Lean and Mean: SQL Server on Windows Server Core

Argenis FernandezSenior Database MonkeySurveyMonkey

About your Speaker today…

SQL Server is an app.• An application that runs on top of

Windows.• Internet Explorer on a production

server? Really?• Next thing you know you’ll want an

antivirus for your server. Oh, wait…• Remember that the best practice is to

have single-purpose servers on any given topology

Production Server != Grandma’s PC

Does this look better to you?

Why would you want to use Server Core?The obvious:• Smaller footprint on disk: ~84% (incl.

SQL)• Less patches needed: ~45% • Boots faster = less downtime• Reduced surface area = better

security• _Maybe_ better performance• <Insert marketing speak here for

TCO>

Source: Allan Hirt (@SQLHA), DBI313, TechEd 2012

Why would you want to use Server Core?The not so obvious:• It forces you out of your comfort zone

(this is a good thing!)• Think scripting, and automation. E.g.,

Powershell• Setup takes a lot less time (less than

20 minutes on a VM)• You probably won’t consider RDPing

into the server

It’s now the default installation method

Not ready to jump? Consider MinShell• A lot of benefits of Server Core• Can still run GUI administration tools• No desktop-like UI• You can actually switch back and

forth between Full GUI, MinShell and Server Core – but once you install SQL, you can’t switch anymore. You’d have to uninstall SQL beforehand.

How was this server originally installed?

SQL Server Support for Server Core• OS: Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 or

2012• Cannot install 32-bit instances of SQL

(no WOW64)• All non-GUI based features of SQL

supported. • Not supported: SSRS, SSDT, Client

Tools Backward Compatibility, Client Tools SDK, BOL, Distributed Replay Controller, MDS, DQS.

SQL SetupA quick and easy way: run wizard on a GUI server, then save the configuration file.The more advanced ways:• Command line• Configuration file

And now for the best slide of this talk• D:\setup.exe /ACTION="Install"

/ERRORREPORTING=0 /FEATURES=SQLEngine,Replication /UPDATEENABLED=0 /INSTANCENAME=MSSQLSERVER /AGTSVCACCOUNT="NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE" /SQLSVCACCOUNT="NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE" /SQLSYSADMINACCOUNTS="SQL\Argenis Fernandez" /Q /SQMREPORTING=0 /BROWSERSVCSTARTUPTYPE="Disabled" /SECURITYMODE="SQL" /SAPWD="SQLF@m1ly2013%" /SQLSVCSTARTUPTYPE="Automatic" /TCPENABLED=1 /IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS

Things you should knowYou should install .NET 3.5 SP1 manually• dism /online /enable-feature /all

/featurename:NetFx3 /source:d:\sources\sxs

You might be okay with disabling Windows Firewall• netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state

off

Clusters and Availability GroupsThings you should know.

Q&A

Resources• Allan Hirt

– (SQLHA.com) DBI303, TechEd 2012• Configure SQL Server 2012 on a Serve

r Core Installation• Configuring AlwaysOn

with SQL Server Powershell

Coming up…

#SQLBITS

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SIOS High Performance SANLess Clustering Suite 4