This white paper provides configuration guidelines for deploying SQL Server 2005 on Dell PowerEdge servers with Dell PowerVault storage. It recommends best practices for hardware and software setup, including:
1) Separating TempDB, transaction logs, and database data onto distinct disk groups and virtual disks for improved I/O performance.
2) Configuring server NIC teaming and dual-port SAS controllers for network and storage redundancy.
3) Optimizing the Windows 2003 installation with features like disk partition alignment and file system configuration.
4) Configuring SQL Server 2005 with recommendations for TempDB file placement and sizing.
The document aims to help IT professionals implement a tested Dell configuration for SQL Server 2005
Dell PowerEdge M520 server solution: Energy efficiency and database performancePrincipled Technologies
As energy prices continue to rise, building a power-efficient data center that does not sacrifice performance is vital to organizations looking to keep costs down while keeping application performance high. Choosing servers that pair high performance with new power-efficient technologies helps you do so. In our tests, the Dell PowerEdge M520 with Dell EqualLogic PS-M4110 arrays outperformed the HP ProLiant BL460c Gen8 server with HP StorageWorks D2200sb arrays by 113.5 percent in OPM. Not only did the Dell PowerEdge M520 blade server solution deliver higher overall performance, it also did so more efficiently, delivering 79.9 percent better database performance/watt than the HP ProLiant BL460c Gen8 solution.
Configuring a highly available Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 environment on ...Principled Technologies
Setting up a highly available Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 environment on the Dell PowerEdge VRTX is a straightforward process. In very little time, you can deploy Dell PowerEdge VRTX with up to four M-series nodes, switches, and storage in a redundant configuration using Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V, and setup your Exchange Server infrastructure. By setting up a highly available Exchange Server 2013 environment on your compact PowerEdge VRTX, you can ensure your Exchange workloads stay running to keep your business moving.
Webinář: Provozujte datacentrum v kanceláři (Dell VRTX) / 5.9.2013Jaroslav Prodelal
Dokážete si představit, že byste provozovali své datacentrum v prostředí kanceláře? Ano, je to možné. Společnost Dell uvedla na trh novinku v podobě tzv. datacenter-in-a-box, které je optimalizované (odhlučnění, napájení) pro provoz i v kanceláři, samozřejmě jej můžete dát i do samostatné místnosti.
Dell VRTX v kombinuje v jedniném 5U šasí výpočetní výkon (až 4 2-CPU servery), diskové úložiště (až 24 HDD) a síť.
Ve webináři vás seznámíme s touto cenově velmi zajímavou novinkou a ukážeme rozdíl mezi tímto řešením a případnými alternativami v době samostaných serverů, diskového pole a síťových switchů.
Agenda:
------------
* co je Dell VRTX?
*segment zákazníků pro VRTX
* co VRTX nabízí
* řešení provozované na VRTX
* technické specifikace
* možná použití
* cena
* aktuální nabídky a promo akce
Dell Acceleration Appliance for Databases 2.0 and Microsoft SQL Server 2014: ...Principled Technologies
As this guide has shown, installing and configuring a Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 with SQL Server 2014 powered by the Dell Acceleration Appliance for Databases is a straightforward procedure. A key benefit from implementing DAAD 2.0 into your infrastructure is the ability to accelerate workloads without a complete storage area network redesign. This can be ideal for businesses that have snapshot and deduplication features within their software stack or are looking to improve database performance without investing in large storage solutions that may contain features they do not need. Consider DAAD 2.0 for your business—a storage acceleration solution that requires only 4U of rack space and can potentially give your database workloads a boost.
Migrating to Microsoft Windows Server 2012 and Microsoft SQL Server 2012 on D...Principled Technologies
Migrating your legacy servers running Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 to a new Dell PowerEdge R720 running Microsoft SQL Server 2012 and Microsoft Windows Server 2012 can streamline your infrastructure and deliver savings to your business.
With careful planning, and by following the straightforward process that this guide presents, you can realize the benefits of switching to your new server-and-software solution in no time.
Converged architecture advantages: Dell PowerEdge FX2s and FC830 servers vs. ...Principled Technologies
Based on our testing with heavy SQL Server 2014 database workloads, the converged architecture solution of a Dell PowerEdge FX2s chassis and FC830 servers delivered 3.9 times the performance of our legacy IBM solution. We also found the Dell PowerEdge FX2s and FC830 solution offered 73 percent lower cost per order compared to the legacy IBM System x3850 X5 solution. In addition, the PowerEdge FX2s and FC830 solution does not sacrifice traditional hardware redundancy while providing the same highly available database solution in a smaller rack space. If your business runs Microsoft SQL Server 2014, the converged architecture approach with Dell PowerEdge FX2s chassis and FC830 servers powered by Intel could bring a harmonious balance of performance, reliability, and cost efficiency to your data center.
Dell PowerEdge M420: A Microsoft SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn Failover Cluster Re...Principled Technologies
By utilizing the Dell PowerEdge M420 blade server with SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn Failover Cluster Instances, you can create a self-contained, highly available database solution while using minimal rack space. The ability to cluster SQL Server instances for high availability and redundancy in such a small and dense form factor with the Dell PowerEdge M420 is a powerful combination for your enterprise database needs.
Dell PowerEdge M520 server solution: Energy efficiency and database performancePrincipled Technologies
As energy prices continue to rise, building a power-efficient data center that does not sacrifice performance is vital to organizations looking to keep costs down while keeping application performance high. Choosing servers that pair high performance with new power-efficient technologies helps you do so. In our tests, the Dell PowerEdge M520 with Dell EqualLogic PS-M4110 arrays outperformed the HP ProLiant BL460c Gen8 server with HP StorageWorks D2200sb arrays by 113.5 percent in OPM. Not only did the Dell PowerEdge M520 blade server solution deliver higher overall performance, it also did so more efficiently, delivering 79.9 percent better database performance/watt than the HP ProLiant BL460c Gen8 solution.
Configuring a highly available Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 environment on ...Principled Technologies
Setting up a highly available Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 environment on the Dell PowerEdge VRTX is a straightforward process. In very little time, you can deploy Dell PowerEdge VRTX with up to four M-series nodes, switches, and storage in a redundant configuration using Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V, and setup your Exchange Server infrastructure. By setting up a highly available Exchange Server 2013 environment on your compact PowerEdge VRTX, you can ensure your Exchange workloads stay running to keep your business moving.
Webinář: Provozujte datacentrum v kanceláři (Dell VRTX) / 5.9.2013Jaroslav Prodelal
Dokážete si představit, že byste provozovali své datacentrum v prostředí kanceláře? Ano, je to možné. Společnost Dell uvedla na trh novinku v podobě tzv. datacenter-in-a-box, které je optimalizované (odhlučnění, napájení) pro provoz i v kanceláři, samozřejmě jej můžete dát i do samostatné místnosti.
Dell VRTX v kombinuje v jedniném 5U šasí výpočetní výkon (až 4 2-CPU servery), diskové úložiště (až 24 HDD) a síť.
Ve webináři vás seznámíme s touto cenově velmi zajímavou novinkou a ukážeme rozdíl mezi tímto řešením a případnými alternativami v době samostaných serverů, diskového pole a síťových switchů.
Agenda:
------------
* co je Dell VRTX?
*segment zákazníků pro VRTX
* co VRTX nabízí
* řešení provozované na VRTX
* technické specifikace
* možná použití
* cena
* aktuální nabídky a promo akce
Dell Acceleration Appliance for Databases 2.0 and Microsoft SQL Server 2014: ...Principled Technologies
As this guide has shown, installing and configuring a Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 with SQL Server 2014 powered by the Dell Acceleration Appliance for Databases is a straightforward procedure. A key benefit from implementing DAAD 2.0 into your infrastructure is the ability to accelerate workloads without a complete storage area network redesign. This can be ideal for businesses that have snapshot and deduplication features within their software stack or are looking to improve database performance without investing in large storage solutions that may contain features they do not need. Consider DAAD 2.0 for your business—a storage acceleration solution that requires only 4U of rack space and can potentially give your database workloads a boost.
Migrating to Microsoft Windows Server 2012 and Microsoft SQL Server 2012 on D...Principled Technologies
Migrating your legacy servers running Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 to a new Dell PowerEdge R720 running Microsoft SQL Server 2012 and Microsoft Windows Server 2012 can streamline your infrastructure and deliver savings to your business.
