| title | Database Requirements | |
|---|---|---|
| description | Use Master Data Services Configuration Manager to create and configure the Master Data Services database, which stores all master data. | |
| author | CordeliaGrey | |
| ms.author | jiwang6 | |
| ms.reviewer | mikeray | |
| ms.date | 09/08/2025 | |
| ms.service | sql | |
| ms.subservice | master-data-services | |
| ms.topic | checklist | |
| ms.custom |
|
[!INCLUDE SQL Server Windows Only - ASDBMI]
[!INCLUDE support-notice]
All master data is stored in a [!INCLUDE ssMDSshort] database. The computer that hosts this database must run an instance of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] [!INCLUDE ssDE].
Use [!INCLUDE ssMDScfgmgr] to create and configure the [!INCLUDE ssMDSshort] database on either a local or a remote computer. If you move the database from one environment to another, you can maintain the information in a new environment by associating the [!INCLUDE ssMDSshort] web service and [!INCLUDE ssMDSmdm] to the database in its new location.
Note
Any computer on which you install components of [!INCLUDE ssMDSshort] must be licensed. For more information, refer to the End User License Agreement (EULA).
Before you create a [!INCLUDE ssMDSshort] database, ensure the following requirements are met.
The [!INCLUDE ssMDSshort] database can be hosted on the following editions of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion]:
The [!INCLUDE ssMDSshort] database can be hosted on the following editions of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion]:
- [!INCLUDE sssql22-md] Enterprise (64-bit) x64
- [!INCLUDE sssql22-md] Developer (64-bit) x64
- [!INCLUDE sssql19-md] Enterprise (64-bit) x64
- [!INCLUDE sssql19-md] Developer (64-bit) x64
- [!INCLUDE sssql16-md] Enterprise (64-bit) x64
- [!INCLUDE sssql16-md] Developer (64-bit) x64
- [!INCLUDE ssSQL14] Business Intelligence (64-bit) x64
- [!INCLUDE ssSQL14] Enterprise (64-bit) x64
- [!INCLUDE ssSQL14] Developer (64-bit) x64
- [!INCLUDE ssSQL11] Business Intelligence (64-bit) x64
- [!INCLUDE ssSQL11] Enterprise (64-bit) x64 - Upgrade from [!INCLUDE sql2008r2] Enterprise only
- [!INCLUDE ssSQL11] Developer (64-bit) x64
- Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Enterprise (64-bit) x64
- Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Developer (64-bit) x64
[!INCLUDE editions-supported-features-windows]
For information about the supported Windows operating systems and other requirements for [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] [!INCLUDE ssDE], see Hardware and software requirements for SQL Server 2016 and SQL Server 2017.
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| User account | In [!INCLUDE ssMDScfgmgr], you can use a Windows account or a [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] account to connect to the [!INCLUDE ssDE] instance of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] to host the [!INCLUDE ssMDSshort] database. The user account must belong to the sysadmin server role on the instance of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] [!INCLUDE ssDE]. For more information about the sysadmin role, see Server-level roles. |
| [!INCLUDE ssMDSmdm] administrator account | When you create a [!INCLUDE ssMDSshort] database, you must specify a domain user account to be the [!INCLUDE ssMDSshort] system administrator. For all [!INCLUDE ssMDSmdm] web applications associated with this database, this user can update all models and all data in all functional areas. For more information, see Administrators (Master Data Services). |
As a best practice, back up the full database daily at a time of low activity and back up transaction logs more frequently depending on the needs of your environment. For more information about database backups, see Backup overview (SQL Server).