SQL cluster on virtuals?

  • Is anyone running a SQL Server Cluster on virtual cluster nodes?

    We have two virtual machines running Windows Server 2008 R2 (each virtual sitting on a separate ESX host). We installed a SQL Server cluster (4 sql instances) on these 2 virtuals.

    On top of all that, we are log shipping about 30 databases (soon to be more) to our DR center.

    Is anyone else running a similar setup? If so, have you had challenges?

    We are starting to be concerned with performance issues and wondering if a virtual environment can really handle this. Did we make a mistake here? Should we have gone physical?

    Thank you for your input!

  • kstjacques (4/11/2011)


    Is anyone running a SQL Server Cluster on virtual cluster nodes?

    We have two virtual machines running Windows Server 2008 R2 (each virtual sitting on a separate ESX host). We installed a SQL Server cluster (4 sql instances) on these 2 virtuals.

    On top of all that, we are log shipping about 30 databases (soon to be more) to our DR center.

    Is anyone else running a similar setup? If so, have you had challenges?

    We are starting to be concerned with performance issues and wondering if a virtual environment can really handle this. Did we make a mistake here? Should we have gone physical?

    Thank you for your input!

    Now there's a topic, does it work or does it not?

    It really depends on the throughput required for things like network, memory, CPU and how you set it up at the VM and host level.

    Can you provide a little more info on the VM and host setup, how much RAM, CPU. How many network cards does the host have and their configuration on virtual switches. How are your SQL Server shared data drives setup?

    The general train of thought is, if you're going to give a VM silly amounts of resource it probably shouldn't be a VM 😉

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    "Ya can't make an omelette without breaking just a few eggs" 😉

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