SQL Server 2014 Express is a free download, available from Microsoft. This article will guide you through the process of acquiring, installing and configuring SQL Server 2014 Express so that you can use it with Kennel Connection. SQL Server 2014 Express comes in both 32 bit and 64 bit versions. Select the version that matches the operating system of the computer you are installing it on, per the instructions below.  

The SQL Server database version of Kennel Connection will provide additional speed to not only the server, but also to all of your workstations, sometimes by as much as 100%. However, the speed is only contingent upon the speed and power of the computer it is running on, and upon the speed and tuning of your existing network. If Kennel Connection is sluggish, and your current database file, wkennel.mdb, exceeds 100 MB after compact and repair by the backup utility, then it may be time to consider migrating to the SQL Server version. 

System Requirements.

If you are unsure that your computer meets the proper requirements, please contact your PC technician to confirm.

• Click on Hardware and Software Requirements for SQL 2014 list to see if your machine is compatible. (Supported operating systems are Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1), Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (SP2), Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)).
• 32-Bit Systems: Computer with Intel or compatible 2GHz or faster processor (3 GHz or faster is recommended. Only a single processor is supported)
• 64-Bit Systems: 2.4 GHz or higher processor (3 GHz or faster is recommended. Only a single processor is supported) 
• RAM: Minimum of 2 GB of RAM (4 GB or more is recommended) 
• Hard disk: 6 GB minimum  of free hard disk space 

Download SQL Server 2014 Express 

IMPORTANT! 

Make sure you download and install the EXPRESS version of SQL SERVER. The STANDARD version is a paid-for product and will expire six months from the installation date, at which point you will need to uninstall it and install the EXPRESS version. VERIFY YOU ARE DOWNLOADING AND INSTALLING SQL SERVER EXPRESS. The following link will take you to the SQL SERVER EXPRESS download page. Use ONLY that link to download SQL SERVER EXPRESS. Any other link will be the wrong product. 

Download SQL Server 2014 Express from: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=42299 Click on the “Download” button. On this page, you will see a list of various versions of SQL Server 2014 Express. Select 

ExpressAndTools 64BIT\SQLEXPRWT_x64_ENU.exe from the list for 64-bit operating systems, or 

ExpressAndTools 32BIT\SQLEXPRWT_x86_ENU.exe for 32-bit operating systems. If you are not sure what your operating system is, please consult your local computer tech.  Make sure it includes the “WT” as this stands for “With Tools” and includes SQL Management Studio. 

NOTE: If using Internet Explorer, it may block the pop up download from Microsoft. You’ll need to click on the yellow bar at the bottom of your window and “Allow popups”. 

Install SQL Server 2014 Express 

The below are required for SQL Server 2014 Express to operate on your system. In most cases, you can go ahead and run the SQL Express install file and it will scan your computer for these components. If they are missing, the installer should provide you links to download these files direct. Please download and install them. If it does not provide you with the links you can find them below.

SQL Server 2014 Express requires .NET Framework 3.5 SP1, if your server does not have .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 you will need to download .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 and install it on your server. You can download .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 from http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=120550 if your installation says it is required. 

(NOTE) SQL Server 2014 requires .NET Framework 4.0 as well but will be installed by the SQL 2014 installer during the features installation stage. An Internet connection MUST be available at the time of installation to complete this process. SQL Server Express does not install .NET 4.0 on the Server Core mode of Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 or Windows Server 2012. You must install .NET 4.0 before you install SQL Server Express on a Server Core installation of Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 or Windows Server 2012.

SQL Server 2014 Express requires Windows Installer 4.5, if your computer does not have Windows Installer 4.5 you will need to download Windows Installer 4.5 and install it. You can download Windows Installer 4.5 from http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=123422 if your installation says it is required. 

SQL Server 2014 Express requires Windows PowerShell 2.0, if your computer does not have Windows PowerShell 2.0 you will need to download Windows PowerShell 2.0 and install it. You can download Windows PowerShell 2.0 from http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968930 if your installation says it is required. 

When you are ready to install SQL 2014 Express, follow these steps: 

1. Run SQLEXPRWT_x86_ENU.exe (32 bit version), or SQLEXPRWT_x64_ENU.exe (64 bit version) to install SQL 2014 Express. 

2. At the "SQL Server Installation Center", choose “Tools” on the left and then "System Configuration Checker" to make sure you’re ready to install SQL 2014 Express 

3. When the "System Configuration Checker" has validated that you are ready to install SQL 2014 Express, return to the "SQL Server Installation Center" and click on “Installation”. 

4. Select "New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation"

5. A setup support check will run. Make sure there are no errors or warnings, press OK. It will also check for SQL Server 2014 updates. If any are found, please install those as well. (Windows updates must be turned on and allowed to install updates for this to work). Click Next.

