SQL Server on Windows (local)

To run a Microsoft SQL Server locally on a Windows machine:

  1. If you do not have access to an instance of Microsoft SQL Server, download and set up .

  2. Download and install .

  3. Use Windows Authentication to log in to Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (expand the Server Name dropdown and click <Browse for more...> to find your database engine):

The New Query button in SQL Server Management Studio

Enable TCP/IP

Prisma Client requires TCP/IP to be enabled. To enable TCP/IP:

  1. Open SQL Server Configuration Manager. (Search for "SQL Server Configuration Manager" in the Start Menu, or open the Start Menu and type "SQL Server Configuration Manager".)

  2. In the left-hand panel, click SQL Server Network Configuration > Protocols for MSSQLSERVER

  3. Right-click TCP/IP and choose Enable.

Enable authentication with SQL logins (Optional)

If you want to use a username and password in your connection URL rather than integrated security, as follows:

  1. Right-click on your database engine in the Object Explorer and click Properties.

  2. In the Server Properties window, click Security in the left-hand list and tick the SQL Server and Windows Authentication Mode option, then click OK.

  3. Right-click on your database engine in the Object Explorer and click Restart.

Enable the sa login

To enable the default sa (administrator) SQL Server login:

  1. In SQL Server Management Studio, in the Object Explorer, expand Security > Logins and double-click sa.

  2. On the General page, choose a password for the sa account (untick Enforce password policy if you do not want to enforce a policy).

  3. On the Status page, under Settings > Login, tick Enabled, then click OK.

You can now use the sa account in a connection URL and when you log in to SQL Server Management Studio.

Note: The sa user has extensive permissions. You can also .