Setting Up Database Mirroring or Availability Groups Using Certificates

If you need to set up database mirroring in SQL Server using certificates, or if you need to set up availability groups using certificates, then prepare for a long and tedious step-by-step scripting that you need to do on each one of the nodes. Fortunately, there is a very good resource on the Microsoft documentation: Example: Setting Up Database Mirroring Using Certificates (Transact-SQL).

This page provides explanations and scripts for the 4 steps you need to take:

1. Configuring Outbound Connections
2. Configuring Inbound Connections
3. Creating the Mirror Database
4. Configuring the Mirroring Partners

If you follow the directions and execute the scripts in the right order and on the right nodes, then you should be OK. It’s very easy to make mistakes, so don’t do this in the middle of the night or after a shot of Tequila. You need to be focused.

Good luck!