With careful planning, and by following the straightforward process that this guide presents, you can realize the benefits of switching to your new server-and-software solution in no time.
Converged architecture advantages: Dell PowerEdge FX2s and FC830 servers vs. ...Principled Technologies
Based on our testing with heavy SQL Server 2014 database workloads, the converged architecture solution of a Dell PowerEdge FX2s chassis and FC830 servers delivered 3.9 times the performance of our legacy IBM solution. We also found the Dell PowerEdge FX2s and FC830 solution offered 73 percent lower cost per order compared to the legacy IBM System x3850 X5 solution. In addition, the PowerEdge FX2s and FC830 solution does not sacrifice traditional hardware redundancy while providing the same highly available database solution in a smaller rack space. If your business runs Microsoft SQL Server 2014, the converged architecture approach with Dell PowerEdge FX2s chassis and FC830 servers powered by Intel could bring a harmonious balance of performance, reliability, and cost efficiency to your data center.
Dell PowerEdge M420: A Microsoft SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn Failover Cluster Re...Principled Technologies
By utilizing the Dell PowerEdge M420 blade server with SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn Failover Cluster Instances, you can create a self-contained, highly available database solution while using minimal rack space. The ability to cluster SQL Server instances for high availability and redundancy in such a small and dense form factor with the Dell PowerEdge M420 is a powerful combination for your enterprise database needs.
Populating your data center with new, more powerful and energy efficient servers can deliver numerous benefits to your organization. By consolidating multiple older servers onto a new platform, you can save in the areas of data center space and port costs, management costs, and power and cooling costs.
In our tests, we found that the Lenovo ThinkServer RD630 could consolidate the workloads of three HP ProLiant DL385 G5 servers, while increasing overall performance by 82.6 percent and reducing power consumption by 58.8 percent, making the ThinkServer RD630 an excellent choice to reduce the costs associated with running your data center.
Converged architecture advantages: Dell PowerEdge FX2s and FC830 servers vs. ...Principled Technologies
Based on our testing with heavy SQL Server 2014 database workloads, the converged architecture solution of a Dell PowerEdge FX2s chassis and FC830 servers delivered 3.8 times the performance of our legacy HP solution. We also found the Dell PowerEdge FX2s and FC830 solution offered 72 lower cost per new order compared to the legacy HP ProLiant DL580 G7 solution. In addition, the PowerEdge FX2s and FC830 solution does not sacrifice traditional hardware redundancy while providing the same highly available database solution in a smaller rack space. If your business runs Microsoft SQL Server 2014, the converged architecture approach with Dell PowerEdge FX2s chassis and FC830 servers powered by Intel could bring a harmonious balance of performance, reliability, and cost efficiency to your data center.
Increased database performance and reduced costs with Dell PowerEdge FX2 & VM...Principled Technologies
Holding onto legacy servers and storage can limit database performance and infrastructure agility along with wasting space and power. The Dell PowerEdge FX2 with VMware Virtual SAN can provide more value for your business now, while setting up your datacenter to adapt to changing workloads as business needs fluctuate. In our tests, the PowerEdge FX2 solution outperformed four legacy HP servers and a traditional storage array. It offered 2.8 times the database OPM of the legacy solution while saving over half a rack of datacenter space. It also improved energy efficiency by delivering 6.5 times the performance per watt. Finally, the PowerEdge FX2 solution was more cost efficient—offering a cost per OPM that was 9.7 percent less than the legacy HP solution. The Dell PowerEdge FX2 solution is designed to provide a converged, flexible, and cost-efficient database modernization platform.
Dell PowerEdge M420 and Oracle Database 11g R2: A Reference ArchitecturePrincipled Technologies
The compute density of your data center is critical to your bottom line – packing more compute power into a smaller space has the potential to greatly reduce data center costs. The ultra-dense, quarter-height Dell PowerEdge M420 blade server combines with Dell PowerConnect and Force10 switches, Dell PowerEdge M1000e blade enclosure, and Dell EqualLogic PS6110XS arrays to maximize the compute density of your data center.
As this guide has shown, if your business could benefit from using a hyperconverged computer/storage solution rather than disparate dedicated appliances, a Nutanix storage cluster powered by Dell XC630 appliances could be the right way to go. Able to handle nine SQL Server 2014 OLTP workloads at over 340,000 OPM, 200 mailboxes in Microsoft Exchange 2013, as well as file/print and web server disk workloads, the powerful Dell appliances with the help of Intel processors can keep up with your current business, with room to grow in the future. With software-defined tiered storage, high availability, and a redundant network architecture, the small form factor of the Dell XC630 appliances can help keep your business moving.
VDI performance comparison: Dell PowerEdge FX2 and FC430 servers with VMware ...Principled Technologies
Replacing your legacy VDI servers with a new Intel Xeon processor E5-2670 v3-powered Dell PowerEdge FX2 solution using VMware Virtual SAN can be a great boon for your enterprise.
In the Principled Technologies (PT) labs, this space-efficient, affordable solution outperformed a five-year-old legacy server and traditional SAN by offering twice as many VDI users. Additionally, it achieved greater performance while using 91 percent less space and at a cost of only $167.89 per user in hardware costs.
By supporting more users, saving space, and its affordability, an upgrade to the Intel-powered Dell PowerEdge FX2 solution using VMware Virtual SAN can be a wise move when replacing your aging, older infrastructure.
Learn about IBM Flex System Reference Architecture for Microsoft SQL Server 2012 High Availability using AlwaysOn Availability Groups. This document describes the IBM Flex Reference Architecture for Microsoft SQL Server 2012 High Availability using AlwaysOn Availability Groups. IBM reference architecture offerings create virtually turnkey solutions built around the latest IBM x86 servers, storage and networking, literally taking the complexity out of the solution. This IBM reference architecture combines Microsoft software, consolidated guidance and validated configurations for compute, network, and storage. For more information on Pure Systems, visit http://ibm.co/J7Zb1v.
Visit http://bit.ly/KWh5Dx to 'Follow' the official Twitter handle of IBM India Smarter Computing.
VMmark 2.5.2 virtualization performance of the Dell Storage SC4020 arrayPrincipled Technologies
The Dell Storage SC4020 array, paired with a cluster of Dell PowerEdge M620 servers, ran 30 VMmark tiles totaling 240 running VMs, and achieved a score of 31.35@30 tiles. This performance, along with its value and ease of management, make the Dell Storage SC4020 array an excellent investment.
Managing clients with Dell Client Integration Pack 3.0 and Microsoft System C...Principled Technologies
Client management is an important part of any enterprise. Employees have workstations in their offices or notebooks that travel with them around the globe, and efficient updates and remote management capabilities keep an organization’s IT assets ordered and secure. Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2012 can provide a robust, efficient, management system for your IT infrastructure. Selecting clients that not only operate within your IT framework, but that have built-in software to integrate with it seamlessly to make client management tasks even easier is an intelligent strategy for your IT department.
In our tests, we found that Dell client management tools (Dell Client Integration Pack, Dell Client Configuration Toolkit, and Dell OpenManage Client Instrumentation) integrated in a typical SCCM 2012 environment reduced the steps it took to complete client management tasks by as much as 77 percent, and included a number of features that weren’t available with clients from HP and Lenovo.
What's new in SQL Server 2012 for philly code camp 2012.1Mark Kromer
A high-level run through the SQL Server roadmap focused on the new technologies and features of SQL Server 2012. Mark Kromer presented this deck to the Philly .NET Code Camp in at Penn State Abington on May 12, 2012.
VMmark virtualization performance of Micron Enterprise PCIe SSD-based SANPrincipled Technologies
The storage you use for your virtualization solution can be a significant factor in its performance and effectiveness. Two Dell PowerEdge R720 servers, paired with Micron Enterprise PCIe SSD-based SAN, ran 10 VMmark tiles for a total of 80 running VMs and achieved a score of 12.05@10 tiles, making it the top score running VMware ESXi 5.5 of the 32-core server configurations. For enterprises that need excellent virtualization performance, this makes Micron Enterprise PCIe SSD-based SAN a wise investment.
