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Raid Configuration

  • December 2, 2005 at 10:28 am

    #152646

    Hi All,

    What is the best practise of having SQL Server 2000 with Raid configuration ? We have got a new server (not that we need one - our company has money to burn before the end of the year ) with Dual Processsor, 4 GB Memory and one Raid Controller.

    2X36 GB on Channel 0 and

    6X36 GB on Channel 1.

    The database size is about 2 GB and is expected to grow by less than 1 GB a year. There are 50 users and DB usage times are 4am to 7 pm. Ideally would like to have both redundancy and speed.

    How do I partition the RAID ? Where do the database, log files and tempDB go.

    Thanks.

  • December 2, 2005 at 12:15 pm

    #607467

    Typically, if you can afford it, RAID 0+1 (hardware solution) is the way to go. Database, logs, and temp db all on 3 different physical sets of drives. If possible, using different disk controllers. Pre-grow databases to prevent fragmentation. More here, towards the bottom of the chapter:

    MSDN: Improving .NET Application Performance and Scalability

    K. Brian Kelley
    @kbriankelley

  • December 2, 2005 at 12:20 pm

    #607469

    Hi SQL Junkie,

    You may want to read SQL Server 2000 Administrator's companion, it has a whole chapter, a very good one on the RAID levels as applicable to the databases in different scenarios. You don't have to buy a book, go to the Borders Books and Music (if you have one in the area), they let to read books in the store, it is just 1 chapter.

    Other than that, based on your description I would do the following:

    Channel 0 Raid 1 (Mirror) for OS and Application Files and Program Files when installing SQL Server

    Channel 1 Raid 5 of 4 or 5 of your 6 disks with 1 or 2 as a Hot Spare. Put your Data Files there including system databases and TempDB

    Put Transaction log of your production database on the Mirror. Watch the log size.

    Ask your system engineer if he would like to split the page file(s)  between both RAIDS

    Do not do partitions. Convert disks for dynamic for Raid 5 and leave unallocated space. Once you convert disks to dynamic, it will be volumes, not partitions. I would prefer one volume on RAID 5 with some unallocated space, but some others may prefer 2 or 3 volumes on RAID 5 to restrict TempDB to its own volume.

    Those just recommendations. Do not forget the backup and DRP strategy

    Yelena

    Regards,Yelena Varsha

  • December 2, 2005 at 2:50 pm

    #607536

    SQL junkie: Agree with you , your company is really burning money. For a 2GB database with increasing rate of 1GB annually, the server is much over qualified.

     

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