SQL 2008 on VMWARE - is it supported?

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SQL 2008 on VMWARE - is it supported?

sqlrumble

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Points: 1458
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October 7, 2009 at 9:40 am

#385525

Hello,
Applogies if this has already been posted, but was unable to find a recent post.
I've had a look on VMwares site and was unable to find whether or not they support SQL Server 2008 on there applications. From what I read SQL Server 2005 is supported, but was unable to find a recent document on SQL Server 2008. I read that Microsoft will support SQL server 2008 in a virtual environment - is that correct?
I have installed sql 2008 on a dev box which seams to work ok (not heavy usage). However we are looking at deploying 4 virtual SQL Server 2008 production environments.
Has anyone deployed sql server 2008 on VMware for production?
Thanks

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

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Silverfox SSC-Insane Points: 23150 More actions · Answer 1

we use sql 2008 here and we have vmware esx, but not production and not sql 2008. I do know that it is supported. but I am not an advocate of sql servers on virtual machines especially not production. we have dev and test machines on sql 2005 on vmware.

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K. Brian Kelley SSC Guru Points: 114642 More actions · Answer 2

Yes, for ESX Server 3.5 Update 2 and above.

Here is the Microsoft support policy for non-Microsoft virtualization environments. Here is the support policy for SQL Server 2005/2008 in virtualized environments. Basically, the vendor is a part of the Server Virtualization Vendor Program, you are covered. VMware ESX Server 3.5 Update 2 and above are supported as part of the SVVP.

EDIT: Corrected a link.

K. Brian Kelley
@kbriankelley

Marcin Gol Hall of Fame Points: 3314 More actions · Answer 3

YES, it is supported. you should read following articles:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956893

http://blogs.msdn.com/psssql/archive/2008/10/08/sql-server-support-in-a-hardware-virtualization-environment.aspx

you should read more about Server Virtualization Validation Progam - http://www.windowsservercatalog.com/svvp.aspx

sqlrumble Default port Points: 1458 More actions · Answer 4

Great thanks for the replies. I'll take a look at the links.

Have any of you used SQL Server with VMare in production? if so how have you found it?

Or again, if you have any links to any benchmarking etc, i'd really apprieciate it.

Thanks Again.

K. Brian Kelley SSC Guru Points: 114642 More actions · Answer 5

Yes, on smaller systems. We may investigate on our larger servers, but that hasn't happened yet. Another resource you may engage is the PASS Virtualization Virtual Chapter[/url].

K. Brian Kelley
@kbriankelley