Minimizing licensing costs for enterprise applications is vital to organizations looking to keep costs down. When your applications use per-core licensing, choosing higher-performance servers with fewer cores dramatically reduces your software-related spending. The Dell PowerEdge M820 blade solution with Compellent storage could deliver up to $96,236 in savings as compared to a single HP ProLiant BL680c G7 solution, and if consolidating multiple workloads, could deliver even more savings in licensing costs when running Microsoft SQL Server in a virtualized scenario – all while maintaining or exceeding previous performance levels.
Dell PowerEdge R920 and Microsoft SQL Server 2014 Migration and Benefits GuidePrincipled Technologies
The latest Dell PowerEdge R920 server is designed to provide highly scalable performance for large enterprises, with greater memory capacity, improved and expanded attached storage options, and processor architectures designed for high availability. Microsoft SQL Server 2014 is the perfect companion software to take advantage of the Dell PowerEdge R920’s impressive specifications. Upgrading has never looked more attractive, and with hardware/software upgrades must come data migration.
Migrating legacy database applications to the latest database technologies on newer Dell server platforms is a common task for businesses upgrading their hardware/software stack. As this guide shows, the process is straightforward and the cost benefits can be enormous. We calculated the savings attainable from multiple consolidation ratios, as well as how long it would take to pay off the replacement server. We found that a consolidation ratio of 13 to 1 could yield $531,725 in software savings, many times the cost of the replacement hardware itself. So not only will the business benefit from the massively-scalable current-generation Dell server technology paired with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 running SQL Server 2014, but you can save money in the process.
Setting up a failover cluster on the Dell PowerEdge VRTX is a straightforward process. In very little time, you can deploy Dell PowerEdge VRTX with up to four M-series servers, switches, and storage in a redundant configuration using Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V. By setting up a failover cluster on your compact Dell PowerEdge VRTX, you can maximize server uptime to keep your business moving.
Populating your data center with new, more powerful and energy efficient servers can deliver numerous benefits to your organization. By consolidating multiple older servers onto a new platform, you can save in the areas of data center space and port costs, management costs, and power and cooling costs.
In our tests, we found that the Lenovo ThinkServer RD630 could consolidate the workloads of three HP ProLiant DL385 G5 servers, while increasing overall performance by 82.6 percent and reducing power consumption by 58.8 percent, making the ThinkServer RD630 an excellent choice to reduce the costs associated with running your data center.
Converged architecture advantages: Dell PowerEdge FX2s and FC830 servers vs. ...Principled Technologies
Based on our testing with heavy SQL Server 2014 database workloads, the converged architecture solution of a Dell PowerEdge FX2s chassis and FC830 servers delivered 3.8 times the performance of our legacy HP solution. We also found the Dell PowerEdge FX2s and FC830 solution offered 72 lower cost per new order compared to the legacy HP ProLiant DL580 G7 solution. In addition, the PowerEdge FX2s and FC830 solution does not sacrifice traditional hardware redundancy while providing the same highly available database solution in a smaller rack space. If your business runs Microsoft SQL Server 2014, the converged architecture approach with Dell PowerEdge FX2s chassis and FC830 servers powered by Intel could bring a harmonious balance of performance, reliability, and cost efficiency to your data center.
Increased database performance and reduced costs with Dell PowerEdge FX2 & VM...Principled Technologies
Holding onto legacy servers and storage can limit database performance and infrastructure agility along with wasting space and power. The Dell PowerEdge FX2 with VMware Virtual SAN can provide more value for your business now, while setting up your datacenter to adapt to changing workloads as business needs fluctuate. In our tests, the PowerEdge FX2 solution outperformed four legacy HP servers and a traditional storage array. It offered 2.8 times the database OPM of the legacy solution while saving over half a rack of datacenter space. It also improved energy efficiency by delivering 6.5 times the performance per watt. Finally, the PowerEdge FX2 solution was more cost efficient—offering a cost per OPM that was 9.7 percent less than the legacy HP solution. The Dell PowerEdge FX2 solution is designed to provide a converged, flexible, and cost-efficient database modernization platform.
Dell PowerEdge M420 and Oracle Database 11g R2: A Reference ArchitecturePrincipled Technologies
The compute density of your data center is critical to your bottom line – packing more compute power into a smaller space has the potential to greatly reduce data center costs. The ultra-dense, quarter-height Dell PowerEdge M420 blade server combines with Dell PowerConnect and Force10 switches, Dell PowerEdge M1000e blade enclosure, and Dell EqualLogic PS6110XS arrays to maximize the compute density of your data center.
As this guide has shown, if your business could benefit from using a hyperconverged computer/storage solution rather than disparate dedicated appliances, a Nutanix storage cluster powered by Dell XC630 appliances could be the right way to go. Able to handle nine SQL Server 2014 OLTP workloads at over 340,000 OPM, 200 mailboxes in Microsoft Exchange 2013, as well as file/print and web server disk workloads, the powerful Dell appliances with the help of Intel processors can keep up with your current business, with room to grow in the future. With software-defined tiered storage, high availability, and a redundant network architecture, the small form factor of the Dell XC630 appliances can help keep your business moving.
VDI performance comparison: Dell PowerEdge FX2 and FC430 servers with VMware ...Principled Technologies
Replacing your legacy VDI servers with a new Intel Xeon processor E5-2670 v3-powered Dell PowerEdge FX2 solution using VMware Virtual SAN can be a great boon for your enterprise.
In the Principled Technologies (PT) labs, this space-efficient, affordable solution outperformed a five-year-old legacy server and traditional SAN by offering twice as many VDI users. Additionally, it achieved greater performance while using 91 percent less space and at a cost of only $167.89 per user in hardware costs.
By supporting more users, saving space, and its affordability, an upgrade to the Intel-powered Dell PowerEdge FX2 solution using VMware Virtual SAN can be a wise move when replacing your aging, older infrastructure.
Learn about IBM Flex System Reference Architecture for Microsoft SQL Server 2012 High Availability using AlwaysOn Availability Groups. This document describes the IBM Flex Reference Architecture for Microsoft SQL Server 2012 High Availability using AlwaysOn Availability Groups. IBM reference architecture offerings create virtually turnkey solutions built around the latest IBM x86 servers, storage and networking, literally taking the complexity out of the solution. This IBM reference architecture combines Microsoft software, consolidated guidance and validated configurations for compute, network, and storage. For more information on Pure Systems, visit http://ibm.co/J7Zb1v.
Visit http://bit.ly/KWh5Dx to 'Follow' the official Twitter handle of IBM India Smarter Computing.
VMmark 2.5.2 virtualization performance of the Dell Storage SC4020 arrayPrincipled Technologies
The Dell Storage SC4020 array, paired with a cluster of Dell PowerEdge M620 servers, ran 30 VMmark tiles totaling 240 running VMs, and achieved a score of 31.35@30 tiles. This performance, along with its value and ease of management, make the Dell Storage SC4020 array an excellent investment.
Managing clients with Dell Client Integration Pack 3.0 and Microsoft System C...Principled Technologies
Client management is an important part of any enterprise. Employees have workstations in their offices or notebooks that travel with them around the globe, and efficient updates and remote management capabilities keep an organization’s IT assets ordered and secure. Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2012 can provide a robust, efficient, management system for your IT infrastructure. Selecting clients that not only operate within your IT framework, but that have built-in software to integrate with it seamlessly to make client management tasks even easier is an intelligent strategy for your IT department.
In our tests, we found that Dell client management tools (Dell Client Integration Pack, Dell Client Configuration Toolkit, and Dell OpenManage Client Instrumentation) integrated in a typical SCCM 2012 environment reduced the steps it took to complete client management tasks by as much as 77 percent, and included a number of features that weren’t available with clients from HP and Lenovo.
What's new in SQL Server 2012 for philly code camp 2012.1Mark Kromer
A high-level run through the SQL Server roadmap focused on the new technologies and features of SQL Server 2012. Mark Kromer presented this deck to the Philly .NET Code Camp in at Penn State Abington on May 12, 2012.
