How to install SQL Server Management Studio 2008 component only

If you have the SQL Server 2008 Installation media, you can install just the Client/Workstation Components. You don't have to install the database engine to install the workstation tools, but if you plan to do Integration Services development, you do need to install the Integration Services Engine on the workstation for BIDS to be able to be used for development. Keep in mind that Visual Studio 2010 does not have BI development support currently, so you have to install BIDS from the SQL Installation media and use the Visual Studio 2008 BI Development Studio that installs under the SQL Server 2008 folder in Program Files if you need to do any SSIS, SSRS, or SSAS development from the workstation.

As mentioned in the comments you can download Management Studio Express free from Microsoft, but if you already have the installation media for SQL Server Standard/Enterprise/Developer edition, you'd be better off using what you have.

Download SSMS 2008 Express

I found some articles to be of major use:

This link is an experience someone else had: http://goneale.com/2009/05/24/cant-install-microsoft-sql-server-2008-management-studio-express/

This link has the exact steps involved to install everything properly: http://www.codefrenzy.net/2011/06/03/how-to-install-sql-server-2008-management-studio/

This link confirms the previous link: https://superuser.com/questions/88244/installing-sql-server-management-studio-when-vs2010-beta-2-is-already-installed

My Instructions

I am not sure if my instructions will be 100% accurate, but in my instance, because I installed VS2010 on a fresh copy of Windows 7, the VS2010 installer installs SQL Server 2008 Express for you, so from this point I just need the Management Studio.

What I gathered from these explanations is to do the following:

1. Download the SQL Server Management Studio install from http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=22973

2. Run the setup, when you get to the point where it asks you to "Perform a new installation of SQL Server 2008" or "Add features to an existing instance of SQL Server 2008", this part is the CONFUSING PART (HEY MICROSOFT TAKE NOTES, DON'T DO THIS KIND OF STUFF).

   As much as you want to select "Add features to an existing instance of SQL Server 2008" DON'T!!!!

   You need to select "Perform a new installation of SQL Server 2008". It doesn't sound right I know - it is very confusing and counter intuitive, but this seems to be the way to install management studio. :(

3. Press next until you see the features selection portion. Heeeeeyyyy look at that, it has a check box for Management Studio. It should be selected already, if not then select it of course and press next.

4. Press Next next next next next next... basically just install it at this point.

5. Enjoy, it has installed.

I am just updating this with Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio 2008 R2 version. if you run the installer normally, you can just add Management Tools – Basic, and by clicking Basic it should select Management Tools – Complete.

That is what worked for me.

The accepted answer was correct up until July 2011. To get the latest version, including the Service Pack you should find the latest version as described here:

• http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2527041

For example, if you check the SP2 CTP and SP1, you'll find the latest version of SQL Server Management Studio under SP1:

• http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=26727

Download the 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) version of the SQLManagementStudio*.exe files as appropriate and install it. You can find out whether your system is 32-bit or 64-bit by right clicking Computer, selecting Properties and looking at the System Type.

Although you could apply the service pack to the base version that results from following the accepted answer, it's easier to just download the latest version of SQL Server Management Studio and simply install it in one step.

For any of you still having problems as of Sept. 2012, go here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2527041 ...and grab the SQLManagementStudio_x(32|64)_ENU.exe (if you've already installed SQL Server 2008 Express R2), or SQL Server 2008 Express R2 with Tools, i.e. SQLEXPRWT_x64_ENU.exe or SQLEXPRWT_x32_ENU.exe (if you haven't).

From there, follow similar instructions as above (i.e. use the "Perform new installation and add shared features" selection, as "Management Tools - Basic" is considered a "shared feature"), if you've already installed SQL Server Express 2008 R2 (as I had). And if you haven't done that yet, then of course you're going to follow this way as you need to install the new instance anyway.

This solved things for me, and hopefully it will for you, too!

SQL Server Management Studio 2008 R2 Express commandline:

The answer by dyslexicanaboko hits the crucial point, but this one is even simpler and suited for command line (unattended scenarios):

(tried out with SQL Server 2008 R2 Express, one instance installed and having downloaded SQLManagementStudio_x64_ENU.exe)

As pointed out in this thread often enough, it is better to use the original SQL server setup (e.g. SQL Express with Tools), if possible, but there are some scenarios, where you want to add SSMS at a SQL derivative without that tools, afterwards:

I´ve already put it in a batch syntax here:

@echo off
"%~dp0SQLManagementStudio_x64_ENU.exe" /Q /ACTION="Install" /FEATURES="SSMS" /IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS

Remarks:

1. For 2008 without R2 it should be enough to omit the /IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS flag, i guess.

2. The /INDICATEPROGRESS parameter is useless here, the whole command takes a number of minutes and is 100% silent without any acknowledgement. Just look at the start menu, if the command is ready, if it has succeeded.

3. This should work for the "ADV_SSMS" Feature (instead of "SSMS") too, which is the management studio extended variant (profiling, reporting, tuning, etc.)