Pilot Project on Biztalk 2000. Server req's?

[PTW]

We're going to try a small pilot project with Biztalk 2000 Standard Edition. It will be a pretty simple thing: move datafiles from one server on our VPN to a central server and import the data into a central SQL Server database.

If we wanted both Biztalk 2000 and SQL 7.0/2000 on a test server, how big of a server would we need? Microsoft recommends a minimum of a 300 MHz processor and 128 MB RAM for Biztalk, and a 166 MHz processor and 128 MB RAM for SQL Server. However, I've learned to eye "minimum" requirements very skeptically. Does anyone have any idea of what we'll REALLY need for a server?

Thanks!

 

[SenseiC]

PTW,

In a nutshell, this is a Microsoft product... with that said, their 'minimum requirements' are, to quote Tom & Ray (CarTalk), "bo-oh-oh-oh-gus! LOL".

It comes down to the (a) volume of documents being processed, (b) size of documents processed and (c) how much orchestration will be involved. Unfortunately, Microsoft isn't stupid either. The product is licensed on a per-processor basis. Real-life implementations, commercial deployments are going to want to be on multiprocessor systems with a MINIMUM of 512MB of RAM (i.e. more if you're likely to be processing multi-megabyte documents). You will also want to plan your storage. Multiple spindles to handle the disk I/O would be wise. For a proof of concept though you can probably get by with something like a PII 500 MHz. I think you'd be quite unhappy with less that 256MB RAM 'specially if you're parking SQL Server on there as well (because you'll have to have Win2K Server for the OS). If you can swing the 512+ MB w/o much pain, I'd do it... BizTalk will use it.

If you haven't read them already, read the following Microsoft BizTalk Server docuemnts:

BizTalk Server Deployment Considerations (URL

http://www.microsoft.com/BIZTALK/techinfo/deployment/2000/wp_deploymentConsiderations.asp

)

Deployment (URL

http://www.microsoft.com/BIZTALK/techinfo/deployment/default.asp

)

and Deployment Tips (URL

http://www.microsoft.com/BIZTALK/using/tips/deployment/default.asp

)

I'd suggest snagging a copy of the WROX book Professional BizTalk (ISBN 1861003293) and read it as well. Most online booksellers have it.

http://www.addall.com/

is pretty good at finding booksellers. FIrst glance says it'll run you about $35. It's a good text and was written by guys who DEFINITELY know the product inside and out and is worth every penny.

SenseiC

 

[PTW]

Thanks SenseiC! That helped me out a lot.

 

[sguslan]

For testing and proof of concept work, you can try any PIII 500 Mhz and above with a minimum of 256MB , more is always better, especially considering the low prises of RAM these days. A RAID 0 or 5 subsystem will be a good idea.

But in a production scenario, take a look at some of the HW vendors sizing gudelines...

http://www.compaq.com/partners/microsoft/resourcepaq/utilities/storagesystem.html

or

http://activeanswers.compaq.com/ActiveAnswers/Render/1,1027,5241-6-100-225-1,00.htm

or

http://www.dell.com/us/en/biz/topics/products_size_pedge_sizing.htm

 

[ronenhm]

PTW
how did you plan to load the data onto the database?
are you using the Biztalk SQL Adapter?
or writing a custom component to the job?