How to Configure Microsoft SQL Server Mirroring Support for App-V

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You can use the following procedure to configure your Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) environment to use Microsoft SQL Server database mirroring. Configuring database mirroring can help with disaster recovery and failover scenarios. App-V 4.5 SP2 supports all modes of database mirroring currently available for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2008.

Note
This procedure is written for administrators who are familiar with setting up and configuring SQL Server databases and database mirroring with Microsoft SQL Server, and therefore covers only the specific configuration settings that are unique to App-V.

To configure your App-V environment to use Microsoft SQL Server database mirroring

  1. Set up SQL Server database mirroring of the App-V database following your standard business practices for database mirroring. Use the following links for general information about implementing Microsoft SQL Server database mirroring:

    In addition, you can find Best Practices information in Database Mirroring Best Practices and Performance Considerations (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=190270).

  2. After mirroring has been set up, verify that the App-V database shows a status of (Principal, Synchronized), and the mirrored database shows a status of (Mirror, Synchronized / Restoring). Resolve any mirroring issues before proceeding to the next step. For additional information about monitoring the status, see Monitoring Mirroring Status (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=190279).

  3. On the SQL Server computer that hosts the mirror of the App-V database, create the SQL Server Login for the network service account of the App-V Management Server by using the account name <domain>\<ManagementServerHostName>$.

  4. Install the Microsoft SQL Server Native Client on the App-V Management Server, and on the computer running the App-V Management Web Service if installed on a different computer. If you plan to have additional App-V Management Servers connect to the mirrored SQL database for load balancing, you must install the Microsoft SQL Server Native Client on those computers as well. You can download the Microsoft SQL Server Native Client from the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Feature Pack page in the Microsoft Download Center (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=187479).

  5. Check the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Softgrid\4.5\Server\SQLServerName and make sure that it contains only the host name of the SQL Server. If it includes an instance name, for example serverhostname\instancename, the instance name must be removed.

    Important
    The App-V Management Server uses the TCP/IP networking library to communicate with the SQL Server when database mirroring is enabled, and therefore instance names cannot be used. The port numbers must be specified in the registry keys instead.

  6. Check the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Softgrid\4.5\Server\SQLServerPort and make sure that it contains the port number that is used for SQL on the SQL Server computer. If you are using a named instance this key value must be set to the port that is used for the named instance.

  7. Create the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Softgrid\4.5\Server\SQLFailoverServerName as REG_SZ and then set the value to the host name of the SQL Server that hosts the mirror.

  8. Create the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Softgrid\4.5\Server\SQLFailoverServerPort as DWORD and then set the value to the port number that is used for SQL on the computer that is running SQL Server to host the mirror. If you are using a named instance for the mirror this key value must be set to the port number that is used for the named instance.

  9. On the computer that is running the App-V Management Web Service, configure the Universal Data Link (UDL) text file. In the directory where App-V is installed, double-click SftMgmt.udl and specify the following values:

    • On the Provider tab, select the OLE DB provider SQL Server Native Client 10.0.

    • Click Next to select the Connection tab. In the Server Name box, enter the server name of the SQL Server. Next, select Use Windows NT Integrated Security. Finally, click the list Select the database, and then select the App-V database name.

    • Click the All tab, and then select the entry Failover Partner. Click Edit Value, and then enter the server name of the failover SQL Server. Click OK.

    Important
    The App-V system uses Kerberos authentication. Therefore, when you configure SQL mirroring where Kerberos Authentication is enabled on the SQL Server and the SQL Server service runs under a domain user account, you must manually configure an SPN. For more information, see “When SQL Service Uses Domain-Based Account” in the article Configuring App-V Administration for a Distributed Environment (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=203186).

  10. To verify that database mirroring is running correctly, test the failover and confirm that the App-V Management Server continues to function correctly.

    Important
    Proceed with care, and follow your standard business practices to ensure that system operations are not disrupted in the event of a failure.

After the failover has occurred successfully, as verified by using the SQL Server status monitoring information, right-click the Applications node in the App-V Management Console, and then select Refresh. The list of applications should display normally if the system is working correctly.

How to Perform Administrative Tasks in the Application Virtualization Server Management Console