Is it possible to install multiple MS SQL EKM(Extensible Key Management) providers on a single MS SQL server instance ?

Question

An instance is created on MS SQL Server 2016 on Windows Server 2016 machine.

I want to configure multiple cryptographic providers on the same instance using copies of provider.dll stored at different locations on the same machine :

CREATE CRYPTOGRAPHIC PROVIDER safenetSQLEKM1
FROM FILE = 'C:\location1\provider.dll'

CREATE CRYPTOGRAPHIC PROVIDER safenetSQLEKM1
FROM FILE = 'C:\location2\provider.dll'

CREATE CRYPTOGRAPHIC PROVIDER safenetSQLEKM1
FROM FILE = 'C:\location3\provider.dll'

CREATE CRYPTOGRAPHIC PROVIDER safenetSQLEKM1
FROM FILE = 'C:\location4\provider.dll'

When I try to do the same, I get the below error message :

Cryptographic provider with guid '3746736F5-6A5E-4AE9-A131-27634875SD67' already exists.

Thanks in advance.
Regards

Answer 1

Hi @Garg Deepika ,

> Is there any way to implement the above mentioned deployement?

No. You can’t configure multiple cryptographic providers using same provider.dll file.

Best regards,
Cathy

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Answer 2

You can not register the same EKM provider several time, even if you locate them in different folders.

EKM provider must be unique by it's GUID.