SQL Server

SQL Server High Availability

High availability is the design that keeps the database serving users when a server, a disk or a patch fails. It is not the same thing as a backup you hope to restore tomorrow.

Pick the failover that fits the failure

A failover cluster instance, log shipping and an availability group solve different failures. The expensive mistake is implementing the most complex option because it was mentioned in a meeting. We start from the failure you need to survive and the edition you own.

Designs, including Always On, are compared on SQL Server high availability and disaster recovery. A single-site failover still needs backups you have restored.

What we need from you

  • The failure you are designing for
  • One data center or more than one
  • SQL Server edition
  • Whether the application can reconnect after failover
  • Whether anyone has failed it over in the last year

Describe the outage you cannot have

We will recommend a failover design, or tell you that backups and a tested restore are the honest answer.