We run a number of SQL server apps in VMWare for various reasons, a lot of them are for testing and development environments. We do have a production SQL database application that deals with images that is used by over 100 people at any given time that is in VMWare. No issues whatsoever. We've even V-Motioned that virtual server with no impact to users.
Based on a lot of reading, and observing postings to this & the Exchange list, I've also made the decision to go totally VMWare with my implementation of Exchange 2007. On Wed, Apr 22, 2009 at 8:54 AM, N Parr <npar...@mortonwelding.com> wrote: > I'm trying to figure out the best way to configure the Data and Log file > locations. At least the best for me. Specifically I have an EQ ISCSI > SAN but I think my question is pretty universal when it comes to the > storage backend. I've asked EQ if they have any white papers that > address getting the best performance out of virtualized SQL servers and > they said no. I haven't found anything on the VMWare side either. > I see two basic options. > > 1) Map raw luns to the VM Guest. Obviously this would be the way it's > done with a physical server. Drawback is you only get a single path to > the data because the VM isn't aware of where the Disk you just mapped is > physically located. > > 2) Use the iSCSI initiator inside the VM Guest to map directly to the > iSCSI luns. This would allow you to assign two NICS to the Guest for > the SAN and use Multi-pathing. This theoretically gives you better > performance assuming you have multiple physical NICS between the VM Host > and SAN which I do. > > Can anyone give me some real world insight, is there another way? > Either way I can utilize the snap-shotting features of the SAN to > cleanly back up my Data. And I've already found the issue and have the > fix for getting the iSCSI initiator to load before everything else on a > VM so the drives are presented in time. Amazingly Vmware had no clue > how to fix that, EQ did. > Thanks > Niles > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ > ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > -- Sherry Abercrombie "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Arthur C. Clarke ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~
