Configuring SQL Server Failover Partner for mirroring

Verba supports SQL Server mirroring configurations. The mirror database can be added to the so called "Connection String". This string is used by the SQL Server client libraries, and if it contains the Failover Partner information, then after the original principal server goes down, the library will automatically reconnect to the new principal server.

Using this method, the mirror databases are configured in advance, so no additional configuration  is required when the database roles are switched, and no service restart is needed.

After a role switch, each Verba component's each database connection will be invalid, and the next database query will fail. Again, that will not cause any loss in regards of the recorded data, because when a SQL query fails, the recorder services put the data to their cache, and will try to synchronize later. The web interface periodically tests the database connections, and if a connection is invalid, it tries to reconnect to the database. As a result, the interface will be usable in a few seconds after the roles switched.

Follow the steps below to configure this option:

Step 1. Install the SQL Server Native Client 11 / ODBC Driver 13.1 compatible with your SQL Server on the Verba server. You can download the installer from Microsoft:

SQL Server 2008 R2, 2012 and 2014: SQL Server Native Client 11 download

SQL Server 2016: Microsoft ODBC Driver 13.1 download

Step 2. In the Verba web interface click on Administration > Verba Servers and select your server, or select the appropriate Configuration Profile at Administration -> Configuration Profiles.

Step 3. Click on the Change Configuration Settings tab.

Step 4. Expand Database Connection and enter the IP address or hostname of the mirror database into Database Failover Partner.

Step 5. Change the Database Driver to Native Client 11 for SQL Server in case you have SQL Server 2008 R2, 2012 or 2014, and ODBC Driver 13 for SQL Server in case you have SQL Server 2016.

Step 6. Click the Save icon to save your settings

Step 7. The system will notify you that the changes need to applied to the server by restarting the involved services. Execute the required tasks.

Step 8. Repeat the steps for each Verba server.