How can I find out which version of Microsoft SQL Server I use?

in Maintenance & Management

Coffalyser.Net™ stores its data in a Microsoft SQL Server database, which needs to be hosted on your computer or somewhere within your network. You may need to find out which version of SQL Server you have installed, or our Technical Support department may ask you for this information. This article provides a few relatively simple methods that can be used to discover which version of SQL Server you (most probably) use.

Note
During installation and configuration of Coffalyser.Net, you have the choice between a preconfigured and non-preconfigured (also called custom) SQL Server. Read more about the difference, or find out which type you use. This article is primarily geared towards customers with a preconfigured server, but the same principle should apply to most non-preconfigured servers as well.

If the methods below do not work for you, check Microsoft's documentation for additional options.

Warning
Perform the steps below on the computer that hosts the SQL Server. This may be a different computer than the computer on which you use Coffalyser.Net. If you have more than one SQL Server version or instance installed, make sure that you check the version of the correct one.

Method 1: Using start menu items or the SQL Server Configuration Manager

By default, preconfigured servers create a folder in the start menu with the name Microsoft SQL Server YYYY, in which YYYY represents the version (year). If you do not have this start menu folder, you can try pressing the start button and typing configuration manager. This should bring up an app called SQL Server YYYY Configuration Manager, which also contains the year.

Knowing the year is sufficient in most cases. If we ask you for the full version number, you can find this using the configuration manager app as well:

  • Open the app.
  • Click on SQL Server Services in the treeview panel on the left-hand side of the screen.
  • There should be a service with a name similar to SQL Server (COFFALYSER). The COFFALYSER part may vary if you do not have a preconfigured server.
  • Right-click that service and choose Properties.
  • Click on the Advanced tab.
  • Find the value behind the Version label, which might be something like 16.0.1000.6. This is the full version number.

Method 2: Using SQL Server error log files

  • Open File Explorer, e.g. by right-clicking the start button and choosing File Explorer or by pressing Windows Key + E.
  • Navigate to C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server. There should be a folder of which the name starts with MSSQL followed by a number, a period and a name. For a preconfigured server, this will be either MSSQL10_50.COFFALYSER, MSSQL12.COFFALYSER or MSSQL16.COFFALYSER. Inside this folder should be an MSSQL folder, which in turn should have a Log folder. The total path should be something like:
    C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQLXX.COFFALYSER\MSSQL\Log
  • Double-click on the file called ERRORLOG. Choose to open the file in Notepad or in another text editor.
  • The top line of the file should be similar to the example below, and should mention the SQL Server version (year and full version number, in bold and underlined in the example below).
    2024-01-29 15:49:13.89 Server      Microsoft SQL Server 2022 (RTM) - 16.0.1000.6 (X64)

Method 3: Using the command line

  • Open a command line, e.g. by pressing the start button, typing cmd and clicking the Command Prompt app, or by opening the Run app by either typing run or pressing Windows Key + R, and then typing cmd and pressing OK.
  • Run the command below. This command should work for most preconfigured SQL Servers, but may not work on a non-preconfigured (custom) SQL Server.
    sqlcmd -E -S .\COFFALYSER -Q "SELECT @@VERSION"
  • You should see an output that contains a line like the example below, which mentions the SQL Server version (year and full version number, in bold and underlined in the example below).
    Microsoft SQL Server 2022 (RTM) - 16.0.1000.6 (X64)

Related Pages

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Disclaimer

The information provided in this material is correct for the majority of our products. However, for certain applications, the instructions for use may differ. In the event of conflicting information, the relevant instructions for use take precedence.