6. The "SQL Server 2014" Setup will now appear, on the Product Key page.

7. Check the box "I accept the license terms" and click Next.

8. You will now be in the "Feature Selection" page. These are the options you must have selected.

Make sure you select Management Tools as it is a vital tool to configure SQL server properly.

 9. On the "Instance Configuration" page, specify MSSQLSERVER in the "Named instance" field and then press tab. It will populate the same name in the "Instance ID" field and this will force SQL Server 2014 Express to install as the Default instance. If you want to install as a named instance, specify a name other than MSSQLSERVER. 

10. Click Next.

11. You will now be on the "Server Configuration" page. Change the SQL Server Database Engine's Account Name to "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM". If you do not see “System” as a choice in the list, you may have to click “browse” Once you click “browse” type in “system” without the quotes and press OK.

12. Change SQL Server Browser's Startup Type to Automatic, and then click Next. When completed your screen should show like this:

13. **IMPORTANT**On the Database Engine Configuration page, set the option to Mixed Mode (SQL Server authentication and Windows authentication). When you choose Mixed Mode, you will need to enter and confirm a password for the SA account. Write down your password so that you remember it. 

14. Before you can continue, you will need to specify the group(s) that you want to have unrestricted access to SQL Server. Click "Add..." and select the group(s). We recommend that you add “Administrator”. The current User" (Service Account) should be added by default. To add the “Administrator” account, simply click “Add” and in the field that says “Enter the object names to select” type in “Administrator” without the quotes and press OK. When you are done here, click Next and the installation will begin.

15. When the installer completes, click close and then close out of the SQL Server Installation center. 

Now we must enable some protocols to allow SQL server to communicate properly with other machines. 

Enable TCP/IP and Named Pipes 

When SQL 2014 Express is installed, configure the Network options, which are disabled by default. 

1. In the Start Menu, open Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 2014 > Configuration Tools > SQL Server Configuration Manager 

2. Expand "SQL Server Network Configuration" and select Protocols.

3. Enable TCP/IP by right clicking the TCP/IP item from the window on the right and choosing “Enable”.

4. Enable Named Pipes by right clicking the Named Pipes item from the window on the right and choosing “Enable”.

5. Enable Shared Memory by right clicking the Shared Memory item from the window on the right and choosing “Enable” 

6. Expand "SQL Server Client Configuration" and select Client Protocols.

7. Enable TCP/IP by right clicking the TCP/IP item from the window on the right and choosing “Enable”.

8. Enable Named Pipes by right clicking the Named Pipes item from the window on the right and choosing “Enable”.

9. Enable Shared Memory by right clicking the Shared Memory item from the window on the right and choosing “Enable”  

Enable the SQL Server Browser (if this was not done during install) 

If it is already running, it does not need to be enabled. 

1. Click the "SQL Server Services" item in the left-hand pane. 

2. Locate the “Browser Service” on the right side and right mouse click it. Choose Start.

*Note that after enabling the above options, SQL server service will need to be restarted. To do this, find the SQL Server service (it’s in the same list that the browser service was), right click it and choose “Restart”. Once restarted, you may exit the configuration manager. The SQL Server Agent unless you have purchased a full licensed version of SQL Server will always be in the “Stopped” state.

Add Firewall Exceptions 

If you have Windows firewall or any other Firewall software installed on your server, you will need to add exceptions for the SQL Server and SQL Browser services. If you are using Windows Firewall, do the following.

 **Note. Even if Windows firewall is turned off, sometimes it will still block workstation connections. Therefore you have to still add the exclusions to the Windows firewall.** 

1. In your Control Panel, open the Windows Firewall applet. 

2. Go to the Exceptions tab. 

3. Click Add Program 

4. Browse to and select "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQLServer\MSSQL.12.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Binn\sqlservr.exe" 

5. Click OK. 

6. Click Add Program 

7. Browse to and select "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Shared\sqlbrowser.exe" (If you have a 64 bit system, your browser may be in C:\Program Files(X86) Microsoft SQL Server\90\Shared\sqlbrowser.exe) 

8. Click OK and then click OK again.  

Note that if you have used a different name during the SQL Server install, the MSSQL.12 folder may be named something different. 

If you are using a third-party software firewall, you will need to follow their instructions to add exceptions to sqlservr.exe and sqlbrowser.exe.  

Restart the Services or Reboot the Server 

When you have completed all of these steps, you will need to restart the SQL Server and SQL Browser services to complete the process. This is best completed by rebooting your computers. 

Pointing KC7 to an existing SQL server

You are now ready to install KC7 with an existing SQL Server. Click on this link for installation directions