VMware and SQL Server 2005 inquiry

[mlchris2]

I am planning a project to virtualize my server environment. Im trying to do some independent research on the performance of running 2 virtual servers running SQL Server 2005 in a VMWare ESX3 or ESX3i environment on the same physical server. I have several beefy servers (PE6850 2x 3.0 Dual-Core XEON 64bit, 8GB RAM)

My challenge is convincing our CTO, who is also our DBA that VMware is fully capable of running multiple instances of servers running SQL 2005 (with the proper hardware configuration)...

do any of you have information that I might be able to provide him or opinions on this matter?

Mark C.

 

[jmd0252]

We have 2 IBM series boxes,,, 4 way processors dual core, hooked up via fiber to a san. We have upgraded to the latest version of VMServer.. We run an instance of W2003 server,, and SQL2005. We have about 200 people hitting the machine, thru a varity of communication paths, either local, via VPNs, etc. The performance will drop,, as more load is placed on the machine, during the day. But then again we are running 4 instances of VM machines, on one physical box. We have 2 phycial machines, and 8 servers. We are upgrading on the following path. BIGGER IBM box,, more physical memory, building a W64 bit machine, lots of mermory,,and running SQL 2005,,, 64 bit. This machine will be almost exclusive to the SQL server. But this is the box,, for all of our accounting system. It can be done, very well,, via VMWare,, but over buy memory,,and over allocate memory,, SQL 2005,, likes LOTS of memory.

 

[mrdenny]

This may help you out a bit.

http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarg...tualizing-sql-server-when-to-and-when-not-to/

The basic summary is, if the SQL Server is high load system then it's not a good candidate for virtualizing. It's still a good read though (I am biased, I did write it after all).

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)
MCTS (SQL 2005 / Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0: Configuration / Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007: Configuration)
MCITP Database Administrator (SQL 2005) / Database Developer (SQL 2005)

My Blog

 

[NortonES2]

We are running 3 SQL Server 2005 servers on an HP DL580 with 4 x dual core cpus and 32Gb RAM, approx 250 users with no performance problems.

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If it doesn't leak oil it must be empty!!

 

[mlchris2]

Denny, thanks for that post. Great information. I finally talked to a few non-biased DBA's and i think with a CPU and memory upgrade, I would be good to go.

Thx

Mark C.

 

[Crowley16]

the biggest problem is the i/o bottleneck.

if you can run your sql databases off a san or very fast raid or even split across multiple harddrives, then you can get much better scaling...

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