Sql Server Virtual Environment

Microsoft® SQL Server®
in a VMware® Environment
on Dell™ PowerEdge™ Blades
and Dell EqualLogic™ Storage
A Dell Technical White Paper
Database Solutions
Engineering
By Anthony Fernandez
Dell Product Group
April 2009
Microsoft SQL Server in a VMware Environment on Dell PowerEdge Blades and Dell EqualLogic Storage
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THIS WHITE PAPER IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, AND MAYCONTAIN
TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS AND TECHNICAL INACCURACIES. THE CONTENT IS
PROVIDED AS IS, WITHOUT EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND.
© 2009 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the express written
permission of Dell, Inc. is strictly forbidden. For more information, contact Dell.
Dell, the DELL logo, the DELL badge, EqualLogic, and PowerEdgeare trademarks of Dell Inc. Intel and Xeon
are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries; Microsoft, SQL Server, and
Windows Server are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United
States and/or other countries. VMware is a registered trademark of VMware, Inc. Cisco is a registered
trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc. Othertrademarks and trade names may be used in this document to
refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any
proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.
Microsoft SQL Server in a VMware Environment on Dell PowerEdge Blades and Dell EqualLogic Storage
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY........................................................................................................................... 4
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 4
REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE OVERVIEW .................................................................................................. 5
DEPLOYMENTCONSIDERATIONS ........................................................................................................... 7
SCALE‐UP VERSUS SCALE‐OUT STRATEGIES .................................................................................................. 7
BEST PRACTICE FOR VIRTUALIZATION.......................................................................................................... 7
SERVER CONSIDERATIONS ........................................................................................................................ 8
NETWORK CONSIDERATIONS .................................................................................................................... 8
CPU CONSIDERATIONS......................................................................................................................... 11
MEMORY CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................................................................... 12
BOOT FROM SAN CONSIDERATIONS ......................................................................................................... 13
STORAGE CONSIDERATIONS.................................................................................................................... 13
SQL SERVER PERFORMANCE EVALUATION ........................................................................................... 15
TEST METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................... 16
SCALE OUT VIRTUAL MACHINES ON A SINGLEBLADE .................................................................................... 16
PHYSICAL VERSUS VIRTUAL OTLP PERFORMANCE ........................................................................................ 18
CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................................................... 19
APPENDIX...