Install or Upgrade > Create the repository database > Create a SQL Server repository database

Create a SQL Server repository database

After you install DPA, you must create the repository database, which holds the performance data that DPA collects. Use this procedure to create a SQL Server repository database.

To create a different type of repository database, see Create an Oracle repository database, Create a MySQL repository database, or Create an Azure SQL repository database.

Before you start

Before you run the Repository wizard:

	Make sure the repository database server meets the system requirements.
	Install a supported version of SQL Server on the database server.
	If you run the wizard from a different computer (not the server where DPA was installed), make sure the required firewall port is open. By default, port 8123 must be open.
	The DPA server connects to the repository through a TCP/IP connection. Make sure that connection is not blocked by a firewall.
	Make sure you have credentials to a login with SYSADMIN privileges for the SQL Server database instance.

Run the wizard

To open DPA, click the button on the installation confirmation dialog, or enter one of the following URLs in a web browser:
- http:<serverName_or_IP>:8123
- https:<serverName_or_IP>:8124
The Repository wizard opens automatically if the repository database has not been created.
Click Create New Repository.
Complete the remaining wizard panels as described in the following table.

Panel	Instructions
Select Repository Database Instance Type	Select Microsoft SQL Server as the database type.
Enter Repository Connection Information	Enter connection information for the SQL Server instance: If the SQL Server browser service is running, enter the server name or IP address and the instance name in this format: `Server\Instance`. Otherwise, enter the server name or IP address and the port number. Select the type of authentication you want to use. If Mixed Mode was selected during the SQL Server installation, you can choose either option. Enter a SYSADMIN login that DPA can use to create the repository. DPA does not use or store these credentials after you complete the Repository Wizard. For Windows authentication, enter `<DOMAIN>\<username>` in the SYSADMIN User field. For SQL Server authentication, enter the credentials that you enter on the Connect to Server dialog in SQL Server Management Studio (with Database Engine as the Server type).
Enter Repository Login	DPA can create the repository administrator account, or you can specify an existing account. To ensure that the account has the required permissions, SolarWinds recommends creating a new account. To create a new account: Click Yes. Select SQL Server as the authentication method. (DPA cannot create a new Windows account.) Enter a user name and password for the new account. To specify an existing account: Click No. Select either authentication method. Enter the user name and password of an existing account. For Windows authentication, enter `<DOMAIN>\<username>` in the Repository Login field. You can also authenticate using a Windows Computer Account. For SQL Server authentication, only the user name is required. Do not specify a domain.
Specify Database for the Repository	Create a new database, or select an existing, empty database if one is available: To create a new database, enter the database name. The name is automatically prefixed by `dpa_` for identification. The Existing empty database option is shown only if the repository contains an empty database. If your database administrator created a database for DPA, select it from the list.
Contact Information	Enter your name and email. DPA sends database performance reports to this address.
Summary	Review the information and click Create Repository.
Finished Repository Creation	After the repository has been created, click Register Database Instance to start registering instances, or close the wizard and register instances later.