Virus protection software for SQL Server

  • Is anyone running virus protection software on their SQL servers (6.5, 7.0, 2000)? Is there a performance issue? Are there any articles out there on this topic?

    Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

    Forever learning,

    Jeff

  • Hey there,

    We're currently running 4 SQL 2000 Servers all with McAfee Virus Scan for Win2K Server.

    No performance issues here at all.

    Smooth sailing.

    That's just my experience, I've never had any troubles with virus scanner installed.

    Someone else might have horrendous problems, but so far all is good.

    Mark

  • We do, but that is because I do not have complete control over the servers.

    There is certainly a performance issue if the databases are scanned. If files with .mdf and .ldf are not scanned there will be no problem.

    Since the slammer worm a memory scan of a database server makes sense. Before that I considered a virus scan on a dedicated server a waste of resources.

    Joachim.

  • McAffee and Norton Antivirus Corporate Edition (we use on some) both have been just fine. Usually we set them for a full scan once a week on Sunday nights where we have installed, and on file change. Just make sure you go in and make sure the database and logfiles are not scan and do the same for swap file. However, as long as you are not running executable code on the server, and do not allow file access to the server it is generally safe from most all threats as long as it is on it's own. Of course there is the occasional word written for SQL but proper security measures such as set the SA password and keeping up to date on Hotfixes and SPs in regards to potential threats then it pretty much is unneeded on a SQL Server machine.

  • Unfortunately, SQL Slammer had spread so quickly, by the time anyone had definitions out, the devestation was done. Within 3 minutes, I think it was up to 55 million scans/sec (its peak) based on one of the studies just released. In any case, we follow a practice what joachim and Antares have suggested. We exclude the pagefile and any files that end in .mdf, .ndf, and .ldf.

    K. Brian Kelley

    http://www.truthsolutions.com/

    Author: Start to Finish Guide to SQL Server Performance Monitoring

    http://www.netimpress.com/shop/product.asp?ProductID=NI-SQL1

    K. Brian Kelley
    @kbriankelley

  • Thanks for all the info everyone! 🙂

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