When it comes to building a robust high availability and disaster recovery solution with SQL Server, understanding the AlwaysOn architecture is crucial. Microsoft has recently released two important white papers that provide detailed documentation on this subject. These white papers, written by top industry experts and reviewed by a panel of professionals, are a valuable resource for organizations adopting SQL Server 2012.

AlwaysOn Architecture Guide: Building a High Availability and Disaster Recovery Solution by Using AlwaysOn Availability Groups

SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn Availability Groups offer a unified high availability and disaster recovery solution. This white paper delves into the key topology requirements of this design pattern, including quorum configuration considerations, steps for building the environment, and a workflow for handling a disaster recovery situation.

AlwaysOn Architecture Guide: Building a High Availability and Disaster Recovery Solution by Using Failover Cluster Instances and Availability Groups

SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn Failover Cluster Instances (FCI) and AlwaysOn Availability Groups provide a comprehensive high availability and disaster recovery solution. This white paper explores the key topology requirements of this design pattern, covering important concepts such as asymmetric storage considerations, quorum model selection, quorum votes, steps for building the environment, and a workflow.

Even if you are not planning to implement the AlwaysOn feature, these white papers are still valuable reference materials. They provide a complete understanding of what it takes to implement the AlwaysOn architecture and the efforts involved. It is recommended to bookmark these white papers for future reference.