SQL Interview: 114 master database

This is a post in the SQL Interview series. These aren’t trick or gotcha questions, they’re just questions designed to scope out a candidate’s knowledge around SQL Server and Azure SQL Database.

Section: Administration Level: Advanced

Question:

You know that the master database in SQL Server is now separate to the resource database (mssqlsystemresource).

Can you list three types of instance-level metadata that still live in the master database?

Answer:

Pick three of the following:

• Logins (SQL logins + information for Windows logins)
• Server roles
• Credentials
• Linked server definitions
• Endpoints (for mirroring, AGs, TDS, etc.)
• Server-scope configuration (sp_configure values)
• Service broker endpoints & routes (server-level)

2025-12-27