You are the database administrator in your company. You plan to create
10 identical environments that use SQL Server 2016 as a database engine. Each environment has the following custom requirements:
- Three user databases must be preinstalled.
- The tempdb database must contain eight data files that are 1024 MB each.
- Trace flag 2371 must be turned at the instance level.
The solution must meet the following requirements:
- The instance must be preconfigured.
- No other database features are required in the future.
- The solution must use the minimum administrative effort.
You need to prepare the environments. What should you do?
A. Provision 10 Azure virtual machines that each contain SQL Server 2016, installed by using the default settings.
B. Create an installation configuration file and perform unattended installations of SQL Server 2016.
C. Create a virtual machine template by using a prepared instance of SQL Server 2016.
D. Create a virtual machine template by using a complete instance of SQL Server 2016.
Explanation:
You should create a virtual machine template by using a complete instance of SQL Server 2016. You use the sysprep tool to prepare a complete instance of SQL Server 2016. By using a complete instance, SQL Server, the network, and the users are all created, and the system cannot be reconfigured during the installation process.
Incorrect Answers:
A: You should not provision 10 Azure virtual machines that each contain SQL Server 2016, installed by using the default settings. A virtual machine created by using the Azure library provides you with a standard installation, and the requirements call for a custom installation. The instance will need some specific parameters for your custom installation. Therefore, you would have to customize each Azure virtual machine.
B: You should not create an installation configuration file and perform unattended installations of SQL Server 2016. This could be a valid option, but you would need to prepare 10 installations, and this would require a lot of effort. There are also some other administrative actions that must be performed that could also increase the amount of effort required, such as user database configuration.
C: You should not create a virtual machine template by using a prepared instance of SQL Server 2016. A virtual machine template that contains a prepared instance of SQL Server could be modified during the installation process.
For example, some features could be added or removed during the installation process. The prepared instance contains a preconfigured version of SQL Server without network and user configurations.
References: https://support.neverfail.com/hc/en-us/articles/115015350287-Deploy-Microsoft-SQL-Server-2016-Virtual-Machine-Template