Microsoft SQL Server Requirements

Note: This content is no longer updated. For the latest content, please go to the user guide for M-Files Online. For information on the supported product versions, refer to our lifecycle policy.

You can use Microsoft SQL Server 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, or later with its latest service pack as the vault database engine. All the Microsoft SQL Server editions are supported. These include Microsoft SQL Server Express, Standard, and Enterprise.

M-Files supports the use of Microsoft SQL Server on Microsoft Windows. With a self-hosted cloud-based SQL database, you can also use Microsoft Azure SQL Database Managed Instance as the vault database engine.

Loading the Microsoft SQL Server assembly

M-Files uses an SQL server assembly that must be used in the SQL server instance for M-Files to operate. Usually, M-Files loads this assembly to the SQL server instance automatically. However, it can be necessary to manually allow the use of the assembly, if, for example, M-Files does not have sufficient permissions in the SQL server instance. For instructions, refer to the support article M-Files and SQL Server 2017 compatibility). If the SQL server assembly is updated, you must repeat the process.

Enabling Microsoft SQL Server features

Enable the features given here to use Microsoft SQL Server as the M-Files database engine.

Instance features:

  • Database Engine Services
  • Reporting Services, Native Mode (if reporting is used)

Shared features:

  • Management Tools, Basic
  • Management Tools, Complete (if reporting is used)