VSE8.8.8 installation on SQL2012 Server

[Former Member]

We are having active/active MSSQL2012 server (cluster) & planning to install VSE8.8.0 on them. I have checked the KB for exclusion & found nothing for MSSQL2012.

Can you please suggest something for us?

[exbrit]

Moved to VirusScan Enterprise

---

Peter

Moderator

[rmetzger]

Hi ,

sazzad wrote:

We are having active/active MSSQL2012 server (cluster) & planning to install VSE8.8.0 on them. I have checked the KB for exclusion & found nothing for MSSQL2012.
Can you please suggest something for us?

Well, McAfee's Knowledge base article KB67211 doesn't specify support for SQL 2012:

URL=https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=KB67211 wrote:

McAfee/Intel Security

Knowledge Center

Recommended exclusions for VirusScan Enterprise on Microsoft SQL Servers

Technical Articles ID:  KB67211
Last Modified:  2/26/2015

Environment

McAfee VirusScan Enterprise (VSE) 8.x

Microsoft Windows 2008 SQL Server
Microsoft Windows 2005 SQL server
Microsoft Windows 2003 SQL server
Microsoft Windows 2000 SQL server

For details of VSE 8.x supported environments, see KB51111.

Summary

Recommended exclusions for running VSE on a Microsoft SQL Server

CAUTION: Creating exclusions can introduce risks to an environment.

Before you proceed, see KB79589 for details on how to make On-Access Scanner
(real-time) exclusions more secure.

Solution

File Type Exclusions:

.MDF     SQL Server data files
.LDF     SQL Server data files
.NDF     SQL Server data files
.BAK     SQL Server backup files
.TRN     SQL Server backup files

Directory Exclusions:

\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$instancename\DATA\
    - Data files

\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$instancename\BACKUP\
    - Backup files

\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$instancename\FTDATA\
    - Full-text catalog files

\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.X\OLAP\Data\
    - Folder that holds Analysis Services data
      Folder holding Analysis Services temporary files used during Analysis
    Services processing

\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.X\OLAP\Backup\
    - Analysis Services backup files

\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.X\OLAP\Log\
    - Folder holding Analysis Services log files

NOTE: Some of the these locations are configurable and you should exclude
those directories as well.


Considerations when clustering:

"Q:\" (Quorum drive)
"%SystemRoot%\Cluster\" folder

The temp folder for the Cluster Service account. Exclude the folder
    "%SystemDrive%\ClusterServiceAccount\Local Settings\Temp\"
from scanning for example.

IMPORTANT: When adding directories to be excluded in VSE, all directory names
must end with a backslash to distinguish them from file names.
For details, see KB50998.

Affected Products Configuration
VirusScan Enterprise 8.8
VirusScan Enterprise 8.7i

© 2003-2015 McAfee, Inc.

Not surprisingly, Microsoft's article (KB309422) is very similar, and includes support for SQL 2012.

URL=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/309422 wrote:

Microsoft

How to choose antivirus software to run on computers that are running SQL
Server

This article was previously published under Q309422

Summary

This article contains general guidelines to help you decide which kind of
antivirus software to run on the computers that are running Microsoft SQL
Server in your environment.

More information

We strongly recommend that you individually assess the security risk for each
computer that is running SQL Server in your environment and that you select the
tools that are appropriate for the security risk level of each computer that is
running SQL Server. Additionally, we recommend that before you roll out any
virus-protection project, you test the whole system under a full load to
measure any changes in stability and performance.

Virus protection software requires some system resources to execute. You must
perform testing before and after you install your antivirus software to
determine whether there is any performance effect on the computer that is
running SQL Server.

Security risk factors

+ The value to your business of the information that is stored on the
   computer.
+ The required security level for that information.
+ The cost of losing access to that information.
+ The risk of either virus or bad information propagating from that computer.

