In this article, we will explore how to configure SQL Server Always On Availability Groups using Windows PowerShell scripts. Windows PowerShell is a powerful scripting language that offers useful modules for database professionals, including developers and DBAs.

Typically, we use SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) to perform administrative tasks using the interactive windows. However, in this article, we will explore how to use Windows PowerShell for configuring SQL Server Always On Availability Groups.

Before we begin, let’s have a quick overview of SQL Server PowerShell. There are two SQL Server PowerShell modules available: SQLPS and SqlServer. SQLPS is available with the SQL Server installation and is useful for backward compatibility. However, Microsoft does not update this module. On the other hand, the SqlServer module has cmdlets for the latest SQL Server features and can be installed from the PowerShell gallery.

To start configuring SQL Server Always On Availability Groups with Windows PowerShell, we need to install the SqlServer module. Open Windows PowerShell with administrative command and run the following command:

Install-Module SqlServer

This command will download the required package and install it on your primary AG replica.

Windows PowerShell scripts use virtual drives, also known as PowerShell drives, to traverse different modules and functions similar to a drive. To access the SQL Server PowerShell drive, import the SqlServer module and use the following command:

Import-Module SqlServer
cd SQLServer:\SQL

Now, you can access the PowerShell drive. Use the dir command to check the existing directories. You will see the server name and instance name as folders. Enter into the instance folder and use the dir command again to check its contents. You will see folders for different SQL features such as Audit, Databases, Logins, Roles, Mail, and Triggers.

Within the AvailabilityGroups folder, you will find the availability group name. Enter into this folder to access the availability group configurations, including availability databases, listeners, replicas, and database replica states.

Now that we understand the PowerShell virtual drives for SQL Server Always On Availability Groups, let’s start configuring the AG using Windows PowerShell cmdlets.

In this article, we will cover the following steps:

1. Removing an availability database from the primary replica
2. Deleting an availability group
3. Disabling AG configuration for SQL Service
4. Enabling AG configuration for SQL Service
5. Configuring the availability group and database in synchronous mode
6. Configuring the SQL Server Listener

Each step is accompanied by the corresponding Windows PowerShell script. You can execute these scripts to perform the desired configuration.

By using Windows PowerShell scripts, you can automate the implementation of an availability group based on the supplied inputs. This allows for efficient and consistent configuration of SQL Server Always On Availability Groups.

In conclusion, Windows PowerShell provides a powerful scripting language for configuring SQL Server Always On Availability Groups. By leveraging Windows PowerShell scripts, you can automate the configuration process and ensure consistency across your AG deployments.