# RDS Custom for SQL Server workflow
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The following diagram shows the typical workflow for RDS Custom for SQL Server.

![\[RDS Custom for SQL Server architecture\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/UserGuide/images/custom_sqlserver_architecture_v2.png)


The steps are as follows:

1. Create an RDS Custom for SQL Server DB instance from an engine version offered by RDS Custom.

   For more information, see [Creating an RDS Custom for SQL Server DB instance](custom-creating-sqlserver.md#custom-creating-sqlserver.create).

1. Connect your application to the RDS Custom DB instance endpoint.

   For more information, see [Connecting to your RDS Custom DB instance using AWS Systems Manager](custom-creating-sqlserver.ssm.md) and [Connecting to your RDS Custom DB instance using RDP](custom-creating-sqlserver.rdp.md).

1. (Optional) Access the host to customize your software.

1. Monitor notifications and messages generated by RDS Custom automation.

## Creating a DB instance for RDS Custom
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You create your RDS Custom DB instance using the `create-db-instance` command. The procedure is similar to creating an Amazon RDS instance. However, some of the parameters are different. For more information, see [Creating and connecting to a DB instance for Amazon RDS Custom for SQL Server](custom-creating-sqlserver.md).

## Database connection
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Like an Amazon RDS DB instance, your RDS Custom for SQL Server DB instance resides in a VPC. Your application connects to the RDS Custom instance using a client such as SQL Server Management Suite (SSMS), just as in RDS for SQL Server.

## RDS Custom customization
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You can access the RDS Custom host to install or customize software. To avoid conflicts between your changes and the RDS Custom automation, you can pause the automation for a specified period. During this period, RDS Custom doesn't perform monitoring or instance recovery. At the end of the period, RDS Custom resumes full automation. For more information, see [Pausing and resuming RDS Custom automation](custom-managing-sqlserver.pausing.md).