Installing SMO

Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics SQL database in Microsoft Fabric

This page provides information on how to install SMO for use by applications and the system requirements to use SMO.

SMO NuGet Package

Beginning with SQL Server 2017 SMO is distributed as the Microsoft.SqlServer.SqlManagementObjects NuGet package to allow users to develop applications with SMO.

This is a replacement for SharedManagementObjects.msi, which was previously released as part of the SQL Feature Pack for each release of SQL Server. Applications that use SMO should be updated to use the NuGet package instead and will be responsible for ensuring the binaries are installed with the application being developed.

Important

As mentioned on the Files and Version Numbers page, you should not install the SMO assemblies into the GAC. Doing so could cause issues with other applications which also use those versions of SMO (such as SQL Server Management Studio).

Installing the Package

See NuGet Quick Start - Use a Package for instructions and examples of installing and using a NuGet package.

System Requirements

SMO requires .NET Framework 4.0 or .NET Core 2.0 to run, so any applications using it must ensure that client machines have that version or higher installed. Some native binaries installed with the NetFx SMO libraries also require the VC 2013 runtime to be installed; that runtime is not included in the package. You can download the redist appropriate to your target architecture from https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?id=40784

Programming Guide

The SMO Programming Guide includes additional links to get started with SQL Server Management Objects.