SQL Server 2012 BCP command line utility installation
Recently, I needed to install the BCP utility on our job automation servers. These servers do not need the full suite of SQL Server Workstation Tools, just the BCP.exe command line utility. I found the following process worked quite well at only installing what was needed (thus saving around 1 GB of disk space by not installing the Workstation Tools).
The following components need to be installed on a standalone server in order to get the BCP utility functioning.
- Windows Installer 4.5
- Be sure to download the appropriate version for your OS
- SQL Server 2012 Native Client (SQL Server 2008 R2 Native Client)
- The Native Client is about half way down the page
- Be sure to download the appropriate version for your OS
- SQL Server 2012 Command Line Utilities (SQL Server 2008 R2 Command Line Utilities)
- A little further down the same page as the Native Client
- Be sure to download the appropriate version for your OS
Since the servers I was dealing with were Windows Server 2003, I needed to install the Windows Installer 4.5. Newer versions of Windows Server (i.e. Windows Server 2008 R2) already have the newer Windows Installer. If installation of the Windows Installer is needed, a reboot will be required.
Installing the Native Client and Command line utilities are as simple as just running the installers. A reboot is not required for either the Native Client or Command Line Utilities.
These instructions are specifically for the SQL Server 2012 (and 2008 R2) BCP utility, but should be able to be adapted for other versions of SQL Server
That's it! Once the aforementioned components are installed, the command line BCP utility should work beautifully.
That's it! Once the aforementioned components are installed, the command line BCP utility should work beautifully.