Download SQL Server 2012 Express with Service Pack 1 (SP1) Customer Technology Preview (CTP)

SQL Server 2012 Express with Service Pack 1 (SP1) Customer Technology Preview (CTP) is now available for download. SQL Server 2012 Express with SP1 CTP is a free, feature-rich edition of SQL Server that is ideal for learning, developing, powering desktop, web & small server applications, and for redistribution by ISVs.

What’s new to SQL Server 2012 Express edition:
Full version of Management Studio: Customers who use the SQL Server Express With Tools, SQL Server Express with Advanced Services and SQL Server Management Studio Express will now have SQL Server Management Studio complete. SQL Server 2012 SP1 Express Editions will now ship the SSMS feature with functionalities that existed with the SSMS from Full Editions of SQL Server.

SQL Server 2012 SP1 CTP Express editions: Express Core (SQLEXPR)
Express core edition includes the SQL Server database engine only. Best suited to accept remote connections or administer remotely.

Express with Tools (SQLEXPRWT)
The SQL Server Express with tools edition contains everything needed to install and configure SQL Server as a database server. Customer can choose either LocalDB or Express depending on your needs above.

SQL Server Management Studio Express (SQLManagementStudio)
This package includes the tools to manage SQL Server instances and LocalDB. Best suited for customer who already have the database (SQL Express, SQL Azure, etc.) and only need the management tools.

Express with Advanced Services (SQLEXPRADV)
This package contains the database engine, Express Tools, Reporting Services, and Full Text Search.

SQL Server 2012 Express with SP1 CTP packages is available for download at: Microsoft Download Center web site.

Please note: This Customer Technical Preview (CTP) release is not supported by Microsoft Customer Support Services. Please submit feedback using the Microsoft SQL Server Connect Feedback Center. In addition, some of the fixes documented in this CTP release may not be included in the final release. There may also be fixes included in this CTP release that are not documented in the master KB article.

Note: These packages are available for testing purposes only in a non-production environment.

To learn more about the features supported by the SQL server, please visit the MSDN SQL Server 2012 supported features site.