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Applies to: 
SQL Server
This article lists system objects - files, registry keys, Windows services and tables deployed and managed by the Azure extension for SQL Server.
Windows server files
| Path | Description |
|---|---|
%ProgramFiles%\AzureConnectedMachineAgent\* |
azcmagent CLI and instance metadata service executables |
%ProgramFiles%\AzureConnectedMachineAgent\GCArcService\GC\* |
Extension service executables |
%ProgramData%\AzureConnectedMachineAgent\* |
Configuration, log, and identity token files for azcmagent CLI and instance metadata service |
%ProgramData%\Application Data\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA\MachineKeys |
Windows certificate private keys |
SQL Server files
| Path | Description & notes |
|---|---|
%ProgramFiles%\Sql Server Extension\* |
Extension program files |
%SYSTEMDRIVE%\Packages\Plugins\Microsoft.AzureData.WindowsAgent.SQLServer\<extension_version>\* |
Extension executables |
%SYSTEMDRIVE%\Windows\system32\extensionUpload\* |
Usage files |
C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Microsoft\SqlServerExtension |
XML for scheduled task for providing privileges |
C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\SqlServerExtension\AppData\Local\Microsoft SQL Server Extension Agent\* |
When configured for least privilege Feature application |
C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\Microsoft SQL Server Extension Agent\* |
When not configured for least privilege Feature application |
Note
Currently, least privileged configuration is not applied by default.
Existing servers with extension version 1.1.2859.223 or greater will eventually have the least privileged configuration applied. This extension was released in November, 2024. To prevent the automatic application of least privilege, block extension upgrades after 1.1.2859.223.
Windows Services
| Service name | Display name | Process name | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| SqlServerExtension | Microsoft Sql Server Extension Service | SqlServerExtension.exe | Connects your SQL Server instance to Azure. |
| himds | Azure Hybrid Instance Metadata Service | himds.exe |
Synchronizes metadata with Azure and hosts a local REST API for extensions and applications to access the metadata and request Microsoft Entra managed identity tokens |
| GCArcService | Machine configuration Arc Service | gc_arc_service.exe (gc_service.exe earlier than version 1.36) |
Audits and enforces Azure machine configuration policies on the machine. |
| ExtensionService | Machine configuration Extension Service | gc_extension_service.exe (gc_service.exe earlier than version 1.36) |
Installs, updates, and manages extensions on the machine. |
Virtual service accounts
| Virtual Account | Description |
|---|---|
NT SERVICE\himds |
Unprivileged account used to run the Hybrid Instance Metadata Service. |
NT Service\SQLServerExtension |
Unprivileged account used to run the SQL Server Extension Service in least privilege mode. |
Registry keys
Base key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
| Key | Description & notes |
|---|---|
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\<InstanceRegistryName>\MSSQLSERVER |
Microsoft Entra ID registry key |
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\<InstanceRegistryName>\PurviewConfig |
Purview registry key |
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SystemCertificates |
Windows certificate registry key |
Tables
In each instance of SQL Server enabled by Azure Arc, the extension creates the following tables in msdb:
dq.arcJobTriggers00dt.arcJobDefinitions
These tables store background job definition and execution history. Background jobs perform scheduled and user-initiated actions. These tables allow long-running jobs to automatically resume in the event that the Azure Extension for SQL Server is restarted.
Additionally, the table dbo.SQLServerAzureArcProperties contains the resource identity for the SQL Server instance in Azure Resource Manager. This table can be used to detect if the SQL Server instance is Arc-enabled, and if so, what the identity of the resource is in Azure.