Are you looking to set up an AlwaysOn Availability Group for SQL Server on Azure? In this article, we will guide you through the detailed steps to quickly set up and configure a SQL Server AlwaysOn Availability Group on Azure.

Step 1: Search for the Template on Azure Marketplace

First, log on to the Azure portal: https://portal.azure.com/. If you don’t have an account already, you can set up a trial https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/free/ and get a $200 credit for 30 days. Once you login, search for the “SQL Server AlwaysOn Cluster” template on the Azure Marketplace.

Step 2: Configure Basic Settings

Once you select the “SQL Server AlwaysOn Cluster” template, you will be prompted to specify the basic configuration options. Enter the required information such as administrator username, password, subscription, resource group, and location. Modify the values according to your requirements and click “OK”.

Step 3: Configure Domain and Network Settings

In the Domain and Network Settings Configuration screen, you will be presented with default values. You can retain the default values or modify them if necessary. Click “OK” to proceed.

Step 4: Configure Availability Group Settings

In the Availability Group Settings, specify the availability group name, availability group listener name, and availability group listener port.

Step 5: Configure VM Size and Storage Settings

On the Virtual Machine Size and Storage screen, you will be provided with default values for SQL Server virtual machine size, domain controller virtual machine, file share witness virtual machine, SQL storage account, SQL Server data disk size, and storage optimization. Modify the values as per your requirements and click “OK”.

Step 6: Configure SQL Server Settings

In the SQL Server Settings screen, configure parameters such as SQL Server name prefix, SQL Server version, SQL Server service account username and password, SQL Auto Patching maintenance schedule, and SQL Auto Patching maintenance start hour. Review the settings and click “OK”.

Step 7: Review and Purchase

Review all the specifications in the Summary section and once you are satisfied with the configuration, click “OK”. On the Buy screen, review the terms of use, accept the terms, and click on “Purchase”. The deployment of the configuration will start and may take around an hour to complete.

Step 8: Validate the Configuration

Once the deployment is complete, it is time to validate the configuration and begin working with your new solution. In Azure, go to the SQL Server to check the AlwaysOn configuration. You can use SQL Server Management Studio to review the configuration as well.

By following these steps, you can quickly set up and configure a SQL Server AlwaysOn Availability Group on Azure. This will provide you with a highly available and scalable solution for your SQL Server databases.