Windows Server 2016 support?

[SivajiGanesh]

We got a new Windows 2016 Server and would like to install the console on that server. I downloaded the latest version of Malwarebytes for business today and tried installing the console from file mbmc-setup-1.8.1.3476.exe on Windows Server 2016 and got into error while it tried to install SQL server 2008 express.

Before I go crazy with troubleshooting, I just want to make sure Malwarebytes console can run on Windows Server 2016 standard edition. Can someone please confirm?

Thanks
Ganesh.

 

[djacobson]

Hi @SivajiGanesh, MBMC itself will run on Server 2016, however, the included embedded SQL 2008 R2 Express is not supported on Server 2016 - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2681562/using-sql-server-in-windows-8-and-later-versions-of-windows-operating

Quote

SQL Server 2008 [...] Server 2008 R2 is not supported on Windows 10 or Windows Server 2016.

You will need to stand up your own instance of a newer SQL, whether full or Express, and connect to it as an external SQL server during the install. Server 2016 may also have SSL 3 disabled natively, MBMC can support TLS 1.1 and 1.2, but it does not do so out of the box. Make sure that SSL 3 is on temporarily to allow the administrative connection to the SQL. Once installed, MBMC can then be configured to use TLS 1.1/1.2 and SSL 3 can again be disabled. See the attached PDF for how to setup MBMC to use TLS once the installation is completed - MBMC_TLS_Support.pdf

How to connect to an Express SQL as an external database in MBMC

Download a new SQL Express installer:

• SQL Server 2014 Express:https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/confirmation.aspx?id=42299
• SQL Server 2016 Express:https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/confirmation.aspx?id=52679

Then follow these instructions for setup of the database and how to connect to it during install:

1. Choose to create a New Installation.
2. Choose "New Installation or Add Features" then click Next.
3. Accept the license, then click Next, then Next again.
4. Name the instance (I suggest naming it "Malwarebytes") then click Next.
5. Click "Use Same Account for all SQL Server services."
   • On the popup, enter your Windows credentials.
6. Choose Mixed Mode authentication.  Create a password for the SA account, then click Next.
7. Click Next two more times and finish the SQL installation.
8. Now proceed with the Malwarebytes Management Server installation.
9. On the SQL step choose 'Use External Database."
   • Enter the Database Address, if named Malwarebytes from step 4, it will be ".\Malwarebytes" without the quotes.
   • Enter the username as SA, and then the password you created for it.
10. Proceed with the installation as normal.

Let me know if this works for you.

 

[djacobson]

@SivajiGanesh were you able to get past the SQL issue?