Series starting blog: SharePoint 2019 small Farm Implementation Series
SQL Aliases are optional (but recommended), and are a great way to configure your SharePoint environment.
They allow for flexibility in case the SQL instance is changed, or the server names/IPs change then it’s possible to only “re-point” to the new servers. This way, there’s no need to reinstall SharePoint for the new server/instance.
SQL Aliases are configured on each SharePoint Server. This is very important to remember!
Run cliconfg utility on SharePoint Server
On Windows Server 2019 & Windows Server 2016, we have an utility called cliconfg. There are 2 versions: 32-bit and 64-bit.
In this blog post, we will be installing the 64-bit version (32-bit would be for apps compatibility, and located at C:\Windows\SysWow64)
Log into the SharePoint Server
Browse to C:\Windows\System32
Double-click on cliconfg
When the SQL Server Client Network Utility opens, click on the “Alias” tab, then “Add“. Then configure the following:
Network libraries => TCP/IP
Server Alias => The name for your alias
Server name => The SQL Server’s name (for default instance) or ServerName\Instance (if named instance)
Port number => SQL Server port number for the instance
Then click on “OK”
For our DEV env Alias name is : SP2019DevDB
2. Run the 64-bit SQL tool. Run the following application, “C:\windows\syswow64\cliconfg.exe”
Using the 64bit tool, repeat all the same steps you did above.
And we have our SQL Alias setup
Now when installing SharePoint, enter the alias when asked for the database server.
And remember… Setup the alias on each SharePoint Server in the Farm!