To perform an unattended installation, you need an ISS file containing the options for SQL Server installation. There are two existing ones you can use, sql70ins.iss is for a typical installation, and sql70cli.iss just installs the SQL Server Management Tools.
If you want to customize the installation for your needs, however, you can:
- Take a copy of sql70ins.iss and modify it using a text editor
- Do a full installation, starting Setupdql.exe from the command prompt - this creates a setup.iss file in the Mssql7\Install folder, with the questions you gave for each installation option.
- Run a deferred installation to create the .iss file. Run Setupsql.exe with the k=Rc switch. This will put the created .iss file into your Windows directory.
Once you have your .iss file, you can run the Unattended Install:
start /wait D:\x86\setup\setupsql.exe -f1C:\Windows\setup.iss -SMS -s
The start /wait command, with the -SMS parameter, stops control returning to the command prompt until the installation is finished.
The -f1 parameter is the full path to the .iss file.
The -s parameter causes the program to run 'silently', that is, with no user interface.
Microsoft SMS (Systems Management Server), which is a BackOffice component, can also be used for unattended installations. It is useful when you want to install on lots of NT machines. You just need your .iss file, and to copy the contents of the installation disk to a shared folder. Then, you create a package, locate the necessary computers and run the install.