Amazon RDS Tailored Solution for SQL Server

Overview

In this informative blog post, we will explore on how the Amazon RDS Custom for SQL Server expands its support to incorporate the latest capabilities of SQL Server 2022. The integration opens doors to enhanced performance, advanced monitoring, and seamless Amazon S3 integration by considering a growing e-commerce platform facing database performance challenges. Based on the customer requirements, the need for advanced database features becomes critical to maintain a responsive and efficient platform. This can explore how an e-commerce platform successfully integrates SQL Server 2022 features. The result is a significant boost in database performance, faster query processing, and improved reliability, leading to an enhanced overall customer experience.

Introduction

Additionally, SQL Server 2022 offers native integration with Amazon S3 for seamless backup and restore operations on Amazon RDS Custom for SQL Server 2022. For more information, please refer to the details on Native backup and restore with Amazon S3 integration.

Steps to deploy Amazon RDS Custom for SQL Server utilizing SQL Server 2022

• Sign in to your AWS Account, and you will be redirected to the console.
• Navigate to the Amazon RDS dashboard.
• Opt for the “Create database” option to initiate the database creation process.
• Choose “Standard create” as your preferred method.

• Under Engine options, specify “Microsoft SQL Server” as the desired database engine.
• For the Database management type, opt for “Amazon RDS Custom” to leverage the custom configuration options provided by the service.

• After that, we need to select Edition and select any one SQL Server edition among the options. I have opted for Enterprise Edition.
• Go for the latest version of SQL Server 2022 as the engine version.

• Choose the template you need based on the environment suits.

• Provide a distinctive name for your DB instance in the DB instance identifier field.
• Input your primary thing is Master username and Master password for authentication purposes. You can choose the Autogenerate Password option, which is also compatible with AWS Secrets Manager.

• Configure instance settings, including
  1. Type

2. Storage
Choose storage type and give values for Allocated storage and Provisioned IOPS

• Specify your Multi-AZ deployment
  1. If going with the latest AWS CloudFormation template, enabling Multi-AZ for Amazon RDS Custom is supported and allows the create a standby instance.
  2. Alternately, select the option not to create a standby instance which can be modified at a later time.

• Choose the option Don’t connect to an Amazon EC2 compute resource for the compute resource setting.
• Select the VPC where you want to host your Amazon RDS Custom for SQL Server.
• Choose the relevant DB subnet group that has already been created.
• As Public access is not needed, choose the option for No for Public access.
• Regarding the Amazon VPC security group (firewall), select Choose existing and then specify the corresponding security group. Alternatively, choose Create new, which creates a new security group.

• Explore advanced settings for further customization by using the option Additional Configuration. Go with 1433 as the Database port.

• Scroll to the Amazon RDS Custom security section within the console.
• Within this section, locate and select the AWS IAM instance profile specifically created for Amazon RDS Custom.
• Additionally, choose the appropriate encryption key for securing your Amazon RDS Custom instance.
• Ensure that these selections align with your security requirements and policies.
• Review and confirm your choices before proceeding to the next steps in the configuration process.

• Amazon RDS Custom database automation: Choose Full automation mode and keep the default values for the remaining settings. If your environment satisfies all the prerequisites, select the option indicating “I’m all set.”

• Review the configuration once and Click on Create database.
• Monitor the launch status until completed.
• Connect to the SQL Server 2022 database using the provided endpoint and credentials.

Once the Amazon RDS Custom DB instance is created, connectivity can be established using either AWS Systems Manager’s Session Manager or an RDP client. For detailed instructions, refer to the guidelines on connecting to your Windows instance. Ensure that the associated VPC security group permits inbound connections on TCP port 3389 to enable RDP access.

To connect to the custom DB instance via RDP, you’ll require the key pair associated with the instance. Amazon RDS Custom generates this key pair for you, identified by the prefix “do-not-delete-rds-custom-DBInstanceIdentifier.” Your private key is securely stored in AWS Secrets Manager under a secret with the same name as your key pair. Retrieve the secret value when needed to decrypt the password.

Launching an SQL Server 2022 database instance using a custom engine version (CEV) on Amazon RDS Custom involves preparing a CEV from an Amazon EC2 Windows AMI (Amazon Machine Image). This AMI can be either pre-installed with SQL Server 2022 CU9 (LI) or configured through Bring Your Own Media (BYOM). After customizing the OS and SQL Server configurations, save the AMI as a golden image. The golden image is then utilized to create a CEV, facilitating the creation of new Amazon RDS Custom for SQL Server 2022 DB instances.

Conclusion

The successful deployment of custom configurations for SQL Server 2022 on Amazon RDS Custom signifies a significant advancement in database management. This integration empowers users to leverage the latest features and enhancements offered by SQL Server 2022 within the scalable and flexible environment of Amazon RDS. Additionally, the emphasis on custom engine version (CEV) preparation underscores the adaptability and customization options available to users, allowing for tailored solutions that align with specific business needs. As organizations continue to evolve, the seamless integration of advanced technologies, as demonstrated by the incorporation of SQL Server 2022 with Amazon RDS Custom, positions businesses for increased efficiency, reliability, and scalability in their database operations.

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