VMmark virtualization performance of Micron Enterprise PCIe SSD-based SANPrincipled Technologies
The storage you use for your virtualization solution can be a significant factor in its performance and effectiveness. Two Dell PowerEdge R720 servers, paired with Micron Enterprise PCIe SSD-based SAN, ran 10 VMmark tiles for a total of 80 running VMs and achieved a score of 12.05@10 tiles, making it the top score running VMware ESXi 5.5 of the 32-core server configurations. For enterprises that need excellent virtualization performance, this makes Micron Enterprise PCIe SSD-based SAN a wise investment.
Minimizing licensing costs for enterprise applications is vital to organizations looking to keep costs down. When your applications use per-core licensing, choosing higher-performance servers with fewer cores dramatically reduces your software-related spending. The Dell PowerEdge M820 blade solution with Compellent storage could deliver up to $96,236 in savings as compared to a single HP ProLiant BL680c G7 solution, and if consolidating multiple workloads, could deliver even more savings in licensing costs when running Microsoft SQL Server in a virtualized scenario – all while maintaining or exceeding previous performance levels.
Dell PowerEdge R920 and Microsoft SQL Server 2014 Migration and Benefits GuidePrincipled Technologies
The latest Dell PowerEdge R920 server is designed to provide highly scalable performance for large enterprises, with greater memory capacity, improved and expanded attached storage options, and processor architectures designed for high availability. Microsoft SQL Server 2014 is the perfect companion software to take advantage of the Dell PowerEdge R920’s impressive specifications. Upgrading has never looked more attractive, and with hardware/software upgrades must come data migration.
Migrating legacy database applications to the latest database technologies on newer Dell server platforms is a common task for businesses upgrading their hardware/software stack. As this guide shows, the process is straightforward and the cost benefits can be enormous. We calculated the savings attainable from multiple consolidation ratios, as well as how long it would take to pay off the replacement server. We found that a consolidation ratio of 13 to 1 could yield $531,725 in software savings, many times the cost of the replacement hardware itself. So not only will the business benefit from the massively-scalable current-generation Dell server technology paired with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 running SQL Server 2014, but you can save money in the process.
Setting up a failover cluster on the Dell PowerEdge VRTX is a straightforward process. In very little time, you can deploy Dell PowerEdge VRTX with up to four M-series servers, switches, and storage in a redundant configuration using Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V. By setting up a failover cluster on your compact Dell PowerEdge VRTX, you can maximize server uptime to keep your business moving.
As our tests show, investing in the powerful new Dell PowerEdge R920 running Oracle VM Server 3.2.8 with Oracle Database 12c VMs achieves cost savings without compromising performance. In our testing, a single Dell PowerEdge R920 could perform five times the work of a single HP ProLiant DL385 G6 server; the costs to power and cool the Dell PowerEdge would be 43 percent less than the five servers it could replace. The three-year software licensing costs of the Dell PowerEdge R920 server would be 22 percent lower than the licensing costs for the five-server solution. These dramatic savings—which come out to $212,091 for our single test environment — could grow to millions of dollars in a larger consolidation effort.
Administrators can spend a great deal of time deploying and managing computing resources, especially when dealing with ROBO environments. The Dell PowerEdge VRTX, powered by the Intel Xeon processor E5-2400 v2 product family and running Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2, gives administrators centralized management tools to help them provide time saving benefits and integrated toolsets.
In our hands-on testing, we found that the Dell PowerEdge VRTX greatly simplified deployment through an easy, wizard-based setup of Microsoft Windows Server Failover Clusters across server nodes with the Dell OpenManage Cluster Configurator. It also provided versatile hardware resource reassignment through a shared PCIe bus and efficient centralized management through CMC and scripting. Finally, we found that the Dell System Update Utility worked seamlessly with Microsoft Cluster-Aware Updating to update server nodes while keeping the failover cluster online and minimizing downtime. These advantages make the Dell PowerEdge VRTX an attractive choice for those who seek to reduce the management overhead of their ROBO environments.
Reduce complexity and save money with Dell Engineered Solutions for VMware EV...Principled Technologies
Companies like ManuCorp have seemingly contradictory goals for their virtualized infrastructure: They want a solution that eases the deployment and management burden for generalized IT staff while simultaneously saving money over the long term. According to our analysis, ManuCorp would do well to choose Dell Engineered Solutions for VMware EVO:RAIL, saving up to 63.9 percent in costs over three years compared to a solution with Cisco UCS blades and NetApp storage.
Less experienced administrators like ManuCorp already has in house would be able to plug in the Dell Engineered Solutions for VMware EVO:RAIL and use its single, easy-to-use interface to deploy end-to-end virtual infrastructure and complete updates without any additional training or instruction. The Cisco UCS and NetApp solution required extra tools and a wider skillset, which can mean adding a more experienced person and inviting the chance for human error. In addition, the hyper-converged Dell Engineered Solutions for VMware EVO:RAIL appliance reduced power consumption compared to the do-it-yourself environment with Cisco UCS blades and NetApp, which can contribute to big operating cost savings.
Meet database performance needs while reducing TCO with the Dell PowerEdge VR...Principled Technologies
Cloud WAN services can seem convenient for small businesses and remote offices, but they remove local control and can be more expensive over time. In our tests, the all-in-one Dell PowerEdge VRTX provided the necessary transactional database performance while saving up to 63.9 percent in costs over five years. When you’re looking for a reliable solution to run workloads in remote offices, the Dell PowerEdge VRTX has the potential to cost less than running databases from the cloud.
When considering whether to upgrade to the new Dell PowerEdge VRTX or repurpose older hardware, the advantages of new hardware are clear. Not only do you get newer hardware that is faster and is better-equipped to handle the increasing demands of today’s business applications and workloads, but you also benefit from advances that make deployment and management easier than ever.
In our labs, we compared the Dell PowerEdge VRTX with four server nodes and shared storage and networking to a similar infrastructure using four legacy tower servers, external network switches, and an external SAN. Our testing revealed the following:
· PowerEdge VRTX took 78.5 percent less time and 150 fewer steps to configure and deploy out of the box compared to the legacy solution.
· PowerEdge VRTX It took less than 1 hour to unbox and configure into a highly available VMware vSphere cluster compared to over 4 hours on the legacy solution.
· Deploying the Dell PowerEdge VRTX used just a single management tool, the integrated Chassis Management Controller, whereas the tower solution required six separate management tools.
Choosing such a complete solution during your next server refresh can simplify infrastructure setup and configuration, boost performance through built-in high availability features, and potentially save your organization space and operating costs over the life of the hardware.
Deploy with confidence: VMware Cloud Foundation 5.1 on next gen Dell PowerEdg...Principled Technologies
A Principled Technologies deployment guide
Conclusion
Deploying VMware Cloud Foundation 5.1 on next gen Dell PowerEdge servers brings together critical virtualization capabilities and high-performing hardware infrastructure. Relying on our hands-on experience, this deployment guide offers a comprehensive roadmap that can guide your organization through the seamless integration of advanced VMware cloud solutions with the performance and reliability of Dell PowerEdge servers. In addition to the deployment efficiency, the Cloud Foundation 5.1 and PowerEdge solution delivered strong performance while running a MySQL database workload. By leveraging VMware Cloud Foundation 5.1 and PowerEdge servers, you could help your organization embrace cloud computing with confidence, potentially unlocking a new level of agility, scalability, and efficiency in your data center operations.
Consolidate and upgrade: Dell PowerEdge VRTX and Microsoft SQL Server 2014Principled Technologies
Your growing business shouldn’t run on aging hardware and software until it fails. Adding memory and upgrading processors will not provide the same benefits to your infrastructure as a consolidation and upgrade can. Upgrading and consolidating your IT infrastructure to the Dell PowerEdge VRTX running Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 and SQL Server 2014 can improve performance while adding features such as high availability.
Based on our findings, a single Dell PowerEdge VRTX can replace four four-year-old dual-socket servers with VMs running heavy SQL database workloads. We found that consolidating four older servers onto a Dell PowerEdge VRTX and upgrading to Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 with Hyper-V and SQL Server 2014 could save up to $16,390 over three years, compared to keeping the four-year-old dual-socket servers and upgrading existing storage infrastructure. If your business runs older versions of Microsoft SQL Server on end-of-life dual-socket servers, the Dell PowerEdge VRTX with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 with Hyper-V and SQL Server 2014 could save your company these costs while delivering better performance than the aging hardware and software.
