SQL Instance Memory Allocation

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SQL Instance Memory Allocation

Ness

SSCarpal Tunnel

Points: 4282
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October 31, 2013 at 4:43 am

#285464

Hi All,
I have a 64bit server with 128Gb RAM installed and I am planning on putting a default instance of sql 2008r2 Standard Edition on it. I additionally intend to add a named instance as well on that server. I know that SQL 2008R2 SE is limited to 64Gb RAM but can the usage of 2 instances utilise all of the RAM available or will it have to share 64Gb?
Thanks in advance
EH
SQL DBA
Every day is a school day, and don't trust anyone who tells you any different.
http://sqlblogness.blogspot.co.uk

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Brandie Tarvin SSC Guru Points: 173061 More actions · Answer 1

According to Brent Ozar's blog (in the comments) it's 64GB per instance. But you should read his reply to that comment.

http://www.brentozar.com/archive/2010/06/sql-server-r-standard-supports-less-memory/[/url]

EDIT: You should also consider what will happen to the OS if you're using 2 instances that gobble up the rest of the server's RAM.

Brandie Tarvin, MCITP Database AdministratorLiveJournal Blog: http://brandietarvin.livejournal.com/[/url]On LinkedIn!, Google+, and Twitter.Freelance Writer: ShadowrunLatchkeys: Nevermore, Latchkeys: The Bootleg War, and Latchkeys: Roscoes in the Night are now available on Nook and Kindle.

Ness SSCarpal Tunnel Points: 4282 More actions · Answer 2

Thanks for the response Brandie - The named instance is to be used as a warm standby for DR, so there is no real performance concerns as the default instance will be switched off if required

SQL DBA
Every day is a school day, and don't trust anyone who tells you any different.
http://sqlblogness.blogspot.co.uk

Brandie Tarvin SSC Guru Points: 173061 More actions · Answer 3

I don't advise using the same server for a warm standby of your primary database. If you lose the server, you lose both the primary and the stand by.

Brandie Tarvin, MCITP Database AdministratorLiveJournal Blog: http://brandietarvin.livejournal.com/[/url]On LinkedIn!, Google+, and Twitter.Freelance Writer: ShadowrunLatchkeys: Nevermore, Latchkeys: The Bootleg War, and Latchkeys: Roscoes in the Night are now available on Nook and Kindle.

Ness SSCarpal Tunnel Points: 4282 More actions · Answer 4

The DR is not for the same server - It's a warm standby of another server but always worth mentioning for others reading the post. It wouldn't really meet the DR requireements if it was on the same one.

Thanks

SQL DBA
Every day is a school day, and don't trust anyone who tells you any different.
http://sqlblogness.blogspot.co.uk

Brandie Tarvin SSC Guru Points: 173061 More actions · Answer 5

In that case, I'd make sure you have enough RAM for both instances to be up (when the other server fails) and still be able to run the OS, etc. RAM is cheap and CYA is good.

Brandie Tarvin, MCITP Database AdministratorLiveJournal Blog: http://brandietarvin.livejournal.com/[/url]On LinkedIn!, Google+, and Twitter.Freelance Writer: ShadowrunLatchkeys: Nevermore, Latchkeys: The Bootleg War, and Latchkeys: Roscoes in the Night are now available on Nook and Kindle.