SQL Server details

Database overview

Verba uses a standard Microsoft SQL Server database to store the system configuration parameters for each Verba server and the conversation metadata (CDR) for each conversation.
The following versions of Microsoft SQL Server (Express, Standard or Enterprise editions) are supported:

• SQL Server 2008 R2
• SQL Server 2012
• SQL Server 2014
• SQL Server 2016

The database can be located on one of the Verba servers, a standalone server, or a highly available company SQL infrastructure.
When database resilience is required, Verba relies on standard built-in resiliency options available within Microsoft SQL Server such as

• Mirroring
• Clustering
• Always-on availability groups
• Log shipping

The recommended MS SQL Server edition for each Verba Instance depends on the number of conversations stored.

Express Edition is bundled for free, recommended for up to 1.000.000 calls.
If the Full-Text Search feature is needed, then install SQL Server Express with Advanced Services.

If Data Retention policies are set to automatically delete calls, then capacity planning should be based on the maximum number of conversations stored in the system at any one time and not the total number of conversations recorded ever.

Installing a Microsoft SQL Server instance

In the Verba install kit, we provide a simple, unattended installation procedure for Microsoft SQL Server Express (see the Prerequisites Installer Tool).

For information on how to install other Microsoft SQL server editions, please refer to the following articles.

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb500395(v=sql.110).aspx

https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/bb500469(v=sql.120).aspx

Feature selection

MS SQL Server 2008

The following features need to be selected during the install:

• Database Engine Services
  • Full-Text Search
• Client Tools Connectivity
• Integration Services
• Client Tools Backward Compatibility
• (Management Tools - Complete) Not necessary but recommended.

MS SQL Server 2012

The following features need to be selected during the install:

• Database Engine Services
• Full -Text and Semantic Extractions for Search
• (Management Tools - Complete) Not necessary but recommended.

On the collation tab please make sure that the case-sensitive checkbox is left UNCHECKED. Verba requires a case-insensitive database.

Instance configuration

It is recommended to install the Verba database as the default instance, however, the system supports named instances as well.

Database configuration

The Containment type setting of the Verba database has to be left on None.

Service accounts

Use the built-in System account and set it to Network service and check the SQL Server Agent to start at the end of the setup.

Account provisioning

If you would like to use SQL authentication, then select Mixed Mode authentication. Set an sa password and make a note of it. The Verba installer will need this information.

If you would like to use Windows Authentication, then select Windows Authentication.

For more information see the SQL Server Authentication section below.

Using the Verba Prerequisites tool to install SQL Server Express edition

MS SQL Server Express Edition unattended installer is included in the Verba install media.

Please, follow the steps below to install MS SQL Server Express Edition:

Step 1 - Copy the Verba Installation kit to the appropriate drive.

Step 2 - Click on the setup.exe file

Step 4 - Select the type of Verba server that you will be installing on this machine. (Single server solution or Media Repository)

Step 5 - Click on Install SQL Server Express and then on the button with the same name

Step 6 - The unattended installation starts automatically.

The unattended installer sets the sa password to Verba456+. This information will need to be entered during the installation process of the Verba servers.

Database memory and storage requirements

You can download the Excel Verba Storage Calculator Sheet to estimate your storage and database sizing requirements.

If the database is running on a Verba server, then please make sure that it is not allocating too much memory for itself, decreasing the performance of other components on the machine.
It is strongly recommended that you leave at least half of the RAM free for use by other Verba components.

For instructions on how to do this, please refer to https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms178067.aspx

SQL Server Authentication

The system supports both SQL Server Authentication and Windows Authentication for SQL Server connections. Using Windows Authentication, the system relies on the Windows service logon credentials for authentication with the SQL Server. The Verba system requires the following SQL Server roles configured for the Windows service user account:

For more information on SQL Server server and database level roles, see https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms188659.aspx and https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189121.aspx.

General information on SQL Server principals, see https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms181127.aspx