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com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093

Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
[email protected]

Running SQL Server on Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) provides more flexibility and control than AWS
RDS for SQL Server but also requires more manual management.

In this configuration, you can install, configure, and manage SQL Server just like you would in an on-premises
environment, with the added benefit of using AWS's scalable cloud infrastructure.

Here’s a detailed overview of SQL Server on AWS EC2, covering features, best practices, instance types, pricing
models, high availability (HA) options, security considerations, use cases, and comparisons to AWS RDS:

1. Overview of SQL Server on AWS EC2

Amazon EC2 provides virtual machines (instances) where you can install and run SQL Server as you would on
a physical server. Unlike AWS RDS (which is a managed service), EC2 offers full control over the server’s
configuration, software, and networking, allowing you to customize the SQL Server environment as per your
requirements.

a. Benefits of Running SQL Server on EC2:

● Full Control: You have complete control over the operating system (OS), SQL Server configuration, and
the ability to install any third-party software or tools.

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● Customization: You can use custom SQL Server settings, integration services, and database mail, which
may not be fully supported on RDS.
● Choice of HA/DR Solutions: You can implement advanced SQL Server HA and DR solutions such as
Always On Availability Groups, Failover Cluster Instances (FCI), log shipping, and replication.
● OS-level Access: Full administrative access to the OS, enabling you to modify server settings, manage
security, and install patches at your discretion.
● Licensing Flexibility: You can bring your own SQL Server license (BYOL) or use a license-included
instance, depending on your needs.

2. Instance Types for SQL Server on EC2

When running SQL Server on EC2, you must select an appropriate EC2 instance type based on your database's
performance and memory requirements.

a. General Purpose Instances:

● T3, T2: These instances are best for small-to-medium workloads with burstable CPU performance. They
are cost-effective and ideal for development environments or less resource-intensive applications.
● M5, M6g: These provide a balance between compute, memory, and networking, making them suitable for
most production workloads that don't require specialized optimization.
https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
[email protected]
b. Memory-Optimized Instances:

● R5, R6g: Designed for memory-intensive workloads, these instances offer high memory-to-CPU ratios,
making them ideal for large databases and in-memory applications.

c. Compute-Optimized Instances:

● C5, C6g: Suitable for compute-intensive SQL Server workloads, such as OLAP (Online Analytical
Processing) systems or workloads with heavy CPU requirements.

d. Storage-Optimized Instances:

● I3: Designed for I/O-intensive workloads that require high-throughput, low-latency SSD storage. These are
ideal for workloads that demand fast access to large datasets.

3. Storage Options for SQL Server on EC2

The type and configuration of storage are critical to the performance of SQL Server. EC2 offers multiple storage
options for SQL Server instances:

a. Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS):

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● General Purpose SSD (gp2, gp3): Best for balanced performance and cost, providing scalable
performance for most workloads.
● Provisioned IOPS SSD (io1, io2): Provides high-performance IOPS (input/output operations per second)
for mission-critical SQL Server workloads requiring consistent and high throughput.
● Throughput Optimized HDD (st1): Ideal for large, sequential I/O workloads such as backups and data
warehousing.

b. Instance Store (Ephemeral Storage):

● High-speed storage attached to the EC2 instance. However, this data is lost when the instance stops, so
it’s best used for temporary or cache storage.

c. Amazon Elastic File System (EFS):

● Provides scalable file storage that can be shared between multiple instances, though it's generally not
suitable for SQL Server database files due to its higher latency compared to EBS.

d. Local NVMe Storage (with storage-optimized EC2 instances):

● Offers extremely fast, low-latency storage directly attached to the EC2 instance but is not persistent (data
is lost when the instance stops).
https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
[email protected]

4. High Availability (HA) and Disaster Recovery (DR) Solutions

With SQL Server on EC2, you can implement a range of HA/DR solutions, offering more flexibility compared to
RDS.

a. Always On Availability Groups (AGs):

● SQL Server Always On AGs provide high availability for databases by replicating them to multiple nodes
(primary and secondary replicas) across Availability Zones (AZs) or even across AWS regions.
● You can deploy AGs using EC2 instances with Windows Server Failover Clustering (WSFC) for automatic
failover and high availability.

b. Failover Cluster Instances (FCI):

● SQL Server FCI uses shared storage (typically an EBS volume with multi-attach or SMB file shares) and
WSFC to create a highly available SQL Server deployment. This provides automatic failover for the entire
SQL Server instance.

c. Log Shipping:

● Log shipping allows you to copy and restore transaction logs to another SQL Server instance on EC2,

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providing a cost-effective DR solution with manual failover.

d. Replication:

● SQL Server transactional replication and merge replication can be used to replicate data across EC2
instances or to instances in different regions, providing fault tolerance and scalability for read-heavy
workloads.

e. Multi-AZ Deployments:

● You can deploy SQL Server EC2 instances in multiple Availability Zones to ensure redundancy and
provide a solution for failover.

