Deploy iMC on database cluster

[mwalentynowicz]

Hi,

I prepare migration to new iMC instance. This time i want to use database cluster (SQL Server 2016) and here is my question - using an instance on a shared MSSQL server is considered supported config?

Because iMC use 'sa' account can there be any danger from this to other databases?

Thank you for response,
Best Regards,
Marcin

[jguse · Accepted solution]

Hello,

A few points about the iMC Database that should answer your queries:

• The 'sa' user on MSSQL can be any user, the important bit is that the user has 'sysadmin' privilege assigned.
• Always use a separate MSSQL DB instance for iMC. It requires its own dedicated instance - either the default one or a separate named one. Do NOT install iMC on a shared database instance (eg. other applications using the same instance)! Doing so is not supported, and may result in the databases of other applications using the same instance to be lost, connectivity issues on those DBs, and a wide variety of potential DB-related issues with iMC.
• Database clustering is fine, just make sure the iMC software is installed with the Name/IP of the Cluster and its own instance on that cluster.
• If you migrate iMC from an older MSSQL Server version to a newer one, this is supported and works fine too. When you restore to the new system the DBs will be upgraded automatically.
• Just make sure when migrating that you install the exact same iMC version, patch level, deployed components and deployment type. Essentially that means the "Deploy" tab on DMA must be identical between old and new server, or the restore won't work due to components/version mismatch.

Hope that helps.

[mwalentynowicz]

At beginning thank for your answer!
It clarify me a lot, but i have one more question - Is it possible to use Windows authentication for mssql? 

Best Regards,

[jguse]

Hello,

the only restriction with IMC is that you cannot use 'Windows authentication' - eg. ONLY allow authentication with Domain accounts. The other option 'Mixed mode' which you should use includes both local 'SQL Server' authentication (eg. 'sa' user and others) as well as the option to give Windows accounts access to the SQL Server.

As long as you provide iMC with the 'sa' account or equivalent sysadmin-role account that uses SQL Server authentication, it will work. You can still grant other Windows accounts access to IMC's DB instance without any issues, iMC just won't use them.