Benefit of switching to SQL Data Store?

[EvilPeppard]

At what point should I consider converting to a SQL backend for the Data Store?

In my Citrix class, the instructor said I didn't need to worry about it till I got close to 100 servers in the farm. Is that true?

Also, what benefits would I see using a SQL backend vs. the Access Database that is currently used by the Data Store?

Any direction or input would be appreciated.

 

[CitrixEngineer]

100 servers? That's very optimistic! When I initially did my tests just after XP was launched, I found performance seemed to degrade after 12 servers. Maybe it's got better since, but my recommendation for Access is always for farms of 10 or less.

MSDE would be worth investigating, if you're running FR3; Cheaper than full-blown SQL server, it offers much better scalability, but is still an indirect connection so suffers some of the other limitations.

Apart from the scalability, a direct connection means less IMA traffic bound to a single server. A dedicated database server in itself is scalable and more robust. For farms of 20+ I'd always recommended it. Generally companies that deploy so many Citrix servers already have database servers of some variety, so an additional user license is not a great cost.

Hope this helps

 

[Traver]

You might get Lucky and investigate what other DB there are at your company. You really don´t need that much power for running a citrix Farm db. So if there are someon e with a MS SQl Db or Oracle, ask if you can use there machines. Citrix makes it´s own list, and doesn´t write into other applications.

 

[EvilPeppard]

I do have a dedicated DS server that is also the Print Server, but is not running any published apps.

I wish I could find somehting from Citrix that stated what the max servers in a farm was before needing to switch to SQL.

Will switching to SQL increase logon and logoff times?

 

[ProfFate]

100 servers is the number I've always heard. I've worked on farms that had 50+ servers, that used the Access Database without any problems.

MikeL

 

[ascotta]

I wouldn't trust the old access over more that 1 server. Cos if you lose that server your stuffed. However, probably 10 is more accurate.

Cheers
Scott

 

[KCDave03]

I wouldn't put the fortunes of my farm on Access at all whether it is two servers or twenty. Our SQL datastore has been VERY reliable.

 

[mrashburn]

OK... Mr. Engineer (my I call you by your first name, Citrix?) If I replace my Access db with another db (we are an Oracle shop or even if I use MSDE) will this allow users to login to our published apps or other boxes on the farm, even if the server that currently hosts the Access db goes down?

 

[ascotta]

Ah Mr Ashburn (may I call you by your christian name MIS?)
If you port the database to SQL, ORACLE or MSDE then there is no Access database, and therfore your users will be able to hit all citrix servers in that farm.

Cheers
Scott