Adding details to SQL MI link documentation.

Author: sasapopo

articles/azure-sql/managed-instance/link-feature.md

@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ Some Managed Instance link features and capabilities are limited **at this time*
 - Managed Instance Link authentication between SQL Server instance and Managed Instance is certificate-based, available only through exchange of certificates. Windows authentication between instances isn't supported.
 - Replication of user databases from SQL Server to Managed Instance is one-way. User databases from Managed Instance can't be replicated back to SQL Server.
 - Auto failover groups replication to secondary Managed Instance can't be used in parallel while operating the Managed Instance Link with SQL Server.
+- Replicated databases are not part of auto-backup process on SQL Managed Instance.
 
 ## Next steps
 

articles/azure-sql/managed-instance/managed-instance-link-preparation.md

@@ -49,6 +49,21 @@ SELECT @@VERSION
 
 If your SQL Server version is lower than CU15 (15.0.4198.2), either install the minimally supported [CU15](https://support.microsoft.com/topic/kb5008996-cumulative-update-15-for-sql-server-2019-4b6a8ee9-1c61-482d-914f-36e429901fb6), or the current latest cumulative update. Your SQL Server instance will be restarted during the update. 
 
+### Create database master key in the master database
+
+Create database master key in the master database by running the following T-SQL script.
+
+```sql
+-- Create MASTER KEY
+USE MASTER
+CREATE MASTER KEY ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD = '<strong_password>'
+```
+
+To check if you have database master key, use follwing T-SQL script.
+
+```sql
+SELECT * FROM sys.symmetric_keys WHERE name LIKE '%DatabaseMasterKey%'
+```
 
 ### Enable availability groups feature
 
@@ -141,6 +156,20 @@ The following screenshot is an example of the expected outcome for a SQL Server
 
 :::image type="content" source="./media/managed-instance-link-preparation/ssms-results-expected-outcome.png" alt-text="Screenshot showing expected outcome in S S M S.":::
 
+### User database recovery mode and backup
+
+All databases that are to be replicated via SQL Managed Instance link must be in full recovery mode and have at least one backup.
+
+```sql
+-- Set full recovery mode for all databases you want to replicate.
+ALTER DATABASE [<DatabaseName>] SET RECOVERY FULL
+GO
+
+-- Execute backup for all databases you want to replicate.
+BACKUP DATABASE [<DatabaseName>] TO DISK = N'<DiskPath>'
+GO
+```
+
 ## Configure network connectivity
 
 For the Managed Instance link to work, there must be network connectivity between SQL Server and SQL Managed Instance. The network option that you choose depends on where your SQL Server resides - whether it's on-premises or on a virtual machine (VM). 

articles/azure-sql/managed-instance/managed-instance-link-use-ssms-to-replicate-database.md

@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ Use the **New Managed Instance link** wizard in SQL Server Management Studio (SS
 To set up the Managed Instance link, follow these steps: 
 
 1. Open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and connect to your instance of SQL Server. 
-1. In **Object Explorer**, right-click your database, hover over **Azure SQL Managed Instance link** and select **Replicate database** to open the **New Managed Instance link** wizard: 
+1. In **Object Explorer**, right-click your database, hover over **Azure SQL Managed Instance link** and select **Replicate database** to open the **New Managed Instance link** wizard. In case you are using a version of SQL Server that is not supported, this option will not be available in the context menu.
 
     :::image type="content" source="./media/managed-instance-link-use-ssms-to-replicate-database/link-replicate-ssms-database-context-replicate-database.png" alt-text="Screenshot showing database's context menu option to replicate database after hovering over Azure SQL Managed Instance link.":::