How to check whether the installed instance is full SQL Server or just SQL Server Express

Question

In one of my project, first I need to check whether SQL Server is installed on the machine or not. I am doing this with the code shown here:

 var sqlRegistry = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(@"Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server", true);

 if (sqlRegistry == null) 
 { }
 else 
 { }

But in the else part, I need to know whether the installed SQL Server is "only" SQL Server Express, or a full SQL Server edition.

How will I go for this?

possible duplicate of [How can I tell what edition of SQL Server runs on the machine?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2070396/how-can-i-tell-what-edition-of-sql-server-runs-on-the-machine) — MeanGreen, Apr 20 '15 at 13:32
possible duplicate of [How can I determine installed SQL Server instances and their versions?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/141154/how-can-i-determine-installed-sql-server-instances-and-their-versions) — JimmyB, Apr 20 '15 at 13:44

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 20 '15 at 13:30

3

SQL-Server seems to have a built-in function SERVERPROPERTY, so you should be able to query the server via SQL, like:

SELECT SERVERPROPERTY('EngineEdition')

answered Apr 20 '15 at 13:30

JimmyB

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and what if MS SQL server stopped? – teo van kot Apr 20 '15 at 13:32
that was sarcasm? =) I really have this kind of question what if it's stopped right now but still installed. – teo van kot Apr 20 '15 at 13:33
1

Maybe there's something here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/141154/how-can-i-determine-installed-sql-server-instances-and-their-versions – JimmyB Apr 20 '15 at 13:40

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 20 '15 at 15:23

You can look at the installed instances in the registry key:

Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\InstalledInstances

This will contain all the installed instances, e.g. on my system:

MSSQLSERVER
SQLEXPRESS

Go into this registry key with this value:

Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\Instance Names\SQL

to get the actual instance name that you need in the next step.

Now if you go look at the registry key:

Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\(InstanceName)\Setup\Edition

there you have a value of e.g. Express for a SQL Server Express, or Developer Edition or something else. That should tell you if you have Express or another, "full" edition of SQL Server

Thanks for so deep answer. – teo van kot Apr 20 '15 at 22:23 — teo van kot, Apr 20 '15 at 22:23

teo van kot · Answer 3 · 2015-04-21T03:46:27.973

Here some code that get installed MS SQL Server Editions on server to console based on @marc_s answer:

//This line open Registry with x64 View from x86 process. Usually SQL server installed in x64 edition, otherwise you should check x86
var localMachine = RegistryKey.OpenBaseKey(RegistryHive.LocalMachine, RegistryView.Registry64);
var msSQLServer = localMachine.OpenSubKey(@"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server");
var instances = (string[])msSQLServer.GetValue("InstalledInstances");

foreach (var instance in instances)
{
    var insNames = localMachine.OpenSubKey(@"Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\Instance Names\SQL");
    var realNameInstanse = (string)insNames.GetValue(instance);
    var sqlEditionRegistry = localMachine.OpenSubKey(string.Format(@"Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\{0}\Setup", realNameInstanse));
    var edition = (string)sqlEditionRegistry.GetValue("Edition");
    Console.WriteLine("Instance {0}, RealName {2}, - Edition: {1}", instance, edition, realNameInstanse);
}

Here is edition list based on list at the end of this article:

Standard Edition
64-bit Edition
Express Edition
Developer Edition
Enterprise Edition
Workgroup Edition
Standard
Analysis Services
Developer
Enterprise
Enterprise Evaluation
Express
Express with Advanced Services
Integration Services
Datacenter
Reporting Services
Standard Edition for Small Business
Web
Workgroup
Business Intelligence
Enterprise Core

score 0 · Answer 4 · edited Jan 14 '18 at 07:56

0

To check sql server version, you can query for @@version.

execute select @@version

The output consists of:

SQL server version
SQL server edition
Latest patch installed
Computer's processor (32 bit or 64 bit)

edited Jan 14 '18 at 07:56

Daniel

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answered Jan 14 '18 at 04:26

Munez Santiago

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How to check whether the installed instance is full SQL Server or just SQL Server Express

4 Answers4