Planning Federation Server Placement

• Applies to:

  ✅ Windows Server 2025, ✅ Windows Server 2022, ✅ Windows Server 2019, ✅ Windows Server 2016

The most critical component of an Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) deployment is the federation server. Therefore, it is important that you plan your federation server placement strategy carefully, including when and where to deploy federation servers. The information in the following topics can help you determine when and where to create a federation server or federation server farm and whether to use that federation server in the account partner role, the resource partner role, or both:

• Review the Role of the Federation Server in the Account Partner

• Review the Role of the Federation Server in the Resource Partner

• When to Create a Federation Server

• Where to Place a Federation Server

• When to Create a Federation Server Farm

• Certificate Requirements for Federation Servers

• Name Resolution Requirements for Federation Servers

Note

Although this information might help with your placement planning for federation servers, it does not explain how to determine the proper number of federation servers and the hardware requirements for each AD FS design.

For examples of how a federation server can be placed in any of the two primary AD FS design scenarios, see Mapping Your Deployment Goals to an AD FS Design.

See Also

AD FS Design Guide in Windows Server 2012