Lab-tested blueprints, Ansible playbooks, and PowerShell scripts for enterprise SQL Server reliability.
Security needs a standardized SQL Server Audit enabled across every instance before the next audit. Can you implement it cleanly on one instance and then automate the rollout across 50 instances without xp_cmdshell or manual SSMS clicks?
When you're the only person on your team who knows which switches to pass to your PowerShell scripts, new SQL Server builds wait until you're back from vacation. Here's how moving server knowledge into Ansible inventory (hosts.ini, group_vars, and host_vars) lets a teammate preview every change with --check --diff and configure a server without calling you.
SqlServerDsc covers 80% of a SQL Server baseline, but what happens when you need custom PowerShell? Learn why raw win_powershell scripts break --check mode audits—and the 3 patterns to make custom SQL Server PowerShell 100% state-aware.
You don’t need to throw away 10 years of rock-solid PowerShell to get declarative scale.
Tired of typing --vault-password-file? Learn how to use the ANSIBLE_VAULT_PASSWORD_FILE environment variable or ansible.cfg to streamline your Ansible workflow.
Typing --ask-vault-pass everytime you need to run a playbook is tiresome. Learn how to use an Ansible vault password file to remove this step and enable true unattended automation. A simple, secure 4-step guide.
Stop encrypting entire YAML files. Learn to use ansible-vault encrypt_string to protect individual passwords while keeping your config readable for collaboration.
Take the first step to secure automation. Learn to create an encrypted Ansible Vault file to manage SQL Server passwords, protect secrets, and pass your next audit.
Stop hardcoding passwords! Learn how to use Ansible Vault for SQL Server to encrypt your sensitive credentials in your automation scripts. Protect your data, reclaim your time, and advance your DBA career with secure secrets management.
How to use Ansible handlers when setting permissions for the SQL Server engine service account on Windows.
Scale your SQL Server automation with Ansible Group Vars. This guide shows you how to manage permissions across Dev, QA, and Production environments with a single, idempotent playbook.
Tired of brittle scripts? Learn to use Ansible Facts to create intelligent, adaptable automation for your SQL Server environments and make smarter decisions.
You built your first Ansible playbook, ran it, and saw for yourself that a different way of managing SQL Server is not only possible but within your reach. You...
Last week, we talked about the two paths a DBA's career can take: the reactive, problem-fixing "Mechanic" and the proactive, system-designing "Architect."...
It's 10 PM. An alert fires. The production database is down. You jump on, work your magic, and by 10:45 PM, you've saved the day. You're the hero.
A few weekends back, I posted the question below on LinkedIn.
Over the past several blog posts, I've been talking about patching. More specifically, patching SQL Server Availability Groups using the rolling update method....
The following information is based upon SQL Server 2025 CTP 2.1 and is subject to change upon release.
If you're automating your SQL Server 2025 installations on Windows with Ansible over SSH (passwordless login), you might hit a cryptic error that stops you in...
In my last post, we defined the prerequisites needed for patching. Before applying the patch, we need to make sure the variables are set and that we're dealing...
Defining the prerequisites before you start patching is extremely important. I'm not talking about making sure your Ansible control node is set up and testing...
Ansible's inventory file is fundamental for defining and organizing the servers to be managed in a SQL Server Availability Group. It serves as the "address...
In my previous post, we explored the concept of rolling updates for SQL Server Availability Groups and how Ansible can transform this complex process into a...
Over the past few weeks in the AutomateSQL Insiders Community, we've been discussing SQL Server patching. More specifically patching Availability Groups in a...
Service management is a pretty common task for both DBAs and Windows administrators. If you're like me, you've spent countless hours remoting into servers just...
Explores how Ansible could be used for orchestrating and automating Windows patching with an example playbook.
Learn the essential Ansible Windows modules for SQL Server DBAs and Windows administrators. Includes 15 practical examples for automation, from disk management to SQL Server configuration.
This is a common question for those of you who are just getting started with Ansible or are curious about how to use it from a Windows machine.
Learn how Ansible automates Windows and SQL Server management in 2025. Reduce deployment time from hours to minutes and break down silos between DBAs and system administrators.
Windows Server 2025 includes OpenSSH—no need to install additional software. However, you need to configure it before you can use it. In this post, I'll show...
SQL Server Management Studio 21 (Preview) was announced last week at PASS Data Community Summit 2024. It has some cool new features that are available in the...
A few weeks ago I needed to configure replication between two SQL Server 2022 named instances, on separate networks. In this configuration, the publisher would...
On July 9th, 2024, Microsoft released a GDR update for multiple editions of SQL Server. As a DBA, you may be planning how to install this update in your lower...
Install and configure SQL Server on Windows using Ansible Roles.
Storing passwords in plain text files is a big problem. Such as the SA password when working with SQL Server. But how do you automate the installation of SQL...
How to use Ansible templates when installing SQL Server on Windows.
No one wants to build a new SQL Server instance, release it to production, and immediately request a maintenance window to fix a configuration issue.
Are you familiar with the terms DevOps and Platform Engineering? DevOps is the process of consistently and reliably deploying applications into production...
Over the years, I've completed a lot of SQL Server installations. Some of those resulted in having to move database files around afterward because I failed to...
Over the past several weeks we've implemented a CA, generated a certificate, and enabled SQL Server network encryption. We validated encryption was being used...
For a DBA, securing SQL Server is a critical aspect of the job. Securing data at rest, data in motion, and data in use (in memory) are all areas a potential...
