SQL Server 2016 Admin: High Availability and Performance Tuning — Lesson 2: High-Availability Technologies and Always On Availability Groups

Topics Covered

• Automate maintenance and administrative tasks with SQL Server Agent
• Compare replication, log shipping, mirroring, failover clustering, and Always On options
• Plan and configure Always On availability groups and listener connectivity
• Step-by-step implementation workflow and configuration decisions
• Hands-on verification of core features, data, and expected results
• Documentation of assumptions, dependencies, naming, and change controls

Guided Practice Steps

1. Translate the lesson requirement into a clear SQL Server 2016 Admin: High Availability and Performance Tuning implementation or analysis objective.
2. Document assumptions, selected tools or features, dependencies, risks, and expected results.
3. Perform the guided task, capture evidence, and compare the result with the acceptance criteria.
4. Record issues, corrective actions, and a reusable operational or development note.

Practical Activity

Compare HA options and design an Always On availability-group topology.

• Define the scenario, inputs, constraints, and expected outcome.
• Complete the activity and preserve screenshots, outputs, logs, code, or decision evidence.
• Review the result, identify gaps, and document corrective or improvement actions.

Validation Checklist

• The stated requirement and expected outcome are clear.
• Configuration, code, data, or design decisions are documented.
• Normal, boundary, failure, security, and operational considerations are reviewed.
• Evidence supports the conclusion and the next action is prioritized.

Lesson Outcome

Learners can explain and apply High-Availability Technologies and Always On Availability Groups within a realistic SQL Server 2016 Admin: High Availability and Performance Tuning scenario and support the result with validation evidence.