What's the bare minimum permission set for Sql Server 2005 services?

Question

Best practices recommend not installing Sql Server to run as SYSTEM. What is the bare minumum you need to give the user account you create for it?

Answer 1

By default, SQL Server 2005 installation will create a security group called SQLServer2005MSSQLUser$ComputerName$MSSQLSERVER with the correct rights. You just need to create a domain user or local user and make it a member of that group.

More details are available in the SQL Server Books Online: Reviewing Windows NT Rights and Privileges Granted for SQL Server Service Accounts

Answer 2

Typically I create a Domain User with only the specific rights on the network which I will require the server to have (i.e. to write to the network backup drive), I then add the account to local power users or local administrators depending on what needs to be done on the machine, however this isn't required. I've installed SQL a number of times using a standard user as a Service Account but you need to ensure that the user has access to write to the resources as listed at https://web.archive.org/web/20081223155956/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/283811 . Its probably not as defined an answer as you wanted but I'm only a developer (not a professional DBA / System Engineer).

Mauro PS dont downmark me for saying "only a developer" :P