SQL SERVER – Download and Install SQL Server Sample Databases (Updated Post for 2019)

My primary task is to do consultation for SQL Server Performance Tuning. I help people to tune their SQL Server. If you have any Performance Tuning problem, I would have seen it in the past and most probably I know the solution as well. While doing the Comprehensive Database Performance Health Check, I often show the demonstration of various concept on my personal system. I always use Microsoft provided sample databases for my demonstrations. People often ask where can they get the database and how they can install it. Here is the quick tutorial for the same.

There are two primary sample databases available. Let us see where we can download them and how we can install them.

Sample Database – AdventureWorks

The current guide, linked at the top and the bottom of this page, has the download that works today. The file this post used was AdventureWorks2017.bak

Run following T-SQL code to restore AdventureWorks database into your server.

RESTORE DATABASE [AdventureWorks2017] 
FROM 
DISK = N'C:\WideWorldImporters-Full\AdventureWorks2017.bak' 
WITH FILE = 1, 
MOVE N'AdventureWorks2017' 
	TO N'C:\WideWorldImporters-Full\AdventureWorks.mdf', 
MOVE N'AdventureWorks2017_log' 
	TO N'C:\WideWorldImporters-Full\AdventureWorks_log.ldf', 
NOUNLOAD, STATS = 5
GO

Here is the quick video to install sample database AdventureWorks.

Sample Database – WideWorldImporters

The current guide, linked at the top and the bottom of this page, has the download that works today. The file this post used was WideWorldImporters-Full.bak

Run following T-SQL code to restore WideWorldImporters database into your server.

RESTORE DATABASE [WideWorldImporters] 
FROM 
DISK = N'C:\WideWorldImporters-Full\WideWorldImporters-Full.bak' 
WITH
MOVE N'WWI_Primary' 
	TO N'C:\WideWorldImporters-Full\WideWorldImporters.mdf',  
MOVE N'WWI_UserData' 
	TO N'C:\WideWorldImporters-Full\WideWorldImporters_UserData.ndf',  
MOVE N'WWI_Log' 
	TO N'C:\WideWorldImporters-Full\WideWorldImporters.ldf',  
MOVE N'WWI_InMemory_Data_1'
	TO N'C:\WideWorldImporters-Full\WideWorldImporters_InMemory_Data_1'
GO

Here is the quick video to install sample database WideWorldImporters.

Well, that’s it. I have everything here which can help you get going with SQL Server Sample databases.

Docker

Recently I see lots of interest in the subject of the docker. I have written few blog posts which are discussing how we can get started with the docker and also create a persistent volume on the SQL Server.

• SQL SERVER – How to Get Started with Docker Containers with Latest SQL Server?
• SQL SERVER – Docker Volume and Persistent Storage

I personally find docker very helpful when you are working with multiple versions of SQL Server as well as it is very easy to install and maintain. If you are using docker, you can also install sample dbs in your system and I have also explained them in the blog posts listed above.

Published by Pinal Dave on SQLAuthority. More of my work at pinaldave.com.