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I am an MCSE in Data Management and Analytics, specializing in MS SQL Server, and an MCP in Azure. With over 19+ years of experience in the IT industry, I bring expertise in data management, Azure Cloud, Data Center Migration, Infrastructure Architecture planning, as well as Virtualization and automation. I have a deep passion for driving innovation through infrastructure automation, particularly using Terraform for efficient provisioning. If you're looking for guidance on automating your infrastructure or have questions about Azure, SQL Server, or cloud migration, feel free to reach out. I often write to capture my own experiences and insights for future reference, but I hope that sharing these experiences through my blog will help others on their journey as well. Thank you for reading!

Key Questions to Ask Business Stakeholders When Installing SQL Server

 

Key Questions to Ask Business Stakeholders When Installing SQL Server

When planning a new SQL Server installation, a successful deployment begins with clear communication with your business stakeholders. A well-prepared configuration file—like the SQL Server 2022 configuration file shown below—provides a framework for the installation, but it’s essential to validate the settings with the business. This blog post outlines key questions you should ask your business when installing SQL Server, using a sample configuration file as a reference.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Understanding the Configuration File
  3. Key Questions to Ask Your Business Stakeholders
  4. Conclusion

Introduction

A SQL Server configuration file is a powerful tool that predefines installation options for a seamless and automated setup. However, many of these settings need to be aligned with your organization's requirements, performance objectives, and security policies. Before proceeding with the installation, it's crucial to engage with business stakeholders to clarify these requirements. In this post, we’ll review a sample configuration file and suggest the questions you should ask to ensure that the installation meets business needs.

Understanding the Configuration File

Below is an excerpt from a SQL Server 2022 configuration file:

; SQL Server 2022 Configuration File
[OPTIONS]
ACTION="Install"
ENU="True"
PRODUCTCOVEREDBYSA="False"
SUPPRESSPRIVACYSTATEMENTNOTICE="False"
QUIET="False"
QUIETSIMPLE="False"
UIMODE="Normal"
UpdateEnabled="False"
USEMICROSOFTUPDATE="False"
SUPPRESSPAIDEDITIONNOTICE="False"
UpdateSource="MU"
FEATURES=SQLENGINE,REPLICATION,ADVANCEDANALYTICS,DQ,DQC,IS,AZUREEXTENSION
INSTANCENAME="MSSQLSERVER"
INSTALLSHAREDDIR="C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server"
INSTALLSHAREDWOWDIR="C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server"
INSTANCEID="MSSQLSERVER"
AZURESUBSCRIPTIONID="69b34dfc-4b97-4259-93f3-037ed7eec25e"
AZURETENANTID="1c5558a6-68cc-4a35-8463-7592105355ff"
AZUREREGION="australiaeast"
AZURERESOURCEGROUP="DefaultResourceGroup-EUS"
SQLTELSVCSTARTUPTYPE="Automatic"
SQLTELSVCACCT="NT Service\SQLTELEMETRY"
...
SQLCOLLATION="SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS"
SQLSVCACCOUNT="NT Service\MSSQLSERVER"
SQLSVCINSTANTFILEINIT="True"
SQLSYSADMINACCOUNTS="RAKESH-PC\kusha"
SECURITYMODE="SQL"
SQLTEMPDBFILECOUNT="8"
SQLTEMPDBFILESIZE="8"
SQLTEMPDBFILEGROWTH="64"
...
TCPENABLED="0"
NPENABLED="0"
BROWSERSVCSTARTUPTYPE="Disabled"
SQLMAXMEMORY="2147483647"
SQLMINMEMORY="0"

This file includes parameters that dictate the installation workflow, feature set, instance names, directory paths, service accounts, security modes, and even cloud integration options. Before you deploy SQL Server using this file, you need to verify each parameter with your stakeholders.

Key Questions to Ask Your Business Stakeholders

Based on the configuration file above, here are the categories and specific questions to ask:

1. Installation Mode & User Interface

  • Installation Workflow and Language:

    • Question: Do you prefer a fully automated (quiet) installation or an interactive one with a full user interface?
    • Reference:
      • ACTION="Install", QUIET="False", UIMODE="Normal"
    • Discussion: Understanding if stakeholders prefer to monitor the installation or if it should run silently can influence the setup process.

  • Product Updates:

    • Question: Should we enable the option to automatically check for product updates during installation?
    • Reference:
      • UpdateEnabled="False", USEMICROSOFTUPDATE="False"
    • Discussion: Some organizations prefer to install updates immediately, while others want a controlled update process.

2. Feature Selection

  • Required Features:
    • Question: Which SQL Server features do we need to install? For example, do we require features like Replication, Advanced Analytics, or Integration Services?
    • Reference:
      • FEATURES=SQLENGINE,REPLICATION,ADVANCEDANALYTICS,DQ,DQC,IS,AZUREEXTENSION
    • Discussion: Clarify with the business which functionalities are critical for their operations to avoid unnecessary components that might increase the attack surface or resource usage.

3. Instance and Directory Settings

  • Instance Name and ID:

    • Question: Should we install SQL Server as the default instance (MSSQLSERVER) or as a named instance?
    • Reference:
      • INSTANCENAME="MSSQLSERVER", INSTANCEID="MSSQLSERVER"
    • Discussion: Some organizations prefer multiple named instances for isolation or organizational purposes.