High-risk servers

Any server is at some risk of infection. The highest risk servers generally
meet one or more of the following criteria:

+ The servers are on the public Internet.
+ The servers have open ports to servers that are not behind a firewall.
+ The servers read or execute files from other servers.
+ The servers run HTTP servers, such as Internet Information Services (IIS) or
   Apache. (For example: SQL XML for SQL Server 2000.)
+ The servers are also hosting file shares.
+ The servers use SQL Mail or Database Mail to handle incoming or outgoing
   email messages.

Servers that do not meet the criteria for a high-risk server are generally at
a lower risk, although not always.

Virus tool types

+ Active virus scanning: This kind of scanning checks incoming and outgoing
   files for viruses.
+ Virus sweep software: Virus sweep software scans existing files for file
   infection. It detects files after they are infected with a virus. This kind
   of scanning may cause the following SQL Server database recovery and SQL
   Server full-text catalog file issues:
   + If the virus sweep has opened a database file and still has it open when
     SQL Server tries to open the database (such as when SQL Server starts or
     when SQL Server opens a database that AutoClose has closed), the database
     to which the file belongs might be marked as suspect. The SQL Server
     database files typically have the .mdf, .ldf, and .ndf file suffixes.

   + If the virus sweep software has a SQL Server full-text catalog file open
     when the Microsoft Search service (MSSearch) tries to access the file,
     you may have problems with the full text catalog.

+ Vulnerability scanning software: The Microsoft Security Tool Kit CD includes
   best practice guidelines, information about how to help secure your system,
   and service packs and updates that can protect your system against virus
   attacks. It also provides Microsoft tools to help you secure your systems
   and keep them secure. To download it, visit the following Microsoft
   website:

     http://www.microsoft.com/security/

+ Antispyware software: Spyware and unwanted software refers to software that
   performs certain tasks on your computer, typically without your consent.
   For more information about how to help protect the computer from spyware
   and unwanted software, visit the following Microsoft website:

     http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/spyware/default.mspx

   Additionally, Microsoft has released the Microsoft Windows Malicious
   Software Removal Tool to help remove specific, prevalent malicious software
   from computers that are running Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, or
   Microsoft Windows 2000. For more information about the Microsoft Windows
   Malicious Software Removal Tool, click the following article number to view
   the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

     890830 ( https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/890830 )

     The Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool helps remove
     specific, prevalent malicious software from computers that are running
     Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, or Windows 2000.

Directories and file-name extensions to exclude from virus scanning

When you configure your antivirus software settings, make sure that you
exclude the following files or directories (as applicable) from virus
scanning. Doing this improves the performance of the files and helps make sure
that the files are not locked when the SQL Server service must use them.
However, if these files become infected, your antivirus software cannot detect
the infection.

Note: For more information about the default file locations for SQL Server,
refer to the "File Locations for Default and Named Instances of SQL Server"
topic for your specific version of SQL Server in SQL Server Books Online.

SQL Server 2012
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143547(v=sql.110).aspx

SQL Server 2008 R2
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143547(v=sql.105).aspx

SQL Server 2008
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143547(SQL.100).aspx

SQL Server 2005
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143547(SQL.90).aspx

+ SQL Server data files

   These files usually have one of the following file-name extensions:
   + .mdf
   + .ldf
   + .ndf

+ SQL Server backup files

   These files frequently have one of the following file-name extensions:
   + .bak
   + .trn

+ Full-Text catalog files
   + Default instance:
     Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\FTDATA

   + Named instance:
     Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$instancename\FTDATA

+ Trace files
     These files usually have the .trc file-name extension. These files can be
     generated either when you configure profiler tracing manually or when you
     enable C2 auditing for the server.

+ SQL audit files (for SQL Server 2008 or later versions)
     These files have the .sqlaudit file-name extension. For more information,
     see the following topic in SQL Server Books Online:

       Audits (General Page)
       http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc280649.aspx

+ SQL query files
     These files typically have the .sql file-name extension and contain
     Transact-SQL statements.

+ The directory that holds Analysis Services data

   Note: The directory that holds all Analysis Services data is specified by
   the DataDir property of the instance of Analysis Services. By default, the
   path of this directory is

     C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.X\OLAP\Data.

