Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2008 R2

For both 32-bit and 64-bit editions of SQL Server 2008 R2, the following apply:

For minimum version requirements to install SQL Server 2008 R2 on Windows Server 2012 or Windows 8, see Installing SQL Server on Windows Server 2012 or Windows 8 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2681562).

SQL Server 2008 R2 Datacenter is available for evaluation during a 180-day trial period. For more information, see the SQL Server: How to Buy Web site.

Microsoft recommends that you run SQL Server 2008 R2 on computers with the NTFS file format. For upgrades to SQL Server 2008 R2, FAT32 file systems will not be blocked.

SQL Server Setup will block installations on read-only or compressed drives.

For information about using SQL Server 2008 R2 tools to prepare for an upgrade to SQL Server 2008 R2, see Using Upgrade Advisor to Prepare for Upgrades.

SQL Server does not install the .NET Framework 3.5software development kit (SDK). However, the SDK contains tools that are useful when you use the .NET Framework for SQL Server development. You can download the .NET Framework SDK from the .NET Framework Web site.

Requirements to restart computers during SQL Server Setup: Installation of the .NET Framework requires a restart of the operating system. If Windows Installer installation also requires a restart, Setup will wait until the .NET Framework and Windows Installer components have installed before restarting