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SQL Server on VMware

  • January 20, 2012 at 1:07 am

    #249520

    Hi folks,

    We have a SQL 2008 server Standard Edition running on a physical windows 2003 machine. When I right click on the server node from management studio and go to see 'Processors', I see 8 processors(CPU0- CPU7).

    Now, we intend to move this on a VM and upgrade it to SQL 2008 R2 but questions are coming for its limitations on a VM as far as standard R2 version is concerned. Please suggest me how many logical processors I can get on this setup. If I am correct 8 is already i am having. Can I go beyond 8 logical CPUs(visible to SQL Engine) on a VM. I am not able to understand the online material to my satisfaction.

    Kindly help.

    Thanks

    Chandan

  • January 20, 2012 at 1:24 am

    #1436305

    You can have as many logical processors as you do physical processors or cores on the VMWare host.

    There is a top limit of about 160 depending on what version of VMWare you are using (workstation, ESX, vSphere)

    Robert Murphy, Microsoft MCITP (Database Administrator 2008) and MCAD Certified

  • January 20, 2012 at 5:32 am

    #1436398

    Well, I had a similar problem while creating a new virtual machine on VMWARE.

    I have corei3 machine with 4 processors.

    So i was installing an operating system on vmware but it showed me only 2 processors.

    VMWARE Setup file only supported up to 2 processors.

    I had to look for vmware version supporting more than 4 processors.

    So as you said you have a system with 8 processors Then make sure your VMWARE version supports scalable processor architecture with 8 or more than 8 processors.

    I hope you find this post helpful to you.

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  • January 20, 2012 at 5:56 am

    #1436411

    What is your physical usage of those 8 processors now? Are they maxed? Sustained greater than 50%? Or, are they like most systems, sitting around at about 10% with only occasional peaks? If the latter, I'd just set the VM up with 2 processors and see how things go from there.

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

    Author of:
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  • January 21, 2012 at 6:16 pm

    #1436847

    chandan_jha18 (1/20/2012)

    Can I go beyond 8 logical CPUs(visible to SQL Engine) on a VM. I am not able to understand the online material to my satisfaction.

    Kindly help.

    Thanks

    Chandan

    The number of virtual CPUs available for each VM is controlled by the host licence file, you have to pay a premium for support for up to 8 virtual CPUs under VMWare.

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

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

  • January 22, 2012 at 12:20 pm

    #1436903

    The answer depends on how you are licensed and what version of VMWare you have. VMWare ESX can support up to 8 virtual CPUs per VM. This is from the "SQL Server on VMWare Solution Kit" that any good VMWare vendor should be able to supply you. VMWare vSphere can probably support more, but I don't have the reference at hand.

    Your licensing may then restict you to fewer than this mumber of vCPUs per VM.

    Cheers

    Leo

    Leo
    Nothing in life is ever so complicated that with a little work it can't be made more complicated.

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