Windows Server 2019 with SQL Server 2019 Enterprise

This comprehensive guide covers all steps to launch, and verify your SQL Server 2019 Enterprise instance on Windows Server 2019.

Overview: This AMI provides a pre-configured Windows Server 2019 environment with SQL Server 2019 Enterprise Edition, offering advanced features for mission-critical applications and large-scale database operations.

Step 1: Launch EC2 Instance

  1. Navigate to the Gigabits SQL Server 2019 Enterprise AMI
  2. Click “Continue to Subscribe”
  3. Accept the terms and click “Continue to Configuration”
  4. Select your preferred AWS region
  5. Click “Continue to Launch”

Recommended Configuration

  • Instance Type: t3.medium or higher
  • Storage: Minimum 50 GiB
  • Security Group: Port 3389 (RDP), Port 1433 (SQL Server)

Step 2: Connect to Your Instance

Using Remote Desktop Connection (RDP)

  1. Wait for instance to reach running state
  2. Select your instance in EC2 console
  3. Click Connect → RDP client
  4. Click Get Password
  5. Upload your private key and decrypt
  6. Download RDP file or note connection details
  7. Open Remote Desktop Connection

Computer: Your instance public IP
Username: Administrator
Password: Decrypted password from step 5

Step 3: Verify SQL Server Installation and Edition

Once connected, verify SQL Server 2019 is properly installed and check its edition.

Method 1: SQL Server Configuration Manager

A. Verify Installation (Service Status)

  1. Open SQL Server Configuration Manager
  2. Navigate to SQL Server Services
  3. Look for the service named SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER)
  4. Verify that the State for this service is Running
  5. The Start Mode should be Automatic
SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER)
Status: Running
Start Mode: Automatic
SQL Server Configuration Manager - Services View

B. Verify Edition (Advanced Properties)

  1. In SQL Server Services, right-click on the SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER) service
  2. Select Properties
  3. Click on the Advanced tab
  4. Check the properties to confirm the version and edition:
    • The Version property will confirm SQL Server 2019 (e.g., 15.0.2000.5)
    • The Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) property will display the edition, which should be Enterprise
SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER) – Properties
Version: 15.0.2000.5 (SQL Server 2019)
SKU: Enterprise
SQL Server Edition Verify via SQL Configuration Manager

Method 2: PowerShell/Command Prompt (Terminal)

A. Verify Installation (Service Status)

Use PowerShell to check if the main SQL Server service is running:
Get-Service -Name MSSQLSERVER | Select-Object Name, Status

Expected output:

Name         Status
----         ------
MSSQLSERVER  Running
  • Status = Running confirms SQL Server is installed and operational.
Windows Services - SQL Server Running Status via Powershell

B. Verify Edition and Version

Use PowerShell WMI query to get SQL Server version and edition: 
Get-WmiObject -Namespace "root\Microsoft\SqlServer\ComputerManagement15" -Class SqlServiceAdvancedProperty |
Where-Object { $_.PropertyName -eq "SKUNAME" -or $_.PropertyName -eq "VERSION" } |
Select-Object ServiceName, PropertyName, PropertyStrValue

Expected Output:

ServiceName PropertyName PropertyStrValue
MSSQLSERVER SKUNAME Enterprise Edition
MSSQLSERVER VERSION 15.0.2000.5
  • SKUNAME → confirms Enterprise Edition
  • VERSION → confirms SQL Server 2019
Windows SQL Server Edition verify via Powershell WMI

⚠️ Security Recommendation: When enabling remote connections, ensure that only known and trusted source IP addresses are allowed to access the SQL Server instance. This can be achieved by configuring appropriate firewall rules and network access controls.