Recommeded Server Specification

  • Hello,

    The disk specs for the proposed sql server for our OLTP application are as follows

    C:\ 68 gb 2 disks raid 1

    D:\ 136 gb 4 disks raid 5

    The default location for data, logs and backup are all on the d: drive. I know it is recommended that OS, Logs, Data and Backups all be on seperate physical drives.

    My thought is to break it up as follows

    C:\34 gb 1 disk raid 1 for OS

    D:\135 gb 4 disks raid 5 for data

    E:\34 gb 1 disk raid 1 for logs

    - network share for backups.

    Can anyone provide how their system is configured?

    thanks!

  • CR8NK (8/20/2008)


    C:\34 gb 1 disk raid 1 for OS

    E:\34 gb 1 disk raid 1 for logs

    how do you intend to RAID 1 with only 1 disk for each.

    you could RAID 1 the os and sql logs on the same drive if

    you have storage constraints

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

  • Ok so considering the fact that I have 6 disks to work with and a heavy write work load what would you recommend?

  • Do you need redundancy on the drives? (ie, if a drive fails must the system continue working)?

    If so, your best option is 3 RAID 1 (mirrored) arrays. It may not be possible depending on the amount of space that the data requires.

    If you don't need redundency, then consider a single drive for the OS, 3 drives in a RAID 0 (striped) array for the data and 2 drives in a RAID 0 (striped) array for the log.

    Be careful if you go with the second option. A single drive failure will take your system offline.

    RAID 5 is not good for heavy write loads. Because of the parity it has the slowest write performance of any of the commonly used RAID levels

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • if you're limmited to using only 6 disks, I'd personally organize them in 3 pairs of RAID 1. We have a couple smaller production servers setup this way:

    C:\ = OS, OS paging file, SQL Server program files, system databases

    D:\ = user databases

    E:\ = user transaction logs

    If the total of your user databases in size is greater than or expected to quickly grow to be more than the 34 gig you'll get from a mirrored pair, you'll probably be stuck with using a mirrored pair making up 34 gig for C:\ and then 4 disks in a RAID 5 for 102 gig for D:

  • How have you determined if you need redundancy in the past? Based on a user requirement for allowable downtime?

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