Dell 3-2-1 Reference Configurations: Configuration, management, and upgrade g...Principled Technologies
High availability infrastructures are an essential part of any business. To keep your data going and your company moving along, you need a system that not only handles your business in an effective, structured manner, but one that won’t fail.
Dell 3-2-1 Reference Configurations, which include the latest Dell PowerEdge servers and EqualLogic storage, provide you and your business with the tools to design and deploy a virtualization infrastructure with no hassles and continued support.
As we have shown in this Guide, a Dell 3-2-1 Reference Configuration takes the guesswork out of the typically complicated task of designing, setting up, and configuring a virtual infrastructure, and instead makes the process simple and straightforward. And, as your business grows, Dell 3-2-1 Reference Configurations are easy to upgrade so your infrastructure can grow as your business needs do.
Save space, increase efficiency, and boost performance in your remote office ...Principled Technologies
Two realities drive many remote and branch office server decisions: the need for a versatile platform that delivers excellent performance, and the need for simplification by using fewer servers and cables. By consolidating your older servers to the powerful, space-efficient Dell PowerEdge VRTX server, you can increase database performance while saving valuable space. In our tests, the base-configuration Dell PowerEdge VRTX could consolidate four legacy servers while providing 5.4 times the overall performance. With the Micron P420m PCIe SSD added to the configuration, the VRTX consolidated eight legacy servers and delivered 10.7 times the overall performance.
Investing in the Dell PowerEdge VRTX—in either configuration—can elevate your IT infrastructure by answering database performance and space-saving challenges that face your remote and branch offices.
In addition to providing excellent performance in a space-efficient manner, the VRTX simplifies the office environment, brings efficiency to IT staff through its management advantages, and offers businesses the versatility of deploying performance anywhere.
Dell 3-2-1 Reference Configurations: Scalable performance and simplicity in s...Principled Technologies
Dell 3-2-1 Reference Configurations provide a range of virtualized infrastructure solutions to meet your business’s needs today and in the future. Easy to deploy, manage, and upgrade, these robust solutions can grow as your business does, all the while reducing the likelihood of extended downtime due to their highly available architecture.
SQL Server 2016 database performance on the Dell PowerEdge R830 QLogic 16G Fi...Principled Technologies
Nothing lasts forever. When software manufacturers discontinue support for aging programs, as Microsoft has done for SQL Server 2005, businesses using these applications must take the step of migrating to new, updated versions. Coupling this upgrade with an upgrade to the hardware on which the applications run can take performance improvements to an even higher level.
In our testing, the modern four-socket Dell PowerEdge R830 powered by Intel Xeon processors E5-4650 v4 working with the powerful Dell Storage SC9000 array and running SQL Server 2016 delivered over five times the database performance of a legacy PowerEdge R820 solution running SQL Server 2005. The modern PowerEdge solution also delivered a faster response time.
Running modern, fully featured database software on four-year-old servers is possible, but far from optimal. Consolidating your SQL Server workloads from legacy servers onto Dell PowerEdge R830 servers powered by the Intel Xeon processor E5-4600 v4 product family is a way to streamline and modernize your datacenter.
Consolidate and upgrade to save up to $172K: Dell PowerEdge R620 and Microso...Principled Technologies
Your growing business needs upgraded infrastructure to keep up with increased users and demand on your hardware. Adding memory and upgrading processors does not provide the same benefits to your infrastructure as a consolidation and upgrade can. Upgrading and consolidating your IT infrastructure to the Dell PowerEdge R620 running Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 and SQL Server 2014 can improve performance while saving money and rack space.
Based on our findings, a single Dell PowerEdge R620 can replace four four-year-old dual-socket servers with VMs running heavy SQL Server database workloads. We found that consolidating four older servers onto a Dell PowerEdge R620 and upgrading to Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 with Hyper-V and SQL Server 2014 could save up to $172,573 over three years, compared to keeping the four-year-old dual-socket servers. The Dell PowerEdge R620 can also consolidate 8U worth of legacy servers into 1U of space. If your business runs older versions of Microsoft SQL Server on end-of-life dual-socket servers, the Dell PowerEdge R620 with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 with Hyper-V and SQL Server 2014 could save your company these costs while delivering better performance than the aging hardware and software.
KACE As A Platform: Connecting to EverythingDell World
The K1000 is a platform that can bring many technologies together. Learn how to integrate your appliance with other Dell products: http://dell.to/1GDYpr8
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1. White Paper
Dell Reference Configuration
Deploying Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2005 Standard x64 Edition SP2
with Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard x64 Edition with SP2 on
Dell™ PowerEdge™ Servers and Dell™ PowerVault™ Storage
Abstract
This white paper provides an architectural overview and configuration guidelines for deploying Microsoft
SQL Server 2005 x64 on Dell PowerEdge servers with Dell PowerVault storage. Using the knowledge
gained through joint development, testing and support with Microsoft, the Dell Reference Configuration for
SQL Server documents “best practices” that can help speed SQL Server 2005 solution implementation and
help simplify operations, improve performance and availability.
July, 2007
Dell Reference Configuration for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 x64 on Windows 2003 Server x64 1
3. Table of Contents
ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................................. 1
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 4
DELL SOLUTIONS FOR SQL SERVER 2005 ............................................................................................... 4
OVERVIEW OF THIS WHITE PAPER .......................................................................................................... 4
ARCHITECTURE OVERVIEW - DELL SOLUTION FOR SQL SERVER 2005 X64 ON
MICROSOFT WINDOWS SERVER 2003 X64 ........................................................................................ 5
HARDWARE CONFIGURATION - DELL SOLUTION FOR SQL SERVER 2005 X64 ON
WINDOWS SERVER 2003 X64 ................................................................................................................. 6
STORAGE CONFIGURATION......................................................................................................................... 6
Configuring Storage Connections......................................................................................................... 6
Configuring Disk Groups and Virtual Disks......................................................................................... 7
SERVER CONFIGURATION ........................................................................................................................... 9
Configuring NIC Teaming .................................................................................................................... 9
Configuring SAS 5/E Controllers.......................................................................................................... 9
SOFTWARE CONFIGURATION - DELL SOLUTION FOR SQL SERVER 2005 X64 ON
MICROSOFT WINDOWS SERVER 2003 X64 ...................................................................................... 10
OPERATING SYSTEM CONFIGURATION ..................................................................................................... 10
Enabling Disk Partition Alignment..................................................................................................... 10
Configuring the File System................................................................................................................ 11
Optimizing the Server for Network Applications ................................................................................ 12
SQL SERVER 2005 CONFIGURATION ........................................................................................................ 12
Configuring TempDB Files................................................................................................................. 12
CONFIGURATION DELIVERABLES LIST - DELL SOLUTION FOR SQL SERVER 2005 X64
ON MICROSOFT WINDOWS SERVER 2003 X64 ............................................................................... 14
CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................................... 16
REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................... 17
Dell Reference Configuration for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 x64 on Windows 2003 Server x64 3
4. Introduction
Dell™ PowerEdge™ servers and Dell PowerVault™ storage systems are ideal choices to deploy highly
reliable and sustainable Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2005 databases. This Reference Configuration white
paper is intended to help IT professionals design and configure SQL Server 2005 database solutions using
Dell servers and storage that apply “best practices” derived from laboratory and real-world experiences.
This white paper documents Dell’s recommended approach for implementing a tested and validated
solution for SQL Server 2005 x64 SP2 database on Dell PowerEdge 9th generation servers, Dell
PowerVault MD3000 SAS storage system and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition x64with
SP2.
Dell Solutions for SQL Server 2005
Dell Solutions for SQL Server 2005 are designed to simplify operations, improve utilization and cost-
effectively scale as your needs grow over time. In addition to providing price/performance leading server
and storage hardware, Dell solutions for SQL Server 2005 include:
• Dell Configurations for SQL Server 2005 – in-depth testing of SQL Server 2005 configurations
for the most in-demand solutions; documentation and tools that help simplify deployment
• Integrated Solution Management – standards-based management of Dell Solutions for SQL
Server 2005 that help lower operational costs through integrated hardware and software
deployment, monitoring and update
• SQL Server Licensing multiple licensing options that can simplify customer purchase
• Dell Enterprise Support and Professional Services for SQL Server – offerings for the
planning, deployment and maintenance of Dell Solutions for SQL Server 2005
Dell PowerEdge servers and Dell Storage help to minimize operating costs with price/performance
leadership - Dell currently holds seven of the top ten TPC-C price/performance leadership positions with
SQL Server 1 .
