Deploying SharePoint Server with SQL Server Always On Availability Groups in Azure

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APPLIES TO: no-img-132013 yes-img-162016 yes-img-192019 yes-img-seSubscription Edition no-img-sopSharePoint in Microsoft 365

Step through the deployment an intranet-only, high availability SharePoint Server farm in Azure with these virtual machines:

  • Two SharePoint front end and distributed cache servers

  • Two SharePoint application and search servers

  • One cluster majority node server

  • Two domain controllers

Here is the configuration, with placeholder names for each server.

An intranet-only, high availability SharePoint Server farm in Azure

Phase 4 of the SharePoint Server highly-available farm in Azure with SharePoint servers

Two virtual machines for each role ensure high availability. All of the virtual machines are in a single cross-premises Azure virtual network. Each group of virtual machines for a specific role is in its own subnet and availability set.

Note

Because this VNet is connected to the on-premises network, this configuration does not include jumpbox or monitoring virtual machines on a management subnet. For more information, see Running Windows VMs for an N-tier architecture.

Bill of materials

This baseline configuration requires the following set of Azure services and components:

  • Nine virtual machines.

  • Four availability sets.

  • One cross-premises virtual network with five subnets.

  • One Azure subscription.

Here are the virtual machines and their default sizes for this configuration.

Item Virtual machine description Gallery image Default size
1.
First domain controller
Windows Server 2016 Datacenter
D2
2.
Second domain controller
Windows Server 2016 Datacenter
D2
3.
First database server
Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Enterprise - Windows Server 2016
DS4
4.
Second database server
Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Enterprise - Windows Server 2016
DS4
5.
Majority node for the cluster
Windows Server 2016 Datacenter
D2
6.
First SharePoint application and search server
Microsoft SharePoint Server 2016 Trial - Windows Server 2012 R2
DS4
7.
Second SharePoint application and search server
Microsoft SharePoint Server 2016 Trial - Windows Server 2012 R2
DS4
8.
First SharePoint front end and distributed cache server
Microsoft SharePoint Server 2016 Trial - Windows Server 2012 R2
DS4
9.
Second SharePoint front end and distributed cache server
Microsoft SharePoint Server 2016 Trial - Windows Server 2012 R2
DS4

To compute the estimated costs for this configuration, see the Azure pricing calculator.

Note

The Azure Pricing Calculator does not include the additional costs for the SQL Server license for the two virtual machines running SQL Server 2016 Enterprise. See Virtual Machines Pricing-SQL for more information.

Phases of deployment

You deploy this SharePoint Server farm with the following phases:

This configuration is a prescriptive, phase-by-phase guide for a predefined architecture to create a highly available intranet SharePoint Server farm in Azure infrastructure services. Keep the following in mind:

  • If you are an experienced SharePoint implementer, feel free to adapt the instructions in phases 3 through 5 and build the farm that best suits your needs.

  • If you already have an existing Azure hybrid cloud deployment, feel free to adapt or skip the instructions in phases 1 and 2 and host the new SharePoint farm on the appropriate set of subnets.

To build a dev/test environment or a proof-of-concept of this configuration, see Intranet SharePoint Server in Azure dev/test environment.

Next step

Start the configuration with SharePoint Intranet Farm in Azure Phase 1: Configure Azure.

See also

Concepts

Install SharePoint Server

Other Resources

SharePoint Server in Microsoft Azure

Designing a SharePoint Server farm in Azure