Deploying MS SQL Server 2008 DSS on 10GbE EqualLogic Storage - Dell Guide
Summary
Optimize your Decision Support System performance when deploying Microsoft SQL Server 2008. This technical guide details best practices for utilizing Dell EqualLogic 10GbE iSCSI storage with complex database workloads. The manual covers everything from understanding data requirements and conducting workload testing to optimizing SAN design, configuring the storage array, and tuning server operating systems. Essential reading for infrastructure engineers and DBAs responsible for high-performance enterprise solutions.
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Dell Equal Logic Best Practices Series
Deploying Microsoft SQL Server 2008 based Decision Support Systems using Dell Equal Logic 10Gb E i SCSI Storage
A Dell Technical Whitepaper
Ananda Sankaran
Storage Interoperability Engineering Dell Product Group March 2010
Page Summary Contents For Deploying MS SQL Server 2008 DSS on 10GbE EqualLogic Storage - Dell Guide
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Dell Equal Logic Best Practices Series Deploying Microsoft SQL Server 2008 based Decision Support Systems using Dell Equal Logic 10Gb E i SCSI Storage A Dell Technical Whitepaper Ananda Sankaran Stora...
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THIS WHITE PAPER IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, AND MAY CONTAIN TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS AND TECHNICAL INACCURACIES. THE CONTENT IS PROVIDED AS IS, WITHOUT EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. ...
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Table of Contents 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 A...
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4.5.3 Use SQL Server Table Partitioning to Improve Query Processing Performance ................. 18 5 Test Results ....................................................................................
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1 Introduction The goal of this paper is to describe best practices for deploying Decision Support System (DSS) or Data Warehousing (DW) solutions based on Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 using Dell™ Equa...
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2 Understanding DSS Storage Requirements DSS applications are typically designed to support complex analytical query activities using very large data sets. The queries executed on a DSS database typic...
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Each of the component layers in the solution stack requires careful design and configuration to ensure optimal system performance. The considerations at each layer of the solution stack are described ...
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Note: To set up the i SCSI SAN in our test configuration we created a 10 gigabit Ethernet connection fabric using Dell Power Connect 8024F 10Gb E switches and Dell Equal Logic PS6010XV storage arrays....
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Figure 2: Test Configuration #1 Deploying Microsoft SQL Server 2008 based Decision Support Systems using Dell Equal Logic 10Gb E i SCSI Storage 5
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The second test configuration, as shown in Figure 3, includes three PS6010XV arrays for SQL Server® 2008 data and one PS6010XV array for SQL Server® logs. The Storage arrays are connected to a Dell Po...
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Please note that in both test configurations we implemented hardware redundancy at various levels to ensure high availability (HA). The HA configuration uses dual network cards on the servers, dual ne...
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3.1.2 Monitoring We configured Windows Server® 2008 Performance Monitor (Perf Mon) to monitor the utilization of server resources – processor, memory, disk I/O and network. We also used the Dell Equa...
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Since DSS environments are highly read intensive and require large storage capacities, it is a best practice to use RAID50 with Equal Logic PS Series storage arrays. RAID 10 is also recommended for en...
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Figure 4 does not show the separate switching infrastructure used for the Server LAN. It is a best practice to always isolate the SAN so that the i SCSI switching infrastructure is dedicated to storag...
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Jumbo frames are Ethernet frames that have a MTU larger than 1518 bytes. Jumbo frames can increase SAN throughput by allowing more data to be transferred in each Ethernet frame. This will reduce the t...
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It is a best practice to use the Dell SQL Server Advisor Tool3 as a starting point for sizing server configurations to support SQL Server DSS workloads. 4.3.2 Think beyond Just CPU and Memory In our ...
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running Quest Benchmark Factory for Databases and the monitoring system running SAN HQ to the database server via the server LAN. It is a best practice to provision the quantity and connection speed o...
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TCP offload is disabled by default in Windows Server® 2008 and on the NIC. You will need to make sure it is properly enabled in both locations. To configure To E enablement in the Operating system, ru...
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To configure OS TCP offload: C:\>netsh int tcp set global chimney=enabled To verify OS TCP offload: C:\>netsh int tcp show global Note: More information on enabling TCP offload in the operating ...
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Note: Configuring Equal Logic DSM for MPIO provides enhanced performance benefits for bandwidth intensive applications like SQL Server® DSS. The DSM also enables easier configuration by automating set...
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be chosen for I/O (instead of the “Round Robin” approach, which would choose the next path in the sequence regardless of queue depth). Figure 7: MPIO Settings 4.5 Microsoft SQL Server 2008 You should...
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Note: For more information on tempdb sizing and best practices, see the following Microsoft Knowledgebase articles: Capacity Planning for tempdb: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en- us/library/ms345368.as...
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large tables and when based on the most commonly queried table field. We also recommend as a best practice that you align the indices with the same partitioning scheme used for table data. 5 Test Resu...
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The maximum throughput observed at the server NICs scaled almost linearly from the single array configuration to the three array configuration. This was due to the increased storage bandwidth availabl...
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Figure 10: Total Query Response Time Deploying Microsoft SQL Server 2008 based Decision Support Systems using Dell Equal Logic 10Gb E i SCSI Storage 21
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Appendix A Dell Power Edge M1000e high-speed fabric architecture We used a Dell Power Edge M1000e blade server enclosure for our test configurations.Figure 11 shows the interconnect architecture. For ...
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Appendix B System Specifications Table 2 shows the configuration of the DSS server used in our test configurations. Dell Power Edge M710 Configuration9 Component Description Processors 2 x Intel X...
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Table 3 shows the configuration of the storage array and switch used in our test configurations. Dell Equal Logic PS6010XV Configuration Storage Controllers Dual 10Gb E controllers with 4GB battery‐...
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Related Publications The following Dell publications are referenced in this document or are recommended sources for additional information. Dell Equal Logic PS Series Network Performance Guidelines ...
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http://support.microsoft.com/kb/951037 The Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Scalable Networking Pack release: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/912222 Microsoft i SCSI Initiator Version 2.x Users Guide...
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THIS WHITE PAPER IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, AND MAY CONTAIN TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS AND TECHNICAL INACCURACIES. THE CONTENT IS PROVIDED AS IS, WITHOUT EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND.
Manual Details
| Brand | Server |
|---|---|
| Pages | 31 |
| File Size | 951.78 KB |
| Published | May 29, 2026 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this whitepaper?
Deploying Microsoft SQL Server 2008 based Decision Support Systems using Dell EqualLogic 10GbE iSCSI Storage.
How should multiple paths between servers and storage arrays be configured for SAN design?
Use redundant switch paths between the servers and the storage arrays.
What are key operating system configuration best practices?
Disk partitions should be aligned with storage stripe boundaries.
What should users consider besides just CPU and memory when configuring a server?
Hardware configuration to meet performance and capacity requirements is critical, advising users to think beyond just CPU and Memory.