Performing an installation of SQL Server 2000 on a remote system is a lot like performing a local installation of SQL Server. SQL Server Setup accomplishes a Remote Installation by creating a setup.iss file from the information you provide, copying the setup file and other files to the \admin$, directory and then starting a service on the remote server to begin an Unattended Installation on the remote system.
Due to the fact a Remote Installation is just an Unattended Installation that is started on a remote system for you, Unattended Installations have the same restrictions Remote Installations have. This means you can’t use a Remote Installation to setup Failover Clustering, Remove SQL Server, or Change the Optional Components that are already installed.
To begin a Remote Installation of SQL Server 2000, run the SQL Server Setup as you normally would. When you are prompted to select the computer you would like to install SQL Server on, select “Remote Computer” and then enter the name of the system you would like SQL Server (or the client tools) to be installed on. You can also click the Browse button to see a list of available systems.
After you have selected the system you would like to install SQL Server on click Next.
Select “Create a new instance of SQL Server, or install Client Tools” and click Next
The next Setup screen is unique to the Remote Installation. This screen prompts for the account and path information that will be used to install the SQL Server. The account you choose should have Administrative privileges on the remote system. An important thing to note is the account you enter on this screen is only used during the installation and has nothing to do with the Services or Logon accounts of SQL Server.
The Target Path you enter should be given in the Universal Naming Convention form. In this example I am installing the files on the “C” drive of SQL2. The Setup Source Files textbox specifies the location of the SQL Setup files. In this example the files are located on the server named CDSRV and are located in the SQL_ENT share.
Enter the appropriate information and click Next.
From this point on the Remote Installation will prompt you for the Installation Type, Service Accounts, Authentication mode, Collation, etc. (Just like a basic installation) Once Setup has all the information it needs, it will then begin an Unattended Installation on the remote system automatically.