For more information concerning Dell Solutions for SQL Server 2005, please visit www.dell.com/sql .
Overview of this White Paper
The balance of this white paper will provide the reader with a detailed view of the Dell Reference
Configuration for SQL Server 2005, best practices for configuring the hardware and software components
and pointers for obtaining more information.
1
Source: TPC-C by Price/Performance Version 5 Results as of July 2007. See www.tpc.org for current
results
Dell Reference Configuration for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 x64 on Windows 2003 Server x64 4
5. Architecture Overview - Dell Solution for SQL Server 2005 x64
on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64
An architectural overview of the Dell Solution for SQL Server 2005 is shown in Figure 1 below. The
architecture is made of the following components:
• Client systems that will access data stored within the SQL Server database
• Client-server network made up of network controllers, cables and switches
• Dell PowerEdge servers running Windows Server 2003 and SQL Server 2005
• Server-storage interconnect using Serial Attached SCSI (SAS)
• Dell PowerVault MD3000 storage, supporting up to 45 drives
Figure 1 - Architectural Overview of Dell SQL Server 2005 configuration
Dell PowerEdge servers are designed to deliver the highest performance for critical enterprise applications
like database, messaging, web services and infrastructure applications. As proprietary systems are
increasingly replaced by industry-standard systems, applications like databases, high performance
computing clusters and messaging systems can take advantage of the performance and scalability of the
PowerEdge servers. Combined with Dell storage systems, customers can easily deploy these PowerEdge
servers as building blocks of a scalable enterprise, consolidating and virtualizing both the computing
resources as well as the storage resources.
The PowerVault MD3000 is a high-performance storage array built for critical applications running on one,
two or a pair of clustered PowerEdge servers. Additionally, the storage array can support up to four servers
in environments where redundant host connections are not required. The PowerVault MD3000 includes
dual active/active RAID controllers with mirrored cache and multi-path I/O management which helps
ensure that storage processing continues without disruption. Other high-availability features include hot-
pluggable, redundant power supplies, cooling modules and disk drives, active disk scrubbing and non-
disruptive firmware upgrades.
MD3000 can be cascaded with up to two MD1000 expansion enclosures to increase the overall capacity
and disk requirement of some applications.
Dell Reference Configuration for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 x64 on Windows 2003 Server x64 5
6. Hardware Configuration - Dell Solution for SQL Server 2005
x64 on Windows Server 2003 x64
Storage Configuration
Configuring Storage Connections
Figure 2 illustrates the interconnection of a PowerEdge server hosting SQL Server 2005 and an MD3000
storage system where the database resides. Using dual-port SAS 5/E controllers in an Active/Active
configuration, commands and data flow over both SAS links between the server and storage system. If
either a SAS 5/E controller port or an MD3000 storage controller fails, operations continue using the
remaining SAS 5/E – MD3000 storage controller pair.
Figure 2 - Cabling a Direct Attached MD3000 Storage Array
The MD3000 enclosure can be cascaded to as many as two MD1000 enclosures (see Figure 3), provided
that the MDSM software, the EMM BIOS and firmware, and the cabling methodology are appropriate. The
enclosures must be "cold-add." All enclosures must be powered down for cascading.
WARNING:
Adding an MD1000 unit to an MD3000 storage chain is a data-destructive operation for any data on
the MD1000s that was created with the MD1000 connected to a PERC5/E. The metadata format
(DACstore) of configured drives in the MD3000 differs from the Disk Data Format used on
configured drives attached to a PERC5/E. Data cannot be migrated by moving the MD1000 enclosure
from a PERC5/E to an MD3000. The data must be backed up, confirmed, and restored to newly
formed disk groups and virtual disks on the MD3000. No in-place migration is possible. This
operation is not harmful to existing data on the MD3000.
Dell Reference Configuration for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 x64 on Windows 2003 Server x64 6
7. Figure 3 - MD3000 to MD1000 Enclosure Cascading
Configuring Disk Groups and Virtual Disks
The physical disks in the MD3000 storage array provide the physical storage capacity for the SQL Server
database. Before data can be stored, the MD3000 physical storage capacity must be configured into
components, known as disk groups and virtual disks. A disk group is a set of physical disks that are
logically grouped and assigned a RAID level. Each disk group created provides the overall capacity
needed to create one or more virtual disks, which are logical entities that the server uses to store data.
SQL Server 2005 uses three specific storage areas: TempDB, Transaction Log File, and Data files for user
defined databases. TempDB is a system database which is automatically created during the installation of
SQL Server 2005. TempDB is a shared working area for all databases on the server, for various activities,
including temporary tables, sorting, processing subqueries, building aggregates to support GROUP BY or
ORDER BY clauses, queries using DISTINCT, cursors, and hash joins. In addition to TempDB, SQL
Server 2005 also maintains a Transaction Log File for each database. The Transaction Log File stores the
details of all the modifications made to a SQL Server database and the details of the transactions that
performed each modification. This information is critical for maintaining database consistency and for
aiding database recovery. In SQL Server 2005, data for user defined databases are stored in a separate data
storage area. This data file contains user defined database objects such as tables, indexes, and stored
procedures. All databases have one data file and one or more transaction log files. Data is physically
stored in the data file.
It is a best practice to separate the TempDB and Transaction Log files onto their own virtual disks on
separate disk groups. The separation of TempDB and log files can enable better I/O performance by
ensuring that these files do not share the same physical disks. Figure 3 illustrates a sample disk group and
virtual disk configuration which separates TempDB, transaction logs, and data on distinct physical disks.
When designing the storage layout, various considerations need to be evaluated depending on the business
requirements for the database system.
• Cost
• Performance
• Reliability/Availability
• Manageability
• Scalability and capacity management
• Type of Workload: OLTP vs. OLAP
Dell Reference Configuration for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 x64 on Windows 2003 Server x64 7
8. Figure 4 is an example of Data Warehousing storage layout on a MD3000 storage array. The maximum
configuration can be expanded to include up to two MD1000 storage enclosures for a total of 45 spindles.
TEMP DB LOGS DATA 1 DATA 2 Hot
RAID 10 RAID 10 RAID 5 RAID 5 spare
(2) (2) (5) (5) (1)
Figure 4 - Separation of Disk Groups and Virtual Disks within a PowerVault MD3000 Storage Array
for TempDB, Transaction Logs, and Data optimized for Data Warehousing
The recommended number of virtual disks for data should equal the number of physical CPU sockets 2 .
Table 1 illustrates recommended virtual disk configuration and sizes for single-socket host servers.
Table 2 illustrates recommended virtual disk configuration and sizes for dual-socket host servers.
Virtual Disks Minimum Size Disk Group RAID Used for
Data1 Database size 10, or 5 for read-only data
TempDB Depending on required TempDB size 10, or 0 TempDB
Logs 10% of database size 10, or 1 logs
Table 1 - Single-Socket Server - Storage Configuration
Virtual Disks Minimum Size Disk Group RAID Used for
Data1 Database size /2 10, or 5 for read-only data
Data2 Database size /2 10, or 5 for read-only data
TempDB Depending on required TempDB size 10, or 0 TempDB
Logs 10% of database size 10, or 1 logs
Table 2 - Dual-Socket Server - Storage Configuration
RAID 10 is considered the optimal choice for SQL Server 2005 virtual disk implementation because it can
offer greater performance and fault tolerance by combining the best attributes of mirroring and striping 3 .
When possible, the disk groups on which the transaction logs, TempDB and data virtual disks reside should
be configured with RAID 10.
Because additional drives are required to implement RAID 10, it may not be the preferred choice for
certain databases. In these cases, RAID 0 can be used as an alternative for the disk group of the TempDB
2
“Storage Top 10 best Practices”, Microsoft TechNet, October 17, 2006;
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/bestpractice/storage-top-10.mspx
3
“Physical Database Storage Design”, Kathy Lu, Lewis Bruck, Microsoft TechNet, February 12, 2007.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2005/physdbstor.mspx
Dell Reference Configuration for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 x64 on Windows 2003 Server x64 8
9. virtual disk. However, if RAID 0 is used, system availability will be impacted if a TempDB disk is lost.