   If you use Analysis Services 2000, you can view and change the data
   directory by using Analysis Manager. To do this, follow these steps:
     1. In Analysis Manager, right-click the server, and then click
        Properties.

     2. In the Properties dialog box, click the General tab. The directory
        appears under Data folder.

+ The directory that holds Analysis Services temporary files that are used
   during Analysis Services processing

   Note: For Analysis Services 2005 and later versions, temporary files during
   processing are specified by the TempDir property of the instance of
   Analysis Services. By default, this property is empty. When this property
   is empty, the default directory is used. This directory is

     C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.X\OLAP\Data.

   If you use Analysis Services 2000, you can view and change the directory
   that holds temporary files in Analysis Manager. To do this, follow these
   steps:
     1. In Analysis Manager, right-click the server, and then click
        Properties.

     2. In the Properties dialog box, click the General tab.

     3. On the General tab, notice the directory under Temporary file folder.

   Optionally, you can add a second temporary directory for Analysis Services
   2000 by using the TempDirectory2 registry entry. If you use this registry
   entry, consider excluding from virus scanning the directory to which this
   registry entry points. For more information about the TempDirecotry2
   registry entry, see the "TempDirectory2" section of the following Microsoft
   Developer Network (MSDN) website:

     http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa902654(SQL.80).aspx#sql2k_anservregsettings_topic52

+ Analysis Services backup files

   Note: By default, in Analysis Services 2005 and later versions, the backup
   file location is the location that is specified by the BackupDir property.
   By default, this directory is

     C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.X\OLAP\Backup.

   You can change this directory in the properties of the instance of Analysis
   Services. Any backup command can point to a different location. Or, the
   backup files may be copied elsewhere.

+ The directory that holds Analysis Services log files

   Note: By default, in Analysis Services 2005 and later versions, the log
   file location is the location that is specified by the LogDir property. By
   default, this directory is

   C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.X\OLAP\Log.

+ Directories for any Analysis Services 2005 and later-version partitions
   that are not stored in the default data directory

   Note: When you create the partitions, these locations are defined in the
   Storage location section of the Processing and Storage Locations page of
   the Partition Wizard.

+ Filestream data files (SQL 2008 and later versions)

+  Remote Blob Storage files (SQL 2008 and later versions)

+  The directory that holds Reporting Services temporary files and Logs
    (RSTempFiles and LogFiles)

Processes to exclude from virus scanning

SQL Server 2012
    %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL11.<Instance Name>\MSSQL\Binn\SQLServr.exe
    %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSRS11.<Instance Name>\Reporting Services\ReportServer\Bin\ReportingServicesService.exe
    %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSAS11.<Instance Name>\OLAP\Bin\MSMDSrv.exe

SQL Server 2008 R2
    %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10_50.<Instance Name>\MSSQL\Binn\SQLServr.exe
    %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10_50.<Instance Name>\Reporting Services\ReportServer\Bin\ReportingServicesService.exe
    %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10_50.<Instance Name>\OLAP\Bin\MSMDSrv.exe

SQL Server 2008
    %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.<Instance Name>\MSSQL\Binn\SQLServr.exe
    %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.<Instance Name>\Reporting Services\ReportServer\Bin\ReportingServicesService.exe
    %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.<Instance Name>\OLAP\Bin\MSMDSrv.exe

SQL Server 2005
    %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Binn\SQLServr.exe
    %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.3\Reporting Services\ReportServer\Bin\ReportingServicesService.exe
    %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.2\OLAP\Bin\MSMDSrv.exe

Considerations for clustering

You can run antivirus software on a SQL Server cluster. However, you must make
sure that the antivirus software is a cluster-aware version. Contact your
antivirus vendor about cluster-aware versions and interoperability.

If you are running antivirus software on a cluster, make sure that you also
exclude these locations from virus scanning:

+ Q:\ (Quorum drive)
+ C:\Windows\Cluster

If you back up the database to a disk or if you back up the transaction log to
a disk, you can exclude the backup files from the virus scanning.