5. Licensing Options
There are two ways to license SQL Server on EC2:

a. License Included:

● AWS provides instances with SQL Server licensing included, where the cost of the license is embedded
in the hourly instance cost. This simplifies deployment, as you don’t need to manage SQL Server licenses.
https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
[email protected]
b. Bring Your Own License (BYOL):

● If you already own SQL Server licenses (with Software Assurance), you can bring those to AWS. This
can be more cost-effective, particularly for customers with long-term Microsoft Enterprise Agreements.

6. Security Considerations
a. Network Security:

● Use Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) to create isolated networks for your EC2 instances running
SQL Server.
● Configure security groups and network ACLs to control inbound and outbound traffic, ensuring that only
trusted IP addresses or applications can access your SQL Server instance.

b. Data Encryption:

● You can encrypt EBS volumes using AWS Key Management Service (KMS) to ensure that data at rest is
encrypted.
● SQL Server's Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) can be used for native encryption at the database
level.

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c. SSL for Data in Transit:

● Enable SSL encryption for communication between SQL Server and client applications to protect data in
transit.

d. Identity and Access Management (IAM):

● Use AWS IAM roles to securely control access to EC2 instances and other AWS resources, such as
Amazon S3 or CloudWatch for logging and monitoring.

e. Operating System Security:

● Regularly apply security patches and updates to both the SQL Server instance and the underlying
operating system (Windows Server or Linux).
https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
[email protected]

7. Monitoring and Management

AWS provides several tools for monitoring and managing SQL Server on EC2:

a. Amazon CloudWatch:

● You can use CloudWatch to monitor SQL Server performance metrics such as CPU utilization, memory
usage, disk I/O, and network traffic. Set up alarms to notify you when thresholds are breached.

b. EC2 Systems Manager:

● EC2 Systems Manager allows you to automate administrative tasks such as patching, backups, and
configuration management for your SQL Server instances.

c. Custom Monitoring:

● Since you have full access to the server, you can install and configure SQL Server monitoring tools such
as SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), SQL Server Profiler, or third-party tools like SolarWinds,
Redgate, or New Relic.

8. Pricing Model for SQL Server on EC2

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a. On-Demand Instances:

● You pay for the compute and storage resources on an hourly basis, with no long-term commitment. This
model is ideal for applications with unpredictable workloads or testing environments.

b. Reserved Instances:

● Reserved instances allow you to commit to using an EC2 instance for a 1-year or 3-year term, resulting in
significant cost savings (up to 72% compared to on-demand pricing). This is ideal for long-term workloads
with predictable resource requirements.

c. Spot Instances:

● Spot instances offer a discounted rate for unused EC2 capacity but can be interrupted by AWS when
capacity is needed elsewhere. Spot instances are best for non-critical workloads like development or
batch processing.

d. Storage Costs:

● You are charged separately for the storage you provision using EBS volumes, based on the type of
storage and the IOPS (for provisioned IOPS volumes).
https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
[email protected]
e. Data Transfer Costs:

● Data transfer between EC2 instances within the same region (same Availability Zone) is free, but you will
incur costs for data transfer between regions or across Availability Zones.

9. Comparison: SQL Server on EC2 vs. SQL Server on RDS

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10. Use Cases for SQL Server on EC2

● Highly Customized Environments: SQL Server on EC2 is ideal for organizations that need specific
configurations, third-party software, or advanced customization (like integrating SQL Server with other
on-premises systems).
● Large-scale Deployments: Enterprises running large, mission-critical databases with specific high
availability and disaster recovery requirements (like Always On AGs).
● Full Control: If you require full control over the operating system and SQL Server, including the ability to
install custom software or configure complex networking setups.
● Heavy Workloads: High-performance workloads that require specialized instance types
(compute/memory-optimized) and custom storage configurations for optimal performance.
https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
[email protected]

Summary:
1. Running SQL Server on AWS EC2 offers unmatched flexibility, control, and customization compared to
managed services like RDS.
2. It’s an excellent option for organizations that need advanced SQL Server features, complex HA/DR
setups, or tight integration with custom applications.
3. However, it requires more hands-on management, including patching, backups, and monitoring, making it
suitable for customers who are willing to take on additional administrative responsibilities to gain maximum
control over their environment.

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