server 2012 in addition to already existing one.

Answer

Note: To add an existing MS SQL database server instance to Plesk , please refer to the appropriate article.

1. Download and run an installer of appropriate SQL server version from Microsoft website, for example, SQL Server® 2012 Service Pack 3 (SP3) Express, which is installed with Plesk by default.

2. Proceed with the steps of installation:

   2.1. Click New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation.

   2.2. In the new windows choose the option Perform a new installation of SQL Server 2012.

   2.3. During installation process, choose the following options:

   • the name of a new instance (for example, NEWINSTANCE)

   • Authentication Mode: Mixed Mode and the password for system administrator user (sa).

   • Other options can be left as default.

   2.4. Complete the installation of the new instance.

3. Open SQL Server Configuration Manager > expand SQL Server Network Configuration > select the database server instance name and enable the following options:

   • Named Pipes

   • TCP/IP

4. Restart the service SQL Server (NEWINSTANCE) service at SQL Server Services.

5. Log in to Plesk and go to Tools & Settings > Database Servers and click Add Database Server.

6. Type in the following information:

   • Database server type: MS SQL

   • Host name or IP address: .NEWINSTANCE

     • "." is required before a host name
     • The correct host name is a name of the new instance from Step 2

   • Administrator's username: sa

   • Administrator's password: the password from step 2.3

7. Click OK.