This question seems to be coming up more often these days: Is PowerShell a requirement for the installation of SQL Server 2008 Express Edition?

Well, it depends on the Edition of SQL Server 2008 Express you are wanting to install.

  • SQL Server 2008 Express – No. Has no GUI or PowerShell, only the SQL Server Engine and SQLCMD (replacement for OSQL and ISQL tools). Download.
  • SQL Server 2008 Express with Tools - Yes – In the edition “with Tools”, a management GUI (similar to SQL Server Management Studio) and PowerShell scripting are included. Download.
  • SQL Server 2008 Express with Advanced Options – Yes – In the edition “advanced option”,  a management GUI (similar to SQL Server Management Studio) and PowerShell scripting are included, as are Reporting Services and Full Text Search. Download.
  • SQL Server 2008 Workgroup Edition, SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition, SQL Server 2008 Enterprise Edition, SQL Server 2008 Developer Edition, SQL Server 2008 Evaluation Edition – Yes.

Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5 SP1 und Windows Installer 4.5 are a requirement for all editions. To download PowerShell, visit this the PowerShell 1.0 download page.