Last week, we ended after the initial CA configuration. This week, we'll enable HTTPS for our Web Enrollment site. I'll cover an issue I encountered when using...
In the last edition, we concluded after installing Active Directory Certificate Services.
Most new DBAs aren't familiar with certificates, or generating certificate requests, to be used by SQL Server.
Today I want to share a quick tip on getting started with Windows Server 2025 Standard Edition (preview). It seems Server 2022 just came out a few short weeks...
Good morning! Hopefully, this week's edition finds you getting some much-needed rest on a Saturday. It's early here in Tennessee and I'm hoping for a sunny day.
Keeping data confidential is a crucial role for a DBA. Today, I'll share strategies that Database Administrators can implement to enhance data confidentiality....
Today, I want to talk about one common challenge a DBA may encounter. Scripting a database(s). There are a few common scenarios that may require this. Here are...
A common challenge DBAs encounter is efficient capacity planning. Ensuring that SQL Server is operational, optimized, and ready to scale is important.
I recently had a conversation about the placement of SQL Server native backups. Backups were stored on the same drive as the database log files, and I...
Sign up for the DBA Challenges Newsletter here --> DBA Challenges - Newsletter (automatesql.com).
![Reduce Your Virtual Machine Build Time Using Hashicorp Packer: [Part 6 - Packer Build]](/blog-assets/guides/ctf_aJ1SL9o1VuA8lopTu3Z9o_3f2eeb8-c0e7-a8f-e2d-51e7b1dd657f_Packer_Part6.png)
In part 5, we created the remaining configuration scripts that we'll use to create the Windows Server 2022 golden image. At this point, your...
In today's issue, I will show how to perform a simple installation of Active Directory, cover basic concepts, and explain why it's crucial to a DBA.
Welcome to this week's edition. We'll break down the two most popular posts ranked by comments. Be sure to grab the scripts to work through the demo yourself...
![Reduce Your Virtual Machine Build Time Using Hashicorp Packer: [Part 5 - Configuration Scripts]](/blog-assets/guides/ctf_38vphx48DXKkxybDREyRfP_45744af-e8b2-a5b4-277a-e54a5df07a_Packer_Part5.png)
In part 4, we created the autounattend.xml and PackerShutdown.bat files and created the source block.
![Reduce Your Virtual Machine Build Time Using Hashicorp Packer: [Part 4 - Windows Server 2022 - HCL Template]](/blog-assets/guides/ctf_2wUkMW6SoDtIUUIpzQlkTL_013df30-fe-81f4-614-757d14e4d58_Packer_Part4.png)
You know how annoying it is to install an OS manually. Having to click through the initial setup, remember which drivers to install, and then apply your basic...
![Reduce Your Virtual Machine Build Time Using Hashicorp Packer: [Part 3 - Environment Setup]](/blog-assets/guides/ctf_72jzQcoCCmJRm9RKr5ECqe_be47d6d-be23-0f27-d766-066aa1e7685_Packer_Part3.png)
In Part 2 of this series, we reviewed the different aspects of a Packer template file. In this post, we'll begin creating the HCL template file for the Windows...
![Reduce Your Virtual Machine Build Time Using Hashicorp Packer: [Part 2 - HCL template components]](/blog-assets/guides/ctf_4G25Kw9JupC7eJb9TPtEeS_4bd33d5-760-7d47-26d6-70ffbfdea74e_Packer_Part2.png)
Part 2 covers the concepts of the build process and HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL) templates. Builders create machines and generate images from those...
![Reduce Your Virtual Machine Build Time Using Hashicorp Packer: [Part 1 - Packer Overview and Install]](/blog-assets/guides/ctf_62uJCeAUgcXOOfZUS8wSIC_d0f76ac-4c0d-b7b8-e24a-bb25e2ed7d1b_PackerBlogSeries.png)
If you're someone tasked with server provisioning, OS installations/configurations, or setting up a home virtual sandbox, this blog series is for you. In it,...
My wife, son, and I went fishing at our local lake a few weekends ago. That Saturday morning, we got up, loaded the fishing gear, and put the boat in the...
I use Ansible in my virtual sandbox to configure and maintain Linux and Windows servers. I aim to set up my sandbox to match most of the production...
Have you ever needed to install a relational database engine fast in your sandbox? SQL Server is well known for its easy installation, albeit not all best...
Imagine you're walking into a job interview or taking on a new role. During the interview, the hiring manager asks, "What sets you apart from the other twenty...
Have you ever left an interview feeling let down because you were told you lacked sufficient experience? Do you find yourself caught in the vicious cycle of...
Inventory files lie at the core of Ansible. They are a crucial component that organizes and categorizes the target hosts to which Ansible will apply...
Setting up a Windows managed node is a crucial step in leveraging Ansible for managing your Windows infrastructure efficiently. In this post, we'll walk...
In continuing the "Getting Started With Ansible" series, I will cover the control node, how to install it, and end with a quick demo of the process. In the...
Ansible is a powerful automation tool that can simplify your IT configuration tasks and boost productivity. If you've found yourself overwhelmed with...
Similar to how Windows Answer Files help in automating installations of the Windows OS, kickstart files help in automating installations of some Linux...
Need access to the latest versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux or other software Red Hat offers? The Red Hat Developer Subscription for Individuals offers a...
Building windows images
Imagine being a systems administrator and being asked to configure 100s of new servers or desktops due to a recent company merger. This is a daunting task even...
