vs_SSMS installation - Destination URLs

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vs_SSMS installation - Destination URLs

Alaa Al Halabi 0

Dear all,

I'm installing vs_SSMS (SQL Server Management Studio) on a client's server. I requested them to open internet connection to be able to install SSMS as i know that the installation once it runs, will download the required files. The client's IT team requested to send them the Destination URLs that the installation connects to for downloading the files. Can you please provide me with the list of the destination URLs so they can open connection to them and we're able to proceed with the installation.

Regards,

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Answer 1

Erland Sommarskog 133.9K MVP Volunteer Moderator

I seem to recall that an MVP colleague worked with the steps to implement an offline install. As I recall, he was able to complete the task, but it was a lot of work, and certainly not a walk in the park.

Unfortunately, no one where is able to give you a list of URLs. To get that you would have to do something like installing SSMS on your private laptop and the same time registering all URLs it connects to. (No, I don't know how do to that.)

A possible way out may be to go for SSMS 20, which is one big install file, which runs offline. Or at least I assume so, but I have not tested.

Akhil Gajavelly 1,820 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-01-19T09:32:36.33+00:00

Hi @Alaa Al Halabi ,

Thanks for all the inputs.

As explained by @Erland Sommarskog there is no reliable way to provide a full list of destination URLs for SSMS installation, since the installer uses dynamic and changing endpoints. Because of this, URL whitelisting is not a practical approach.

Mark @Erland Sommarskog answer as the accepted solution, as it correctly clarifies this limitation and sets the right expectation for restricted environments.

Thanks,
Akhil.
Erland Sommarskog 133.9K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-01-19T21:51:41.4166667+00:00

As explained by @Erland Sommarskog

And Marcin Policht. Or rather by Marcin Policht, I only echoed what he said.

Answer 2

Marcin Policht 88,075 MVP Volunteer Moderator

You don't need a direct internet connection to install SSMS - you can use the offline process by following https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ssms/install/create-offline

If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

hth

Marcin

Alaa Al Halabi 0 Reputation points

2026-01-13T12:59:16.4433333+00:00

Thank you Marcin, i tried the above, but it didn't work actually, can you please share the list of all destination URLs so the IT team can open the connection to them
Marcin Policht 88,075 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-01-13T13:13:04.9766667+00:00

You can download the SSMS installer manually from https://aka.ms/ssmsfullsetup. That's the simplest approach.

Otherwise, SQL Server Management Studio installation may reach several Microsoft content delivery locations. AFAIK, Microsoft does not publish an exact, but the installer must reach Microsoft Download Center and CDN endpoints. These include: download.microsoft.com go.microsoft.com aka.ms redirects which resolve to Microsoft download endpoints dl.delivery.mp.microsoft.com (Windows Delivery Optimization) msdl.microsoft.com azureedge.net CDN endpoints hosting SSMS payloads azurefd.net front-door network used by Microsoft download delivery

Package validation and certificate checks also require internet to Microsoft trust and update infrastructure. These include connectivity to: *.microsoft.com *.windowsupdate.com *.microsoftonline.com *.verisign.com and other certificate authority OCSP/CRL responders (varies by environment)

SSMS may also check for Visual Studio and SQL feature components, which use: vs.microsoft.com visualstudio.microsoft.com aka.ms/vs/ links resolving to CDN

If the environment blocks wildcard domains, allow outbound HTTPS to the above domains. Using a transparent proxy that permits Microsoft CDN traffic is often simpler than trying to enumerate every individual URL because redirects and mirrors change over time.

If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

hth

Marcin
Newman, Scott 0 Reputation points

2026-04-29T14:49:37.47+00:00

This is fine, but it will violate a lot of policies for secure data centers with no internet access. You can't build something outside and then bring it in.

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