FineBuild Introduction

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The main objective of SQL FineBuild is to make it easy for anyone to produce a best-practice installation and configuration of SQL Server on Windows.

For experienced staff, SQL FineBuild will simplify the automated deployment of a site Standard Build. For inexperienced staff, it packages the expertise needed to install SQL Server complete with Service Packs, Cumulative Updates, and useful tools, all configured for optimum use.

FineBuild also abstracts most of the differences in the operating system and the SQL Server version and edition, and will perform all operating system configuration tasks needed for SQL Server. This results in a similar experience when installing SQL Server 2005 Express on Windows XP through to installing SQL Server 2019 on a Windows 2019 Core cluster. All this is designed to fulfill the FineBuild strap-line of 1-click installation and best-practice configuration for SQL Server.

However, installing SQL Server locally means that only a portion of the Microsoft data platform is available. The entire platform now consists of components that run on various operating systems, which can only reasonably be obtained by using Azure. The best-practice approach to using SQL Server today is without doubt using the Platform As A Service (PAAS) offerings on Azure. SQL FineBuild will continue to be developed while it has some business relevance, but it will not be enhanced to work on Linux or to install other Azure components.

FineBuild consists of this Wiki (including a SQL FineBuild Quickstart page), a legacy Reference Manual, and associated scripts. The scripts are pre-configured to provide a best practice configuration, and require minimal configuration for drive letters and account names before deployment. However, a flexible configuration file and script parameters allow significant changes to the build if required. Site-specific scripts can also be included in the build process without the need to change any of the supplied code.

FineBuild is distributed under the terms of the Ms-PL License, for full details see License and Acknowledgements. Even though there is no charge for using FineBuild, please donate whatever FineBuild is worth to you as all money goes direct to charity. Tearfund is one of the UK's leading disaster relief and community development charities. Click here to donate.

Copyright FineBuild Team © 2011 - 2021. License and Acknowledgements

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