Compatible SQL Server Versions

NetPoint is compatible with all editions of SQL Server 2005 and 2008. Microsoft has released lightweight Express editions of both SQL Server 2005 and 2008 that can be downloaded for free.

SQL Server 2005 requires the .NET Framework 2.0 which may not be installed by default.

SQL Server 2008 requires the .NET Framework 3.5 Windows Installer 4.5 and PowerShell 1.0 These components are not installed by default.

Installing and Configuring Microsoft SQL Server

To setup SQL Server for NetPoint you must install the Database Engine Services and Management Tools, which are part of the SQL Server installation.

In addition, you must enable mixed mode authentication in addition to shared memory and TCP/IP access. You can enable mixed mode authentication during the SQL Server installation process or after by going to Start > All Programs > Microsoft SQL Server > SQL Server Management Studio. Right click the server node in Object Explorer and select Properties. The Server Properties window will appear, where you can select the Security page and choose SQL Server and Windows Authentication mode.

Shared memory and TCP/IP access can be enabled from Start > All Programs > Microsoft SQL Server > Configuration Tools > SQL Server Configuration Manager. Navigate to SQL Server Network Configuration > Protocols for MSSQLServer. Right click Shared Memory and select Enable. Perform the same for TCP/IP. All other protocols can be disabled.

Non-English (United States) Installations

The Windows regional setting of your NetPoint server must match the collation setting of your NetPoint database. Failure to do this can result in errors when NetPoint handles locale specific data, such as dates. This is often an issue when your NetPoint server is configured for a locale other than English (United States) via Control Panel > Regional and Language Options. A server-wide default collation setting can be configured when installing SQL Server. If SQL Server has already been installed without the correct collation setting, the NetPoint database can be pre-configured before installing NetPoint. The later case will be outlined.

To pre-configure the NetPoint database, login to SQL Server Management Studio via Start > All Programs > Microsoft SQL Server. Right-click the Database folder in Object Explorer and select New Database. Enter NetStudio as the Database name and in the Options node specify the corresponding collation for your locale. A list of locales and their associated collations are listed below: