How can I keep a production SQL server and DR SQL server in sync? I'm not referring to data - I can use SAN replication for that. I'm referring to the many configuration settings and objects that are external to the databases:
- Server settings (xp_cmdshell, etc.)
- Logins
- Server- and database-level roles
- Server- and database-level permissions
- Object level permissions
- Maintenance plans/SSIS packages
- SQL Agent jobs
- Job schedules
- Database mail configuration
- Objects (proxies, alerts, credentials, operators)
- Linked servers
- Scheduled tasks
- ODBC connections
I realize that many of these items can be scripted out, and periodically run on the DR server; but not all of them can be. And some, although they can be scripted, may be problematic to restore on a DR server, such as SQL Agent jobs. And even with backup scripts, it seems like developing a process to refresh a DR server would be overwhelming given the number of elements and exceptions. I'm not adverse to doing the work to create a completely scripted solution, but was curious if one already exists that handles all or most of the elements in my list.
By the way, I use SQL Server 2008 R2.
Thanks!