Sql-server – Distributed Always-On without Domain

availability-groupsenterprise-editionsql serversql-server-2017windows-server

We have a requirement to configure a distributed availability group from Data center1 to Data Center2 using SQL Server 2017 Enterprise Edition.

DC1 (two nodes WSFC setup): SQLDB1, SQLDB2

DC2 (two nodes WSFC setup): SQLDB3, SQLDB4

The servers are in workgroups, not in a domain. Is it possible to configure distributed availability groups from DC1 to DC2 without domain?

As per my understanding, using certificates it's possible to configure Distributed SQL always-on if all four nodes are in same cluster. Is my understanding is correct?

Please guide me.

Best Answer

The documentation at Distributed availability groups states:

The individual WSFC clusters and their corresponding availability groups follow traditional rules. That is, they can be joined to a domain or not joined to a domain (Windows Server 2016 or later).

Regarding your question about all four nodes being in the same cluster--if they are in the same cluster, then there would be no need to have a distributed availability group (DAG), you would just use an availability group with four replicas. Additionally, the documentation referenced above states:

A distributed availability group spans multiple availability groups, each on its own underlying WSFC cluster.

So if it is possible to set up a DAG with all nodes in one cluster, it is contrary to the documentation and may not be supported.

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