"Login failed for user 'sa'" → Ensure Mixed Mode authentication is enabled during installation. You can change it later via SSMS → Server Properties → Security.
Navigating Microsoft’s download portals can be labyrinthine. Here is the most efficient path:
Use this option if you want to download the full ISO or CAB setup files to install on a different machine or a VM without an active internet connection. Essential Post-Installation Tools
While the Developer edition is free, it is important to adhere to the licensing agreement. You cannot use this version to host "live" data for a business, a website, or any production-related task. If your project goes live, you must transition to a licensed version like SQL Server Standard or Enterprise, or migrate to the limited but production-legal Express edition.
| Feature | SQL Server Developer | PostgreSQL | MySQL Community | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Free (Prod restricted) | Free (Open Source) | Free (Open Source) | | Feature Set | Enterprise Grade (Unlimited) | Very High | Good (Some limits on clustering) | | Install Footprint | Heavy (2GB - 10GB+) | Light (<1GB) | Light (<1GB) | | Tooling | SSMS / ADS (Separate downloads) | pgAdmin (Built-in) | Workbench (Separate) | | OS Support | Windows, Linux, Docker | Windows, Linux, Mac, Docker | Windows, Linux, Mac, Docker |