Step-by-step guide to configure Database Mirroring between SQL Server Instances in a Workgroup

This post is again in response to requests from customers who want to know how to configure Database Mirroring between instances of SQL Server 2005 in a WORKGROUP.

As you might have noticed, while configuring Database Mirroring using the GUI, it requires us to enter FQDNs of the servers; hence using the GUI, we can configure Database Mirroring between instances of SQL Server in a domain environment.

All credit goes to Varun for creating this step-by-step guide. I take the liberty to post it in my blog link.

Step 1: Create encryption key, certificate and end-points on Principal Instance

 /* Execute this against the Principal Instance */
USE MASTER
GO
CREATE MASTER KEY ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD = 'Password!'
GO
CREATE CERTIFICATE HOST_PRIN_cert
    WITH SUBJECT = 'HOST_PRIN certificate',
    START_DATE = '01/07/2009'
GO
CREATE ENDPOINT End_Mirroring
    STATE = STARTED
    AS TCP (LISTENER_PORT = 5022, LISTENER_IP = ALL)
    FOR DATABASE_MIRRORING
    (
        AUTHENTICATION = CERTIFICATE HOST_PRIN_cert,
        ENCRYPTION = REQUIRED ALGORITHM RC4,
        ROLE = ALL
    )
GO
BACKUP CERTIFICATE HOST_PRIN_cert
    TO FILE = 'D:\certificate\HOST_PRIN_cert.cer'
GO

Step 2: Create encryption key, certificate and end-points on Mirror Instance

 /* Execute this against the Mirror Instance */
USE master
GO
CREATE MASTER KEY ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD = 'Password!'
GO
CREATE CERTIFICATE HOST_MIRR_cert
    WITH SUBJECT = 'HOST_MIRR certificate',
    START_DATE = '01/07/2009'
GO
CREATE ENDPOINT End_Mirroring
    STATE = STARTED
    AS TCP (LISTENER_PORT = 5023, LISTENER_IP = ALL)
    FOR DATABASE_MIRRORING
    (
        AUTHENTICATION = CERTIFICATE HOST_MIRR_cert,
        ENCRYPTION = REQUIRED ALGORITHM RC4,
        ROLE = ALL
    )
GO
BACKUP CERTIFICATE HOST_MIRR_cert 
    TO FILE = 'D:\certificate\HOST_MIRR_cert.cer';
GO

Step 3: Create login, user and associate certificate with user on Principal Instance

 /* 
*  Execute this against the Principal Instance. The HOST_MIRR_cert.cer
*  needs to be copied on the Principal Server.
*/
USE MASTER
GO
/*
*  We are creating a SQL Login here. For Windows logins,
*  use the Grant Login instead of Create Login
*/
CREATE LOGIN HOST_MIRR_login WITH PASSWORD = 'Password!'
GO
CREATE USER HOST_MIRR_user FOR LOGIN HOST_MIRR_login
GO
CREATE CERTIFICATE HOST_MIRR_cert
    AUTHORIZATION HOST_MIRR_user
    FROM FILE = 'D:\certificate\HOST_MIRR_cert.cer'
GO
GRANT CONNECT ON ENDPOINT::End_Mirroring TO [HOST_MIRR_login]
GO

Step 4: Create login, user and associate certificate with user on Mirror Instance

 /* 
*  Execute this against the Mirror Instance. The HOST_PRIN_cert.cer
*  needs to be copied on the Mirror Server.
*/
USE MASTER
GO
/*
*  We are creating a SQL Login here. For Windows logins, 
*  use the Grant Login instead of Create Login
*/
CREATE LOGIN HOST_PRIN_login WITH PASSWORD = 'Password!'
GO
CREATE USER HOST_PRIN_user FOR LOGIN HOST_PRIN_login
GO
CREATE CERTIFICATE HOST_PRIN_cert
    AUTHORIZATION HOST_PRIN_user
    FROM FILE = 'D:\certificate\HOST_PRIN_cert.cer'
    GO
GRANT CONNECT ON ENDPOINT::End_Mirroring TO [HOST_PRIN_login]
GO

Step 5: Create encryption key, certificate and end-points on Witness Instance

 /* Execute this against the Witness Instance */
USE MASTER
GO
CREATE MASTER KEY ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD = 'Password!'
GO
CREATE CERTIFICATE HOST_WITT_cert
    WITH SUBJECT = 'HOST_WITT certificate',
    START_DATE = '01/07/2009'
GO
CREATE ENDPOINT End_Mirroring
    STATE = STARTED
    AS TCP (LISTENER_PORT = 5024, LISTENER_IP = ALL)
    FOR DATABASE_MIRRORING
    (
        AUTHENTICATION = CERTIFICATE HOST_WITT_cert,
        ENCRYPTION = REQUIRED ALGORITHM RC4,
        ROLE = Witness
    )
GO
BACKUP CERTIFICATE HOST_WITT_cert
    TO FILE = 'D:\certificate\HOST_WITT_cert.cer'
GO

