How I use dbatools to automate SQL Server installs

I lot of you have asked me to expand on the automated SQL Server installation I mentioned in my previous article:

dbatools is a free PowerShell module with over 500 SQL Server best practice, administration, development and migration commands included

https://dbatools.io/

The dbatools team have spent long hours making sure everything is super simple and almost a one-liner therefore there is not that much I had to do.

First, check if SQL Server is already installed:

$SqlInstance = Find-DbaInstance -ComputerName localhost

Set the path to the install files:

Set-DbatoolsConfig -Name Path.SQLServerSetup -Value '\vmware-hostShared FoldersSQL Server ISO'

And run the installation:

if ($SqlInstance -eq $null) {
   
   //ASK which version of SQL to install:
   [string]$Version = Read-Host -Prompt 'Install SQL Server Version (2008R2, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2019)'

   //Get SA credentials:
   $sacredential = Get-Credential
   
   //Install SQL Server:
   Install-DbaInstance -Version $Version -AuthenticationMode Mixed -Feature Engine,IntegrationServices -SaCredential $sacredential -Restart -DataPath "S:SQLDATA" -LogPath "L:SQLLOGS" -TempPath "T:TEMPDB" -BackupPath "R:SQLBACKUPS" -PerformVolumeMaintenanceTasks -Confirm:$false
}

The script will run on startup and if SQL Server is not found, it will install it. The whole process takes less than a couple of minutes.

You can learn more about the command here : https://docs.dbatools.io/#Install-DbaInstance

Thanks for reading!

This post was originally published on June 8, 2020.