TestRail’s installer will automatically create all required database tables and initial data in the next step, but you first need to create an empty database and database user. You can use a SQL Server database when you install TestRail on Windows.
You can either install the free Microsoft SQL Server 2017 Express edition or use a full SQL Server installation. If you download the Express edition, make sure to download and install the version with Advanced Services, as it is very likely that TestRail will make use of the database’s full-text search feature in the future. Also make sure to use Mixed Mode Authentication, as this is required by TestRail. After installing the database and management tool (Management Studio), continue with creating an empty database and user.
To create the empty TestRail database, start the SQL Server Management Studio, then right click Databases in the left tree and select New Database.
Next, create a new TestRail login by expanding Security in the left tree, right-clicking Logins and selecting New Login. You need to specify SQL Server authentication as the authentication method, specify a password, and deselect all three password checkboxes below.
SQL Server distinguishes between server logins and database users, so in order to access the TestRail database with the newly created login, you’ll also need to add a user to the database. To do this, expand the TestRail database in the left tree, expand Security, right-click Users, and select New User. Specify the user name and login name and make sure to assign the db_owner role to the user.