References

To find general information about SQL Server security, visit the following
topics in SQL Server Books Online:

Securing SQL Server
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb283235.aspx

Security Checklists for the Database Engine
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff848778%28v=SQL.105%29.aspx

To find general information about SQL Server security, visit the following
Microsoft website. (This information includes best practices, various security
models, and security bulletins.)

http://www.microsoft.com/sql/technologies/security/default.mspx

For more information about additional antivirus considerations on a cluster,
click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft

Knowledge Base:

  250355 Antivirus software may cause problems with Cluster services
  ( https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/250355 )

For general recommendations from Microsoft for scanning on Enterprise systems,
click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft

Knowledge Base:

  822158 Virus scanning recommendations for Enterprise computers that are
  running currently supported versions of Windows
  ( http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822158 )

For information about third-party detours or similar techniques in SQL Server,
click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft

Knowledge Base:

  920925 The use of third-party detours or similar techniques is not supported
  in SQL Server
  ( https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/920925 )

Properties

Article ID: 309422 - Last Review: 10/09/2013 09:01:00 - Revision: 23.0

Applies to
    Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 Standard Edition
    Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Developer Edition
    Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition
    Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Personal Edition
    Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition
    Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition
    Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition
    Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition
    Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition
    Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition
    Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Developer
    Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Enterprise
    Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard
    Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Web
    Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Workgroup
    Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Standard
    Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Developer
    Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Enterprise
    Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Web
    Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Workgroup
    Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Developer
    Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Enterprise
    Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Standard
    Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Web

Keywords:

    kbsql2005cluster kbinfo KB309422
    Terms of use Privacy & cookies Trademarks © 2015 Microsoft

See the following for help on configuring High-Risk, Low-Risk, and Default Processes,

using Best Practices.

    PD22941, VSE 8.8 Product Guide:

    https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=PD22941

    PD22940, VSE 8.8 Best Practices Guide:

    https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=PD22940

    KB55139, Understanding High-Risk, Low-Risk, and Default processes

    configuration and usage:

    https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=KB55139

Now, for SQL 2012, extrapolating from both and applying the High/Low Risk Processes, I would:

1) Assign to a Low Risk Process

    %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL11.<Instance Name>\MSSQL\Binn\SQLServr.exe

    %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSRS11.<Instance Name>\Reporting Services\ReportServer\Bin\ReportingServicesService.exe

    %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSAS11.<Instance Name>\OLAP\Bin\MSMDSrv.exe

Within this Low-Risk Process you could define the following exclusions:

2) Exclude Directories:

   %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$instancename\DATA\

   %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$instancename\BACKUP\

   %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$instancename\FTDATA\

   %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL11\OLAP\Data\

   %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL11\OLAP\Backup\

   %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL11\OLAP\Log\

   %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.X\OLAP\Data\

   %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.X\OLAP\Backup\

   %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.X\OLAP\Log\

   A more generic set of exclusions might look like this:

   %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\**\DATA\

   %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\**\BACKUP\

   %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\**\FTDATA\

   %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\**\Log\

   This will include more 'exclusions' than the examples above, but avoids having to adjust for version specific SQL directories

   and for every new Instance Name added.

If MS SQL has been installed in another directory, adjust the exclusions accordingly. Verify that these directories actually exist.

3) Exclude Extensions

   .MDF     SQL Server data files

   .LDF     SQL Server data files

   .NDF     SQL Server data files

   .BAK     SQL Server backup files (or .BAC, or whatever backup file extension you use)

   .TRN     SQL Server backup files

4) Exclude Clustering:

   Q:\ (Quorum drive)

   %SystemRoot%\Cluster\

   %SystemDrive%\ClusterServiceAccount\Local Settings\Temp\

This should be a good starting point. Review everything.

Hope this helps. and post back with additional questions or what worked for you.

Ron Metzger

[Former Member]

Thanks for everything!

I will execute as described & keep you updated!