Where are SQL Server 2016 Client Tools?

So, you just installed SQL Server 2016 and you’re pretty sure you chose the options to install the client tools and all the components you needed.  You look for SSMS and, what the heck?  it’s not there.  OMG, what have they done?!

SSMS is Gone!

Seriously, SQL Server Management Studio is nowhere to be found.  It’s not on any of the menus.  You search and can’t find it.  You even start looking for the executables in case setup got screwed-up ad didn’t create the application shortcuts.

..so is SSDT.  Gone… nowhere to be found!

SQL Server Data Tools is also missing.  Holy crap, what’s going on?  Is SSMS no longer supported?  Do I have to pay for a copy of Toad or start using SQLCMD?  Do we have to install a retail copy of Visual Studio on our server?  WHAT DO WE DO?

First of all, stop freaking out, take your blood pressure medicine and hold your horses.  SSMS and SSDT are still supported in SQL Server 2016 but they’re just not installed with the SQL Server media anymore.  If you go back to the Installation Center and look down a little on the Installation page, you’ll see two new links.

These take you to the web  – and, yes, you need to either get to the Internet from your server or download them from another PC to a network share or portable media.  The reason these tools are installed separately now is so Microsoft can update them more frequently and you don’t need to wait for the next product release to get the latest version.  In the new age of “evergreen products”, a lot of the Microsoft product teams are using the new download-on-demand approach as the primary means to distribute client, design and development tools that tend to be updated frequently.  If your organization has download restrictions then just host a copy of the sanctioned version on a network share or make it part of your installation package.  For most admins, database and BI solution architects with elevated privileges, you’ll typically want to use the latest version to get bug fixes and optimizations.

Following these links will take you to a page with a few simple choices that will be updated as new versions are released.

“SSDT” = (“SSDT-BI” = “BIDS” + “Data Tools”)

This isn’t confusing.  SQL Server Data Tools for SQL Server 2016 now encompasses both database project template for Visual Studio as well as all the Business Intelligence project templates.  In former iterations, these tools were previously known by about four different names.  Whether you need to develop database projects, SSRS, SSIS, SSAS, or all of the above; you will need SSDT.  If you have any edition of Visual Studio 2015 installed, the templates will be added to the IDE.  If you do not have Visual Studio 2015 installed, the VS 2015 IDE shell will be installed for you – just like BIDS was in the past.

The promise is that when future versions of Visual Studio are released, you’ll just download an updated SSDT package and everything will be peachy.  You’ll also be able to use older versions of companion tools for a longer period of time.  In theory, this should mean that we won’t have to play the “what version of what goes with what” game any longer.  If you’ve been around Microsoft products for a while, you’ll remember when SQL Server 2012 went with Visual Studio 2010 which went with Office 2013 – or something like that.