  • Installation Directories:

    • Question: Do you have preferred paths for SQL Server installation and shared components? Should these be left at default locations or customized?
    • Reference:
      • INSTALLSHAREDDIR="C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server"
      • INSTALLSHAREDWOWDIR="C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server"
    • Discussion: Directory structure can affect system performance and manageability. Confirm with IT policies if default paths are acceptable.

4. Service Accounts and Startup Types

  • Service Accounts:

    • Question: Which service accounts should be used for SQL Server, SQL Server Agent, Integration Services, and other components? Are the default virtual accounts acceptable, or do we need to specify domain accounts?
    • Reference:
      • SQLSVCACCOUNT="NT Service\MSSQLSERVER"
      • AGTSVCACCOUNT="NT Service\SQLSERVERAGENT"
      • ISSVCACCOUNT="NT Service\MsDtsServer160"
    • Discussion: Service accounts impact security and resource access; ensure they comply with the organization’s security policies.

  • Startup Types:

    • Question: What should be the startup type for various SQL Server services (e.g., Automatic, Manual)?
    • Reference:
      • SQLSVCSTARTUPTYPE="Automatic", AGTSVCSTARTUPTYPE="Manual", ISSVCSTARTUPTYPE="Automatic"
    • Discussion: Critical services typically start automatically, while others might be configured to start manually for better resource management.

5. Security and Authentication

  • Authentication Mode:

    • Question: Which authentication mode should be used: Windows Authentication only, or Mixed Mode (SQL Authentication)?
    • Reference:
      • SECURITYMODE="SQL"
    • Discussion: Mixed Mode allows both Windows and SQL logins but may require additional security considerations. Confirm the organization's security requirements.

  • Collation Settings:

    • Question: Is the default collation SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS acceptable, or do we need a different collation to support specific languages or sorting rules?
    • Reference:
      • SQLCOLLATION="SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS"
    • Discussion: Collation impacts text data storage and sorting; it should align with business requirements for language and data processing.

  • Administrative Accounts:

    • Question: Who should be designated as SQL Server administrators? Should the current user be automatically added?
    • Reference:
      • SQLSYSADMINACCOUNTS="RAKESH-PC\kusha"
    • Discussion: Verify the list of users who will have elevated privileges to ensure proper security controls.

6. Advanced Settings and Performance

  • FileStream and Instant File Initialization:

    • Question: Do we require FILESTREAM support or instant file initialization for better performance?
    • Reference:
      • FILESTREAMLEVEL="0", SQLSVCINSTANTFILEINIT="True"
    • Discussion: These settings can improve performance but may have implications for data access and security.

  • Parallelism and Memory Settings:

    • Question: What should be the configuration for MAXDOP and memory allocation? Are there any constraints imposed by your hardware?
    • Reference:
      • SQLMAXDOP="6", SQLMAXMEMORY="2147483647", SQLMINMEMORY="0"
    • Discussion: These settings are critical for performance tuning. Ensure they match the expected workload and server capabilities.

  • TempDB Configuration:

    • Question: How many TempDB files should be created, and what should their sizes and growth increments be?
    • Reference:
      • SQLTEMPDBFILECOUNT="8", SQLTEMPDBFILESIZE="8", SQLTEMPDBFILEGROWTH="64"
    • Discussion: Proper TempDB configuration can significantly improve performance in high-concurrency environments.

7. Cloud Integration and Azure Settings

  • Azure Arc and Cloud Settings:

    • Question: Do you plan to integrate SQL Server with Azure services? If yes, please provide the necessary Azure Subscription ID, Tenant ID, region, and resource group.
    • Reference:
      • AZURESUBSCRIPTIONID, AZURETENANTID, AZUREREGION, AZURERESOURCEGROUP
    • Discussion: Cloud integration can extend the capabilities of SQL Server, but it requires proper configuration and alignment with your cloud strategy.

  • Protocol and Network Settings:

    • Question: Should TCP/IP or Named Pipes protocols be enabled for network connectivity, or should they remain disabled?
    • Reference:
      • TCPENABLED="0", NPENABLED="0", BROWSERSVCSTARTUPTYPE="Disabled"
    • Discussion: These settings affect how clients connect to SQL Server. Confirm network protocols based on your organization's security and connectivity policies.

Conclusion

Before installing SQL Server, it's essential to have a clear dialogue with your business stakeholders to tailor the installation according to the organization's needs. The configuration file provided offers a solid starting point, but each parameter—ranging from installation mode and feature selection to service accounts, security settings, and performance optimizations—should be verified and, if necessary, adjusted.

By asking targeted questions about:

  • Installation preferences and user interface behavior
  • Required SQL Server features and instance configurations
  • Directory paths for installation and data storage
  • Service account selection and startup options
  • Security modes, collations, and administrative privileges
  • Advanced performance settings (MAXDOP, memory, TempDB)
  • Cloud integration and network protocols

...you ensure that the SQL Server installation aligns with both technical requirements and business objectives.

Having a thorough understanding of these elements and engaging stakeholders early in the process minimizes risks and sets up the SQL Server environment for success. Clear documentation and proper change management further support ongoing administration and troubleshooting.

Feel free to adapt this list of questions to fit your organization’s unique needs. Good communication with your business counterparts is key to a smooth SQL Server installation process!

Happy installing and managing your SQL Server environment!

By aligning technical configurations with business requirements, you lay the foundation for a secure, efficient, and scalable SQL Server deployment.

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