During System Center Essentials 2010 setup, you have the option of installing the database that contains monitoring and management data on a local instance of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 or on a remote instance. You can also install Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services, which is included with System Center Essentials.
In addition, you must make sure that the local computer (the one on which you are installing Essentials 2007) is correctly configured to support the Essentials 2007 Report Server, if you want to use the local database instance.
 Note |
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| The Install SQL Server 2008 check box is not available if an SQL instance with the name SCE already exists on the computer. Before uninstalling the SQL instance named SCE, make sure the data in that instance is not needed or is backed up. |
Selecting the Essentials Database Location
Essentials runs more quickly and efficiently if you place the Essentials management server database on a remote instance of SQL Server—that is, install SQL Server 2008 on a computer other than the one on which you are installing Essentials, but one that is in the same domain or a trusted domain. However, a remote version of the database can be hosted only on an instance of Microsoft SQL Server Standard Edition or SQL Server Enterprise Edition.
On high-performance computers running SQL Server—specifically, multiprocessor servers with 2 GB or more of RAM—placing the Essentials database locally does not affect performance. You can use any SQL Server edition as an instance of a local Essentials database.
Essentials Reporting Server Requirements
If you are planning to select an existing database instance during Essentials 2007 installation, you must make sure that SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services (SSRS) is installed and configured on the server where you plan to install Essentials. You can use the SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services Configuration tool to verify that the local SSRS instance is running and that the following are successfully configured:
- Report Server Virtual Directory
- Report Manager Virtual Directory
- Windows Service Identity
- Web Service Identity
- Database Setup
If you are planning to select the option of installing SQL Server 2008 Express Edition with Advanced Services when installing Essentials, you are not required to install SSRS separately.