Monday, 22 June 2015

Installing sql server 2014 on a domain controller is not recommended

For security and performance reasons, It recommend that do not install a standalone SQL Server on a domain controller.

Regarding  fail over cluster, SQL instances are not supported where cluster nodes are domain controllers.

Other point, a read-only domain controller (RODC) is a new type of domain controller in the Windows 2008. SQL Server is not supported on a read-only domain controller.

Current resolution on Promotion and Demotion of Domain Controllers is to not support it. If the server is already a domain controller, SQL can be installed.  But once SQL has been installed user will  not be permitted to change the DC to a member machine.


1. While SQL Server can run on a domain controller, it is not recommended if you are seeking the best performance. For best performance of SQL Server, the server should be dedicated to SQL Server, and not shared with other functions, such as a domain controller or a file server.

It is hard to tune servers that run multiple application, as different application may require mutually exclusive configurations.


2. Another possible issue with running SQL Server on a domain controller is security. With both running on the same physical server, should one of them be compromised, then is is possible that it might be easier to compromise the other one also.