installing sql2k enterprise - disk subsystem (RAID)

Question

installing sql2k enterprise - disk subsystem (RAID)

Dong Lee

Old Hand

Points: 399
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January 11, 2005 at 8:49 am

#165738

Hi,
I'm going to install sql2k enterprise edition on win2003 server. This will be a production server. The machine is configured as RAID5. I read a book regarding this issue. What will be the best disk subsystem that I could use or is there any general guide lines for using RAID? Thank you.
Dong.

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Frank Kalis SSC Guru Points: 111183 More actions · Answer 1

Actually if I have my way (and assuming this is for an OLTP database server, I would use RAID1 for the log and RAID 10 for the data.

See, if this also helps:

http://www.acnc.com/04_00.html

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/perf/raid/index.htm

--
Frank Kalis
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url]

Nicholas Cain SSC-Dedicated Points: 33009 More actions · Answer 2

I personally prefere RAID10 across the board, but that's just me.

Unfortunately stuck with RAID5 and nothing I can do about it

Shamless self promotion - read my blog http://sirsql.net

SRiehl Grasshopper Points: 10 More actions · Answer 3

I specing out new hardware right now. The problem I have is we like to use HP/Compaq equipment, but most of their servers only hold a max of 6 drives, some only 4. If you run raid 10 and raid 1 you need at least 6 drives, what happens when I need to expand the array, I'm out of disk space. should we use exteranl drive arrrays? SAN? Are they just as fast as local disks?

Scott

Nicholas Cain SSC-Dedicated Points: 33009 More actions · Answer 4

If you can afford a SAN it's the way to go.

Otherwise, go for the external array for your user db, keep the system on internal RAID10 (personal preference again).

Shamless self promotion - read my blog http://sirsql.net

Dong Lee Old Hand Points: 399 More actions · Answer 5

This is a reply for Frank's reply.

First of all thank you for your insight and web links. I have another question for you because I couldn't find any implementation information from your resources nor from Microsoft web site win2003 server. How could I set up raid1 and raid10 on the same machine? Does win2003 support raid10? The server I'm using has six hard drives and two processors. If you think this question is too broad to answer, could you recommend me a book or some resources that I could learn some details about this subject? Thanks.

Dong.

Nicholas Cain SSC-Dedicated Points: 33009 More actions · Answer 6

Dong, you can set up certain RAID levels within Windows, however this has an extremely high performance overhead which, in most cases, negates the point of having RAID in the first place. Be sure, that when you implement RAID that you are doing so as a Hardware RAID solution. This takes all the RAID configuration and data manipulation out of the hands of Windows and onto the RAID controller itself.

There are a whole load of articles out there regarding RAID, a quick google search brings back plenty of reading, a quick overview on the differences can be seen here... http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/perf/raid/conf/ctrlSoftware-c.html

Shamless self promotion - read my blog http://sirsql.net

Frank Kalis SSC Guru Points: 111183 More actions · Answer 7

To add to Nicolas, here's the starting page to the Win2003 server community

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/community/default.mspx

And here's the web interface to the Win2003 newsgroups:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/community/newsgroups/dgbrowser/en-us/default.mspx?dg=microsoft.public.windows.server.general

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/community/newsgroups/dgbrowser/en-us/default.mspx?dg=microsoft.public.windows.server.setup

I would search the Google Groups on this, or simply ask a question there.

--
Frank Kalis
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url]