A company is deploying Microsoft Entra Connect and needs to ensure high availability for its synchronization service. They plan to install two Microsoft Entra Connect servers. How should these servers be configured to provide fault tolerance and failover capabilities?
- AInstall one server as a primary and the second as a read-only replica.
- BInstall both servers in active-active mode, synchronizing simultaneously.
- CInstall both servers in staging mode, with periodic manual failover.
- DInstall one server in active mode and the second in staging mode.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Install one server in active mode and the second in staging mode.
To achieve high availability with Microsoft Entra Connect, you should install one server in active mode and a second server in staging mode. The active server performs synchronization, while the staging server maintains an identical configuration and synchronized state but does not export changes to Microsoft Entra ID. In case of a failure of the active server, the staging server can be quickly promoted to active mode.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Microsoft Entra Connect doesn't support a 'read-only replica' concept in this context; staging mode is the equivalent for fault tolerance.
- B. Active-active synchronization is not supported and can lead to conflicts.
- C. Having both in staging mode means no changes are exported, and manual failover would still be needed to promote one to active.
Microsoft Entra Connect Staging Mode
Microsoft Entra Connect staging mode allows you to have a second server with an identical configuration to your active server, ready to take over if the active server fails.
- Provides high availability and disaster recovery.
- Staging server imports/synchronizes data but does not export to Microsoft Entra ID.
- Can be used for testing new configurations before promoting to active.
Memory trick: Active goes, Staging waits, for High Availability dates.