<p>I'm setting up a dedicated SQL Server 2005 box on Windows Server 2008 this week, and would like to pare it down to be as barebones as possible while still being fully functional.</p>

<p>To that end, the "Server Core" option sounds appealing, but I'm not clear about whether or not I can run SQL Server on that SKU.  Several services are addressed on the <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/compare-core-installation.aspx" rel="noreferrer">Microsoft website</a>, but I don't see any indication about SQL Server.</p>

<p>Does anyone know definitively?</p>

[{'answer_id': 1394, 'author': 'Michael Stum', 'author_id': 91, 'author_profile': 'https://Stackoverflow.com/users/91', 'pm_score': 5, 'selected': True, 'text': '<p>Not sure how credible <a href="http://www.builderau.com.au/program/windows/soa/Getting-started-with-Windows-Server-2008-Core-edition/0,339024644,339288700,00.htm" rel="noreferrer">this source is</a>, but:</p>\n\n<blockquote>\n  <p>The Windows Server 2008 Core edition can:</p>\n  \n  <ul>\n  <li><p>Run the file server role.</p></li>\n  <li><p>Run the Hyper-V virtualization server role.</p></li>\n  <li><p>Run the Directory Services role.</p></li>\n  <li><p>Run the DHCP server role.</p></li>\n  <li><p>Run the IIS Web server role.</p></li>\n  <li><p>Run the DNS server role.</p></li>\n  <li><p>Run Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services.</p></li>\n  <li><p>Run the print server role.</p></li>\n  </ul>\n  \n  <p>The Windows Server 2008 Core edition cannot:</p>\n  \n  <ul>\n  <li><p>Run a SQL Server.</p></li>\n  <li><p>Run an Exchange Server.</p></li>\n  <li><p>Run Internet Explorer.</p></li>\n  <li><p>Run Windows Explorer.</p></li>\n  <li><p>Host a remote desktop session.</p></li>\n  <li><p>Run MMC snap-in consoles locally.</p></li>\n  </ul>\n</blockquote>\n'}, {'answer_id': 15209, 'author': 'benjaminperdomo', 'author_id': 295, 'author_profile': 'https://Stackoverflow.com/users/295', 'pm_score': 2, 'selected': False, 'text': "<p>No. For some things, you will need the <code>.net</code> Framework (like reporting services), and you can't install it (in a supported way) in a server core.</p>\n"}, {'answer_id': 30065, 'author': 'Joel Coehoorn', 'author_id': 3043, 'author_profile': 'https://Stackoverflow.com/users/3043', 'pm_score': 1, 'selected': False, 'text': "<p>Server Core won't be very useful (to me at least, and I think many others as well) until they get a version of .Net framework on it.  Maybe a specialized subset like they have in the Compact Framework on smart phones.</p>\n"}, {'answer_id': 331308, 'author': 'Sean Carpenter', 'author_id': 729, 'author_profile': 'https://Stackoverflow.com/users/729', 'pm_score': 2, 'selected': False, 'text': '<p>ASP.Net will be enabled on <a href="http://blogs.technet.com/server_core/archive/2008/11/13/server-core-changes-in-windows-server-2008-r2.aspx" rel="nofollow noreferrer">server core in R2</a>.</p>\n'}, {'answer_id': 949347, 'author': 'Community', 'author_id': -1, 'author_profile': 'https://Stackoverflow.com/users/-1', 'pm_score': 2, 'selected': False, 'text': '<p>Server Core 2008 R2 can run Sql Server, but this is unsupported (for now). Check <a href="http://www.nullsession.com/2009/06/02/sql-server-2008-on-server-core-2008-r2/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.nullsession.com/2009/06/02/sql-server-2008-on-server-core-2008-r2/</a> for an article + video on how it\'s done.</p>\n'}, {'answer_id': 18332025, 'author': 'Mikhail', 'author_id': 1230655, 'author_profile': 'https://Stackoverflow.com/users/1230655', 'pm_score': 1, 'selected': False, 'text': '<p>Following are new features for Server 2008 R2 Server Core:</p>\n\n<ul>\n<li><p>.NET Framework – 2.0, 3.0, 3.5.1, 4.0 are now supported on Server Core installation</p></li>\n<li><p>ASP.NET – as .NET is now supported on Server Core R2 ASP.NET can be enabled</p></li>\n<li><p>PowerShell</p></li>\n<li><p>AD CS – AD Certificate Services role can be installed on Server Core R2 system</p></li>\n</ul>\n'}]
['https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/1390', 'https://Stackoverflow.com', 'https://Stackoverflow.com/users/60/']