55246-A: SQL 2016 AlwaysOn High Availability

Overview Schedule Dates Course Content Faqs

Course Overview

This course provides in-depth training on SQL Server 2016 AlwaysOn, Microsoft’s high availability and disaster recovery solution. Designed for database administrators, IT professionals, and SQL Server specialists, this course covers the essentials of planning, deploying, and managing SQL Server AlwaysOn configurations.

Participants will gain hands-on experience with AlwaysOn Availability Groups and Failover Cluster Instances, learning to configure, monitor, and troubleshoot these features to ensure seamless data availability and resilience. The course also delves into advanced topics such as backup strategies, automatic failover, and multisite deployments, enabling attendees to effectively protect their SQL Server environments against downtime and data loss.

By the end of the course, participants will have the skills and knowledge needed to implement and manage robust availability solutions using SQL Server 2016, ensuring continuous access to critical data and applications.

Learning Options

Online Instructor Led

Learn from the comforts of your home/office with our expert trainers via online platforms.

Classroom Training

Face-to-face physical classroom training with max interactions at our 5* training venues.

Onsite Training

Learn in your own environment from our expert trainers for maximum impact.

Overseas Training

Choose your desired country for learning with our expert trainers.

Target Audiance

Database Administrators
System Administrators
IT Professionals responsible for managing and maintaining SQL Server databases
Infrastructure Architects
Data Architects
Technical Support Specialists
IT Consultants
Professionals preparing for Microsoft certification exams related to SQL Server
Professionals interested in learning about SQL Server 2016's high availability features

Schedule Dates

55246-A: SQL 2016 AlwaysOn High Availability

14 October 2024 - 16 October 2024

55246-A: SQL 2016 AlwaysOn High Availability

14 January 2025 - 16 January 2025

55246-A: SQL 2016 AlwaysOn High Availability

14 April 2025 - 16 April 2025

55246-A: SQL 2016 AlwaysOn High Availability

14 July 2025 - 16 July 2025

Course Content

This module explains the course and objectives.
Introduction

Concepts and Terminology
Table of Availability
High Availability
Causes of Downtime
Planned downtime
Unplanned downtime
Disaster Recovery
Recovery Time Objective (RTO)
Recovery Point Objective (RPO)
Recovery Level Objective (RLO)
Storage Area Networks (SAN)
Edition Changes from SQL 2012
SQL Server 2014 Changes
SQL Server 2016 Changes
Legacy Solutions prior to Always On
Failover Cluster Instances
Log Shipping
A Typical Log Shipping Configuration
Monitor Server
Replication
Database Mirroring
Database Mirroring Terminology
Principle
Mirror
Witness (red box in image above)
Database Snapshots
Limitations of legacy solutions:
What do we mean by Always On?
Table of Always On Comparison
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Terminology
SQL 2014 Changes
SQL2016 Changes
Understand the role of the SANS

Understanding Failover Clustering in Server 2016
Statefull High Availability Solution
Supported in both Standard and Datacenter
Servers should run similar hardware
Should run same edition
Hyper-V best with datacenter
Certified for Windows server logo
Shared Storage
Quorums
Node Majority
Node and Disk Majority configuration
Node and File Share Majority
No Majority
Configuration
Cluster Networks Best Practices
Connection to nodes to shared storage
Private network for internal cluster
Public network for client connections
Cluster Aware Updating
Virtual Machine Failover Clustering
Preferred Owners
Failover Failback
Resources
Dependences
Heartbeat
Lab : Set up iSCSI Server
Lab : Install the iSCSI VMS
Lab : Add Servers to Server Manager for Ease of Management
Lab : Add the Windows Cluster Feature to SQL1, SQL2 And SQL3
Lab : Create the iSCSI Initators to add the shared storage
Lab : Create the Windows Cluster
Lab : Add a Clustered Service
Lab : Test The Failover Of The Windows Service
Lab : Delete Role
Lab : Examine the Quorum Settings
After completing this module, students will be able to:
ISCSI Setup
Work with Roles
Understand Quorums
Understand Windows Failover
Understand Cluster Service
Understand Preferred Owners
Understand Node Majority

Failover Cluster Instance
As A FCI Appears to A Client
Lab : Create A Configuration File By Running The Advanced Cluster Preparation Wizard
Lab : Complete The SQL Cluster Installation On SQL1
Lab : Install The Cluster On SQL2 And SQL3
Lab : Test the SQL Cluster
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Cluster Testing
Understand Configuration Files
Install Clusters

Availability Groups and Replicas
Primary Replica
Secondary Replicas
Availability Group Listener
Availability Mode
Synchronous Commit Mode
Asynchronous Commit Mode
Failover Modes
Automatic Failover Without Data Loss
Automatic Failover Requirements:
Manual
Manual Failover Requirements
Common Topologies
Lab : Create a SQL Instance For The Availability Group
Lab : Enable the SQL Server AlwaysOn Availability Group Feature
Lab : Set Up For Availability Groups
Lab : The Availability Group Wizard
Lab : SSMS and Availability Groups
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Enable AlwaysOn
Understand and work with availability Groups

The Dashboard
How to view logs
Using replication with Logins
Using partially contained databases
Lab : The Dashboard
Lab : Replicating Logins and Jobs
Lab : Contained or Partially Contained Databases
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Understand the Dashboard
Perform Logon and Job replication

Reporting with Secondary Replicas
Configuring a Readable secondary
Read-Only Routing
Load Balancing
Lab: Configure a Read-Only Secondary
Database Backups with Secondary
Steps of Backup Using secondary
Backup Preference Options
Lab : Database Backup Using Secondary Replica
Lab : Configure a Read-Only secondary
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Perform backups with Secondary Replicas
Configure a Read-Only Replica

DBCC Checks
Database Adding and Removing
Lab : Add a Database
Lab : Remove a Database
Lab : Add a Replica
Lab : Remove a Replica
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Add and Remove Databases
Add and Remove Replicas

The Dashboard in Depth
Events
Policy Based Managemnt for Availability Groups
Lab : Dashboard Wizards
Lab : Create an Extended Event Session
Lab : Using T-SQL
Lab : Policy based management for Availability Groups
Lab : Observe a Policy In Action
Lab : Create Three Conditions To Be Used In The RTO And RPO Policies
Lab : Create Two Policies RTO and RPO

Lab : Test The Policies Lab : Change Endpoint Owner

Migrating Settings by using Windows Easy Transfer

Configuring a Reference Image of Windows 7

Configuring a Reference Image

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Change Owners

Work with Policies

Work with Extended Events

FAQs

Participants should have a fundamental understanding of SQL Server 2012 or 2014, including basic database administration concepts. Familiarity with Windows Server and networking is also recommended.

Participants will engage in practical exercises, such as:

Setting up and configuring AlwaysOn Availability Groups

Simulating failover scenarios

Monitoring and troubleshooting high-availability setups

Implementing backup and restore procedures for AlwaysOn configurations

The course typically spans 3 days, combining both lectures and hands-on labs.

This course focuses specifically on SQL Server 2016 and its AlwaysOn high availability features. While some concepts may be applicable to other versions, the course content is tailored to SQL Server 2016.

Yes, if you have experience with SQL Server 2012 or 2014, you’ll find this course beneficial. The course builds on concepts introduced in earlier versions but focuses on the enhancements and new features in SQL Server 2016.

Yes, the course is designed to equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to implement and manage AlwaysOn configurations in a real-world environment, tailored to your organization’s specific needs.