For the disk group of the transaction log virtual disk, RAID 1 is an alternate recommendation as RAID 1
provides protection from drive hardware failure. For the disk group of the virtual disks for the data files,
RAID 5 provides a cost effective alternative especially for predominantly read-only workloads such as a
data warehouse database. However, RAID 5 is not suitable for heavy write workloads, such as in an OLTP
database, as RAID 5 can have significantly lower write performance due to the reading and writing of
parity blocks in addition to the reading and writing of database data.
Each virtual disk created in storage will be mapped to one partition at the OS level. For details on
operating system partitions, please refer to the “Configuring File System” section below.
Server Configuration
Configuring NIC Teaming
To help guard against network access failures, PowerEdge servers running SQL Server 2005 can be
configured to provide redundant links to the client network. Using NIC teaming software, two NIC
interfaces of the PowerEdge server can be bonded together to operate under a single IP address. The NIC
teaming software provides load balancing and failover functionality, balancing the workload and routing
network traffic between the two NIC interfaces. If a failure occurs, affecting one of the NIC interfaces –
examples include switch port failure, cable disconnection, or failure of the NIC itself -- network traffic is
routed to the remaining operable NIC interface. Failover occurs transparently to the SQL Server 2005
database with no network communication interruption or changes to the server IP address.
Configuring SAS 5/E Controllers
As illustrated in Figure 2, it is recommended that at least one Dual Port SAS 5/E controllers be installed on
the PowerEdge server hosting SQL Server 2005 to provide redundant links to the PowerVault MD3000
storage array. Using dual-port SAS 5/E controllers protects against potential data loss or corruption if either
a SAS 5/E controller port or MD3000 storage controller fails.
Dell Reference Configuration for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 x64 on Windows 2003 Server x64 9
10. Software Configuration - Dell Solution for SQL Server 2005
x64 on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64
Operating System Configuration
Enabling Disk Partition Alignment
Performance of the operating system and applications is affected by the placement of metadata on the LUN,
which causes disk partition to be misaligned. The fdisk utility and Windows Disk Manager place a Master
Boot Record (MBR) on every device. On a PowerVault MD3000 storage array, a track is equivalent to a
segment or a stripe element with the default size of 128 KB (or 256 blocks). The MBR specifies 63 hidden
sectors on the device. This causes subsequent data structures to become misaligned with respect to the
track boundary. If a single I/O operation crosses a track boundary, it can consume added resources or
cause additional work by the storage array leading to performance degradation. Figure 4 illustrates a
misaligned disk partition where the 64 KB I/O has spread to the first and the second MD3000 tracks.
64 KB I/O 64 KB I/O
M Reserved
B (63
R
blocks) Disk Partition 1
MD3000 track (256 blocks) MD3000 track (256 blocks)
Figure 5 - Misaligned Disk Partition
In Windows Server 2003 SP1 or later, the diskpart utility is available for aligning partitions. Diskpart
allows the creation of a primary partition at any desired block address rather than the default block address
63. This enables partitions to be aligned to minimize performance loss due to track boundary crossing.
Figure 5 illustrates an aligned disk partition where the partition starts at block address 128 or 64 KB,
instead of the default partition location of block address 63.
64 KB I/O 64 KB I/O
M
B Reserved Disk Partition 1
R
(127 blocks)
MD3000 track (256 blocks) MD3000 track (256 blocks)
Figure 6 - Aligned Disk Partition
Follow the procedure described in the appropriate Dell SQL Server 2005 Deployment Guide to align the
primary partition for Windows Server 2003 basic disks on MD3000 storage arrays. For more information
on aligning partitions, see the article “Using diskpar and diskpart to Align Partitions on Windows Basic and
Dynamic Disks”, EMC PowerLink, September, 2005 at the following web location -
https://powerlink.emc.com/nsepn/webapps/btg548664833igtcuup4826/km/live1/en_US/Offering_Technical
/White_Paper/H1445_Using_Diskpar_Align_Partition_ldv.pdf
Dell Reference Configuration for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 x64 on Windows 2003 Server x64 10
11. Configuring the File System
In SQL Server 2005, each database consists of a data file and one or more transaction log files. As
mentioned in the Section “Configuring Disk Groups and Virtual Disks” above, the recommended number
of virtual disks for data should equal the number of physical CPU sockets, and each virtual disk created in
the storage system is mapped to an operating system file partition. To achieve optimal performance that
scales with heavy workloads, Microsoft recommends that the number of data files configured for a SQL
Server 2005 database equal the total number of CPU cores installed on the server 4 . Therefore, within each
of the partitions used for data, the recommended number of data files should equal the number of cores per
CPU socket.
Each operating system file partition is assigned with a unique drive letter. It is recommended that all
partitions be formatted using NTFS format with 64 KB clusters.
For example, a Quad-Core, single-socket system should have four data files for each data partition as
illustrated in and Table 3.
Figure 7 - Virtual Disk to Partition Mapping and Configuration for a Quad-core Single-socket
PowerEdge server hosting SQL Server 2005 x64
Drive Letter Folder Name Format Used for
G: MSS_DATA_1, MSS_DATA_2, NTFS 64 KB data
MSS_DATA_3, MSS_DATA_4
I: TEMPDB_DATA_1, TEMPDB_DATA_2, NTFS 64 KB TempDB
TEMPDB_DATA_3, TEMPDB_DATA_4
J: MSS_LOG1, TEMPDB_LOG1 NTFS 64 KB logs
Table 3 - Quad-core Single-socket Server - Storage Configuration
4
Lu and Bruck, op. cit.
Dell Reference Configuration for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 x64 on Windows 2003 Server x64 11
12. Table 4 illustrates a sample file system configuration for a quad-core, dual-socket host server; details on
configuring the TempDB files are covered below.
Drive Letter Folder Name Format Used for
G: MSS_DATA_1, MSS_DATA_2, NTFS 64 KB data
MSS_DATA_3, MSS_DATA_4
H: MSS_DATA_5, MSS_DATA_6, NTFS 64 KB data
MSS_DATA_7, MSS_DATA_8
I: TEMPDB_DATA_1, TEMPDB_DATA_2, NTFS 64 KB TempDB
TEMPDB_DATA_3, TEMPDB_DATA_4,
TEMPDB_DATA_5, TEMPDB_DATA_6,
TEMPDB_DATA_7, TEMPDB_DATA_8
J: MSS_LOG1, TEMPDB_LOG1 NTFS 64 KB logs
Table 4 - Quad-core Dual-socket Server - Storage Configuration
The number of TempDB data files should equal the number of CPU cores. Refer to section “Configuring
TempDB files” below for more details.
Optimizing the Server for Network Applications
By default, the “Maximize data throughput for file sharing” option is selected in the Windows Server 2003
Network Connection configuration. This option may limit the memory available for SQL Server 2005
operations because this option gives priority to applications which perform buffered I/O operations by
caching their I/O pages in the system cache. For a PowerEdge server hosting SQL Server 2005, it is a best
practice to select the “Maximize data throughput for network application” option in the Network
Connection section of the Windows Server Control Panel. Follow the procedure described in the
appropriate Dell SQL Server 2005 Deployment Guide optimize network performance for SQL Server.
SQL Server 2005 Configuration
Configuring TempDB Files
When the SQL Server 2005 database is initially created, the TempDB files are placed on server internal
drives. Follow the procedure described in the appropriate Dell SQL Server 2005 Deployment Guide, to
move the TempDB files to external disk drives dedicated for TempDB files.
By default, a single TempDB data file is created during installation of SQL Server 2005. Adding additional
TempDB data files can help avoid latch contention on allocation pages and help solve I/O performance
issues. The recommended number of TempDB data files should match the number of CPU cores of the
server. To better utilize the allocation mechanism, all TempDB data files should be equal in size. Table 3,
Table 4, and Table 5 illustrate TempDB configurations for dual-core, dual-socket systems, quad-core, dual-
socket systems, and dual-core, quad-socket systems.
