AWS Quick Start for SQL Server 2017 on Amazon EC2

Introduction

This tutorial provides a step-by-step guide on deploying SQL Server 2017 on Amazon EC2 using AWS Quick Start. It is designed for users looking to set up a high-availability SQL Server environment on AWS, leveraging features like Always On Availability Groups and Windows Server Failover Clusters for disaster recovery and high availability.

Step 1: Setting Up Your AWS Environment

1. Create an AWS Account

   • If you don’t have an AWS account, go to the AWS website and create an account.

2. Launch the Quick Start Launch Wizard

   • Navigate to the AWS Quick Starts webpage.
   • Search for “SQL Server 2017 on EC2” and select the Quick Start option.

3. Choose Your Configuration

   • Select the desired configuration options for your deployment, including instance types, storage options, and networking settings.
   • Consider using multi-AZ deployments for high availability.

Step 2: Customize Your CloudFormation Stack

1. Understand CloudFormation

   • AWS CloudFormation allows you to define your AWS resources as code. This helps in automating the deployment.

2. Create a CloudFormation Template

   • Use the provided sample template for SQL Server 2017.
   • Modify parameters such as instance type, database name, and admin credentials to fit your requirements.

3. Nest Stacks for Modular Design

   • Implement stack nesting to create a more modular architecture. This allows you to customize individual components without affecting the entire deployment.

Step 3: Configure SQL Server for High Availability

1. Implement Always On Availability Groups

   • Enable Always On feature in SQL Server to configure high availability.
   • Follow these steps:
     • Open SQL Server Configuration Manager.
     • Under SQL Server Services, right-click on your SQL Server instance and select Properties.
     • Go to the Always On Availability Groups tab and enable the feature.

2. Set Up Windows Server Failover Clustering

   • Install the Failover Clustering feature on your instances.
   • Create a cluster using the Failover Cluster Manager, ensuring that all nodes are part of the same cluster.

Step 4: Leverage AWS Directory Service

1. Integrate with AWS Directory Service

   • Use AWS Directory Service for Microsoft Active Directory to manage your domain.
   • This integration simplifies user management and provides seamless authentication for SQL Server.

2. Configure Domain Settings

   • Ensure that your SQL Server instances are joined to the Active Directory domain.
   • This allows you to manage permissions and roles more effectively.

Step 5: Test and Validate Your Deployment

1. Perform Functional Testing

   • Test your SQL Server setup by creating databases and running queries to ensure everything functions as expected.

2. Test High Availability Features

   • Simulate a failure to confirm that your Always On Availability Groups and failover clustering are working correctly.
   • Monitor the failover process to ensure minimal downtime.

Conclusion

Deploying SQL Server 2017 on AWS using Quick Start simplifies the process of setting up a robust database environment. By following the outlined steps, you can leverage AWS's infrastructure to ensure high availability and disaster recovery for your SQL Server applications. As a next step, consider exploring other AWS services that can enhance your SQL Server deployment, such as monitoring and backup solutions.