How to add an already installed Microsoft SQL server in Plesk

Question

How to add an already installed Microsoft SQL server in Plesk?

Answer

To use MSSQL database server with your hosting server:

1. Connect to a Plesk server via RDP.

2. Download and install SQL Server Management Studio.

3. Open SQL Server Management Studio:

   • Specify a required database server instance as a Server name

   • Select Windows Authentication as an Authentication

     
     
     
     

4. Under the database server instance name, expand Security > Logins and right click on sa > Properties.

5. Set the required password – it will be needed to connect an instance to Plesk.

6. On the same window, click Status and apply the following changes:

   • Permission to connect to database engine: Grant

   • Login : Enabled

     

7. In SQL Server Management Studio , right click on the database server instance name > Properties > Security > select SQL Server and Windows Authentication mode and click OK

   
   

8. 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

9. Restart the SQL Server service at Start > Services.

10. Log in to Plesk.
    

11. Go to Tools & Settings > Database Servers and click Add Database Server

12. Fill in the fields:

    • Database server type: MS SQL

    • Host name or IP address: .SQLEXPRESS

      • ” . ” is required before a host name

      • The correct host name is a server name from the Step 3

    • Administrator’s username: sa

    • Administrator’s password: the password from the step 5

13. Click OK.

Additional Information

• Adding and Removing Database Servers – Plesk Docs