By default, the AUTO GROW option is set to “on” for TempDB files. However, expanding TempDB too
frequently can lead to performance degradation. To avoid this issue, it is recommended to pre-allocate the
TempDB space with a size large enough to accommodate the expected workload and set the file growth
increment large enough to minimize TempDB expansions. In addition, Microsoft recommends setting the
TempDB files FILEGROWTH increment to 10% 5 .
5
“Working with TempDB in SQL Server 2005”, Wei Xiao, Matt Hink, Mirek, Sunil Agarwal, Microsoft
TechNet, June 26, 2006, http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2005/workingwithtempdb.msp
Dell Reference Configuration for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 x64 on Windows 2003 Server x64 12
13. By default, when a new data file is created or a data file is expanded as a result of AUTO GROW, the
pages on the file are initialized by writing zeros before the file can be used. The file zeroing process can be
time consuming and can lead to application timeout, especially during the AUTO GROW activity. One of
the major improvements of SQL Server 2005 is the instant file initialization feature. This feature skips the
file zeroing process when a data file is created or a file size is increased. Instead, the pages on the data file
get overwritten with new data when pages are actually allocated. Microsoft’s in-house testing for creating
and growing files shows a significant performance improvement when the instant data file initialization is
used 6 .
To enable instant file initialization, you must run the SQL Server 2005 service account under a Windows
account and assign the Windows SE_MANAGE_VOLUME_NAME permission to that Windows account.
By default, this permission is assigned to the Windows Administrator’s group. If you have system
administrator rights, you can assign this permission by adding the Windows account to the Perform
Volume Maintenance Tasks security policy. Follow the procedure described in the Dell PowerEdge
Systems Microsoft SQL Server 2005 SP2 Database on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition
with SP2 Deployment Guide to enable instant file initialization.
6
Lu and Bruck, op. cit.
Dell Reference Configuration for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 x64 on Windows 2003 Server x64 13
14. Configuration Deliverables List - Dell Solution for SQL Server
2005 x64 on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64
This section contains the Solution Deliverables List (SDL) for the Dell solution for SQL Server 2005 on
Windows 2003 Server. It contains detailed listing of server and storage hardware configurations, firmware,
driver, OS and database versions.
Recommended Hardware/Software Requirements
(For details, see below)
Validated Component(s) Minimum Single Node
DB Configuration
PowerEdge Nodes
PowerEdge 2950 1 Only
Memory All valid Dell Server memory 1 Gig
configurations (up to 32GB)
Dell PowerVault Storage MD3000 + MD1000 Expansion
N/A (For Internal Storage)
Module [1]
1 (For External Storage)
HBAs SAS 5/e N/A (For Internal Storage)
1 (For External Storage)
Ethernet Ports Intel® or Broadcom® Gigabit NICs 1
Ethernet Switches (For Gigabit-only Switches N/A
Private Interconnect)
RAID Controllers (Used for PERC 5/i 1
internal storage only)
Internal Drive All valid Dell Server internal
73 Gig
storage configurations
SQL Server Software & Microsoft® SQL Server 2005
Single Node
Licenses Standard x64 Edition SP2
Operating System Microsoft® Windows Server 2003 Standard x64 Edition SP2
Recommended Support
Dell Gold or Platinum Plus Enterprise Support
Contract
1 Note: MD1000 is not validated in this configuration as a stand-alone unit
Table 5 - Solution Minimal Hardware/Software Requirements
Dell Reference Configuration for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 x64 on Windows 2003 Server x64 14
15. Validated Servers
BIOS ESM/BMC Internal SCSI RAID Notes
Dell Model Firmware Firmware / Driver
PE2950 1.3.7 v1.33 PERC 5i –5.1.1-0040/2.8.0.64 Intel Quad
PowerEdge or or higher Core
Servers higher Processors
only
PERC 5/i Firmware version =5.1.1-0040; Driver version = 2.8.0.64
Network Interconnect
Ethernet Switches All Dell Gigabit Ethernet Switches
Intel Proset PCI-E Gigabit Family Of Driver version = 9.6.31.0
Adapters
Broadcom NetXtreme II™ NDIS Driver = 3.0.5; VBD Driver = 3.0.9
Broadcom NetXtreme™ Driver version = 10.18.06
NIC Teaming (Not available yet for TOE
NICs)
Windows NIC teaming Driver version = 8.3.13.0
Proset for Windows Device Manager Driver version = 11.2.0.74
Broadcom Advanced Control Suite Driver version = 10.0.8
BASP Teaming driver = 6.2.24
SAS Host Bus Adapter (HBA)
SAS 5/E Controller Firmware version = 00.10.49.00; StorPort MiniPort Driver
version = 1.24.04.00
Storage Array
Storage Arrays Supported ( with Software)
Storage Subsystem Disk Drives: 15K RPM SAS Drives
Data transport speed: 3 GBit/s
Dell PowerVault MD3000 SAS RAID Controller, Firmware = 06.17.77.60
Dell PowerVault MD1000 Expansion EMM Firmware = A03
Enclosure
Software
Database Microsoft SQL Server 2005 x64 SP2
Operating system Microsoft Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition x64
SP2
Table 6 – Solution Detailed Firmware, Driver and Software Versions
Dell Reference Configuration for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 x64 on Windows 2003 Server x64 15
16. Conclusion
Dell Solutions for SQL Server 2005 are designed to simplify operations, improve utilization and cost-
effectively scale as your needs grow over time. This reference configuration white paper provides a
blueprint for setting up a standalone SQL Server 2005 x64 database on Dell PowerEdge servers and Dell
PowerVault MD3000 storage arrays.
The best practices described here are intended to help achieve optimal performance of SQL Server 2005.
To learn more about deploying SQL Server 2005 on PowerEdge server and Dell storage, please visit
www.dell.com/sql or contact your Dell representative for up to date information on Dell servers, storage
and services for SQL Server 2005 solutions.
Dell Reference Configuration for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 x64 on Windows 2003 Server x64 16
17. Tables and Figures Index
Table 1 - Single-Socket Server - Storage Configuration ................................................................................ 8
Table 2 - Dual-Socket Server - Storage Configuration................................................................................... 8
Table 3 - Quad-core Single-socket Server - Storage Configuration ............................................................. 11
Table 4 - Quad-core Dual-socket Server - Storage Configuration................................................................ 12
Table 5 - Solution Minimal Hardware/Software Requirements ................................................................... 14
Table 6 – Solution Detailed Firmware, Driver and Software Versions ........................................................ 15
Figure 1 - Architectural Overview of Dell SQL Server 2005 configuration .................................................. 5
Figure 2 - Cabling a Direct Attached MD3000 Storage Array ....................................................................... 6
Figure 3 - MD3000 to MD1000 Enclosure Cascading ................................................................................... 7
Figure 4 - Separation of Disk Groups and Virtual Disks within a PowerVault MD3000 Storage Array for
TempDB, Transaction Logs, and Data optimized for Data Warehousing ...................................... 8
Figure 5 - Misaligned Disk Partition ............................................................................................................ 10
Figure 6 - Aligned Disk Partition ................................................................................................................. 10
Figure 7 - Virtual Disk to Partition Mapping and Configuration for a Quad-core Single-socket PowerEdge
server hosting SQL Server 2005 x64............................................................................................ 11
References
1. “Storage Top 10 Best Practices”, Microsoft TechNet, October 17, 2006.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/bestpractice/storage-top-10.mspx
2. “Physical Database Storage Design”, Kathy Lu, Lewis Bruck, Microsoft TechNet, February 12, 2007.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2005/physdbstor.mspx
3. “Working with TempDB in SQL Server 2005”, Wei Xiao, Matt Hink, Mirek, Sunil Agarwal,
Microsoft TechNet, June 26, 2006.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2005/workingwithtempdb.mspx
4. “Using diskpar and diskpart to Align Partitions on Windows Basic and Dynamic Disks”, EMC
PowerLink September, 2005.
https://powerlink.emc.com/nsepn/webapps/btg548664833igtcuup4826/km/live1/en_US/Offering_Tech
nical/White_Paper/H1445_Using_Diskpar_Align_Partition_ldv.pdf
Dell Reference Configuration for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 x64 on Windows 2003 Server x64 17