IONOS Cloud provides Microsoft (MS) SQL Server images as Public Images, which you can set up and run an SQL Server in a Virtual Data Center (VDC). The MS SQL Server images are based on Microsoft Windows Server systems, which are in mssql-<Edition>-<Version>-server-upd-<Update-Version> format.
Example: mssql-std-2022-server-upd-2024-01.
These images contain all the pre-installed components of an IONOS Cloud Windows Data Center server with a pre-installed MS SQL Server instance, SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), and SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). The SQL Server installation has a default instance named MSSQLSERVER.
To add more features to your MSSQL instance, you can use the ISO files provided by IONOS Cloud. These are available for selection when you create a new CD-ROM drive for your server. Example: Microsoft-SQL-2022-full-trial-english.iso. For more information, see .
Microsoft SQL Enterprise provides advanced features and capabilities tailored to meet the needs of large-scale applications and complex database management.
Before deploying instances with MS SQL Enterprise, you must adhere to the specified approval procedures to ensure compliance with our licensing and operational policies. To do so, follow these steps:
1. Initiate the Approval Request: Contact to request MS SQL Enterprise.
2. Involvement of your Account Manager: Upon receipt of your request, your designated Account Manager will engage in the approval process.
3. Review Notification: Once your request has been reviewed, will inform you via email. If your request is approved, you may proceed with provisioning your instance of MS SQL Enterprise, either via the or .
A Microsoft (MS) SQL Server image provided by IONOS can be selected and configured just like any other public image while setting up a Block Storage. To do so, follow these steps:
1. Add Storage to a Server or a Cube.
In the Image, select IONOS offered Microsoft Images.
3. Continue with Authentication.
Result: The Block Storage setup is completed using the MS SQL Server Image.
To find the IP address of the newly created server after provisioning, follow these steps:
1.In the DCD, go to Menu > Virtual Data Centers and select the data center from My Virtual Data Centers.
2. In the Inspector pane, select the data center and go to Network tab.
3. Under IPv4 Configuration, note the Primary IPv4 address.
Result: The IP address of the server is successfully retrieved.
As with all IONOS Cloud Windows images, the firewall is turned on automatically. For security reasons, no rules for SQL access over the network have been configured yet. We recommend setting up an incoming firewall rule of type Program if you want to access the SQL instance over the network. To do so, use one of the following options:
Option 1: Create an exception for the data transmission of the following program:
Example for MSSQL Server 2022
Option 2: Create the program rule from the command line:
For network communication, Microsoft SQL Server images have preconfigured TCP/IP bindings. In some cases, they need to be reconfigured before a newly assigned IP (v4/v6) works properly for SQL.
Example for MSSQL Server 2022:
%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\<MSSQLXX>.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Binn\sqlservr.exe%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL16.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Binn\sqlservr.exenetsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="SQL-Server" dir=in
action=allow program="%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\<MSSQLXX>.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Binn\sqlservr.exe" enable=yes
remoteip=10.101.101.10/24HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\<MSSQLXX>.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQLServer\SuperSocketNetLib\TcpHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL16.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQLServer\SuperSocketNetLib\Tcp
You can start the SQL Server Management Studio using one of the following options:
Option 1:
Start the SQL Server Management Studio from the taskbar.
Option 2:
Type SSMS in the search box and start the program.
Option 3:
1. Press the Windows key + R. 2. Type SSMS in the next dialog box. 3. Click Enter.
Result: You have successfully started the SQL Server Management Studio.
Once the login window is started, select Windows Authentication and adjust the Encryption to Optional to be able to connect to the SQL Server.
Result: You have successfully connected to the SQL Server.
