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Create a multiserver environment

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Applies to: SQL Server

Multiserver administration requires that you set up a master server (MSX) and one or more target servers (TSX). Jobs that are processed on all the target servers are first defined on the master server and then downloaded to the target servers.

Important

Most, but not all, SQL Server Agent features are currently supported on Azure SQL Managed Instance. The Multi Server Administration feature is not supported on Azure SQL Managed Instance.

By default, full Transport Layer Security (TLS), previously known as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), encryption and certificate validation are enabled for connections between master servers and target servers. For more information, see Set Encryption Options on Target Servers.

If you have a large number of target servers, avoid defining your master server on a production server that has significant performance requirements from other SQL Server functionality, because target server traffic can slow performance on your production server. If you also forward events to a dedicated master server, you can centralize administration on one server. For more information, see Manage Events.

Note

By default, the SQL Server Agent service account is mapped to the default SQL Server Agent service SID (NT SERVICE\SQLSERVERAGENT), which is a member of the sysadmin fixed server role. The account must also be a member of the msdb database role TargetServersRole on the master server if multiserver job processing is used. The Master Server Wizard automatically adds the service account to this role as part of the enlistment process.

Considerations for multiserver environments

Consider the following issues when creating a multiserver environment:

  • Use the most recent version as the master server. The current and two previous versions are supported.

  • Each target server reports to only one master server. You must defect a target server from one master server before you can enlist it into a different one.

  • When changing the name of a target server, you must defect it before changing the name and re-enlist it after the change.

  • If you want to dismantle a multiserver configuration, you must defect all the target servers from the master server.

  • SQL Server Integration Services only supports target servers that are the same version or higher than the master server version.

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