SQL Server is a popular relational database management system (RDBMS) used by businesses and organizations around the world. It offers a robust and secure platform for storing, managing, and analyzing large amounts of data. As with any software, it is important to keep track of the version of SQL Server being used to ensure compatibility with other systems and to take advantage of the latest features and improvements. In this article, we will discuss how to check the SQL Server version using T-SQL, step-by-step.
Step 1: Connect to the SQL Server Instance
To begin, you must first establish a connection to the SQL Server instance you want to check the version for. This can be done using SQL Server Management Studio or any other tool that allows you to run T-SQL queries. Once connected, you can proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Open a New Query Window
In SQL Server Management Studio, click on the "New Query" button to open a new query window. This is where we will be writing our T-SQL code to check the SQL Server version.
Step 3: Write the T-SQL Code
In the query window, type the following T-SQL code and then click on the "Execute" button to run the query:
SELECT @@VERSION
This code will return the version of SQL Server that is currently running on the instance. The result will look something like this:
Microsoft SQL Server 2017 (RTM) - 14.0.1000.169 (X64)
Aug 22 2018 17:04:49
Copyright (C) 2017 Microsoft Corporation
Express Edition (64-bit) on Windows 10 Pro 10.0 <X64> (Build 18363: ) (Hypervisor)
Step 4: Interpret the Result
The result returned by the query includes the following information:
- The name of the SQL Server product (Microsoft SQL Server)
- The year the product was released (2017)
- The service pack level (RTM)
- The version number (14.0.1000.169)
- The operating system it is running on (Windows 10 Pro)
The version number is the most important piece of information for determining the exact version of SQL Server. In this example, the version number is 14.0.1000.169, which corresponds to SQL Server 2017.
Step 5: Cross-Check with Microsoft Documentation
To ensure that the version number corresponds to the correct version of SQL Server, you can cross-check it with the official Microsoft documentation. Microsoft keeps a detailed list of all the SQL Server releases and their corresponding version numbers on their website.
Step 6: Use the SERVERPROPERTY Function
Another way to check the SQL Server version is by using the SERVERPROPERTY function. This function returns various properties of the SQL Server instance, including the version number. The following T-SQL code can be used to get the version number:
SELECT SERVERPROPERTY('ProductVersion')
The result will be the same version number that we obtained in step 3.
Step 7: Use the SQL Server Configuration Manager
If you have access to the SQL Server Configuration Manager, you can also check the version number from there. Open the Configuration Manager, navigate to the SQL Server Services, and then select the SQL Server instance you want to check. The version number will be displayed in the "Version" column.
In conclusion, checking the SQL Server version using T-SQL is a simple and straightforward process. It is essential to keep track of the version being used to ensure compatibility with other systems and to take advantage of the latest features and improvements. The steps outlined in this guide can be used for any version of SQL Server and will provide accurate results. We hope this article has been helpful in understanding how to check the SQL Server version using T-SQL.
