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Version: v2.0-RC

Create a SQL Server AG via the OpenShift UI

This guide shows you how to create a SQL Server Availability Group in RedHat OpenShift using the DxSqlAg custom resource through the UI.

Prerequisites​

  • A Red Hat OpenShift cluster.
  • DxOperator installed using OperatorHub
  • A valid DxEnterprise license with availability group management features and tunnels enabled. A fully featured Developer Edition is available free for non-production use. To purchase DxEnterprise software for production workloads, please contact us.

Create a DxSqlAg using the OpenShift UI​

  1. Log into RedHat Openshift via the UI.

  2. Create a secret to store DX_PASSKEY, DX_LICENSE, and MSSQL_SA_PASSWORD.

    1. In the menu, select Workloads > Secrets.

    2. Select Create.

    3. Select the key/value secret option.

    4. Name the secret dxe.

    5. Enter a key name as DX_PASSKEY with the value of your DxEnterprise cluster passkey. This value will be set as the cluster passkey for the DxEnterprise component to be deployed.

    6. Select Add.

    7. Enter a key name as DX_LICENSE with the value of your DxEnterprise license.

    8. Select Add.

    9. Enter a key name as MSSQL_SA_PASSWORD with the value of a strong SA password.

      caution

      Your password must meet SQL Server password requirements, or the container deployment will fail. See the SQL Server Password Policy for more details.

    10. Select Create.

  3. Deploy a new SQL Server AG cluster by creating a DxSqlAg.

    1. Navigate to Operators > Installed Operators > DxOperator

    2. Click on the Create DxSqlAg tab.

    3. Click on Create DxSqlAg button.

    4. Enter a name for the deployment.

    5. Select the number of Synchronous Replicas, Asynchronous Replicas, and Configuration Only Replicas.

    6. Under the template dropdown, open the spec dropdown. For each dropdown down the following:

      1. DxEnterprise Container:
        1. Select the secret dxe.
        2. Accept the EULA
        3. If joining an existing cluster, checkmark “joinExistingCluster”
        4. Set VHOST name
        5. If joining another cluster, set the target in “joinTarget”
      2. mssqlServerContainer
        1. set the SQL Server Secret dxe
        2. Select the Product ID or a license key
        3. Accept the EULA
      SECURITY CAUTION: Avoid Default Listening Port for SQL Server

      For security best practices, do not use the default SQL Server port (1433) when configuring SQL Server instances in production environments. Using the default port can expose your instance to automated scanning and brute-force attacks. In production environments, it is strongly recommended to configure a non-standard port to reduce the attack surface and improve security posture. For more information on configuring SQL Server to use a non-default port, see: Configure SQL Server's Listening Port

    7. Set the availability group name.

    8. Select Create.

    9. Wait for the installation to complete before proceeding.

  4. Verify your cluster was successfully created.

    1. In the menu, select Installed Operators > DxOperator.
    2. Click on the tab referencing the name created above and then select dxsqlag.
    3. Click on the resources tab and verify the StatefulSet was created

Next Steps​

Additional Information​