MS SQL AlwaysOn Availability Groups with Managed Service Accounts

This is a practical guide for configuration Microsoft SQL Server with AlwaysOn Availability Groups using Managed Service Accounts.

This is not a guide for installing Microsoft SQL Server as there are plenty of existing resources to do so. This guide assumes that you have a pair of fresh SQL Servers or that you have the knowledge to create and install a best practices SQL Server.

Requirements

  • Two or more ready SQL Servers.
  • Domain Administrator, or delegated privileges to create Computer Accounts, Managed Service Accounts, and Security Enabled Groups.
  • Domain Administrator, or delegated privileges to set Service Principal Names.
  • Local administrative privileges on the SQL Server operating system.
  • SA privileges on the SQL Server instances.

Summary Steps

  • Pre-Create Active Directory Resources.
    • Computer Account Objects
    • Managed Service Account Object
    • Service Principal Names
  • Configure the SQL Server operating system.
    • Local Firewall
    • Local Security Policy
    • Network Adapters
  • Create the Windows Server Failover Cluster instance.
  • Configure a File Share as a cluster witness.
  • Enable AlwaysOn functionality for MS SQL.
  • Configure the Managed Service Account for MS SQL.
  • Create the Availability Group.

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