Step 6: Create login, user and associate certificate with user on Principal Instance

 /*
*  Execute this against the Principal Instance. The HOST_WITT_cert.cer
*  needs to be copied on the Principal Server.
*/
USE MASTER
GO
/*
*  We are creating a SQL Login here. For Windows logins,
*  use the Grant Login instead of Create Login
*/
CREATE LOGIN HOST_WITT_login WITH PASSWORD = 'Password!'
GO
CREATE USER HOST_WITT_user FOR LOGIN HOST_WITT_login
GO
CREATE CERTIFICATE HOST_WITT_cert
    AUTHORIZATION HOST_WITT_user
    FROM FILE = 'D:\certificate\HOST_WITT_cert.cer'
GO
GRANT CONNECT ON ENDPOINT::End_Mirroring TO [HOST_WITT_login]
GO

Step 7: Create login, user and associate certificate with user on Mirror Instance

 /*
*  Execute this against the Mirror Instance. The HOST_WITT_cert.cer
*  needs to be copied on the Mirror Server.
*/
USE MASTER
GO
/*
*  We are creating a SQL Login here. For Windows logins,
*  use the Grant Login instead of Create Login
*/
CREATE LOGIN HOST_WITT_login WITH PASSWORD = 'Password!'
GO
CREATE USER HOST_WITT_user FOR LOGIN HOST_WITT_login
GO
CREATE CERTIFICATE HOST_WITT_cert
    AUTHORIZATION HOST_WITT_user
    FROM FILE = 'D:\certificate\HOST_WITT_cert.cer'
GO
GRANT CONNECT ON ENDPOINT::End_Mirroring TO [HOST_WITT_login]
GO

Step 8: Create login, user and associate certificate with user on Witness Instance

 /*
*  Execute this against the Witness Instance. The HOST_PRIN_cert.cer
*  and HOST_MIRR_cert.cer needs to be copied on the Witness Server.
*/
USE MASTER
GO
/*
*  We are creating a SQL Login here. For Windows logins,
*  use the Grant Login instead of Create Login
*/
CREATE LOGIN HOST_PRIN_login WITH PASSWORD = 'Password!'
GO
CREATE USER HOST_PRIN_user FOR LOGIN HOST_PRIN_login
GO
CREATE CERTIFICATE HOST_PRIN_cert
    AUTHORIZATION HOST_PRIN_user
    FROM FILE = 'D:\certificate\HOST_PRIN_cert.cer'
GO
GRANT CONNECT ON ENDPOINT::End_Mirroring TO [HOST_PRIN_login]
GO
/*
*  We are creating a SQL Login here. For Windows logins,
*  use the Grant Login instead of Create Login
*/
CREATE LOGIN HOST_MIRR_login WITH PASSWORD = 'Password!'
GO
CREATE USER HOST_MIRR_user FOR LOGIN HOST_MIRR_login
GO
CREATE CERTIFICATE HOST_MIRR_cert
AUTHORIZATION HOST_MIRR_user
FROM FILE = 'D:\certificate\HOST_MIRR_cert.cer'
GO
GRANT CONNECT ON ENDPOINT::End_Mirroring TO [HOST_MIRR_login]
GO

Step 9: Create the Mirrored Database on the Mirror Server using backups from the Principal Server

 /*
*  Execute this against the Principal Instance.
*/
USE MASTER
GO
BACKUP DATABASE MirrorDB
    TO DISK = 'D:\Backups\MirrorDB_FullBackup.bak'
GO
BACKUP LOG MirrorDB
    TO DISK = 'D:\Backups\MirrorDB_LogBackup.trn'
GO
/*
*  Copy MirrorDB_FullBackup.bak and MirrorDB_LogBackup.trn to the
*  Mirror Server.
*  Execute this against the Mirror Instance.
*/
USE MASTER
GO
RESTORE DATABASE MirrorDB
    FROM DISK = 'D:\Backups\MirrorDB_FullBackup.bak'
    WITH NORECOVERY
GO
RESTORE LOG MirrorDB
    FROM DISK = 'D:\Backups\MirrorDB_LogBackup.trn'
    WITH NORECOVERY
GO

Step 10: Setup Mirroring

 /*
*  Execute this against the Mirror Instance.
*/
ALTER DATABASE MirrorDB
    SET PARTNER = 'TCP://<<your principal server name here>>:5022'
GO
/*
*  Execute this against the Principal Instance.
*/
ALTER DATABASE MirrorDB
    SET PARTNER = 'TCP://<<your mirror server name here>>:5023'
GO
ALTER DATABASE MirrorDB
    SET WITNESS = 'TCP://<<your witness server name here>>:5024'
GO

At this point your Database Mirroring should be up and running. You can use the Database Mirroring Monitor to verify the setup as well as to monitor the Synchronization status.

DBMirroring

Disclaimer: All information provided here is my personal opinion and is neither verified nor approved by Microsoft before it is published. All information, and code samples, if any, is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights.