drive configuration on new sql server 2005 box?

I have a new dell 2850 server with 4 146gb drives attached to a raid 5
controller. I would like to know how I should setup the drives for
installation of server 2003 std os and sql server 2005. This server is going
to be a dedicated sql server to serve databases for web applications.
Thanks and let me know if I should supply any additional info.
Shelly Campbell
This will give you some ideas
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...n/sqlops6.mspx
In BOL, index tab, type NTFS, see note.
SQL Server magazine had a good article on hardware for SQL Server . I can't
post it as it is for subscribers only
http://www.windowsitpro.com/SQLServe...92/46492.html#
In the nutshell, system = RAID1, logs = RAID1, data = case when cash poor
then RAID5 else RAID10 end.
Farmer.
"mp3nomad" <mp3nomad@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1923B0A6-06A2-4041-850A-C692718D54AB@.microsoft.com...
>I have a new dell 2850 server with 4 146gb drives attached to a raid 5
> controller. I would like to know how I should setup the drives for
> installation of server 2003 std os and sql server 2005. This server is
> going
> to be a dedicated sql server to serve databases for web applications.
> Thanks and let me know if I should supply any additional info.
> Shelly Campbell
|||Hi Shelly:
OS should always stay on RAID 1. No Exceptions should be made here.
For SQL Data, You can use RAID 5 if you wish to though RAID 5 is not the
best solution. For Faster Read\Write RAID 10 is the best solution but then it
has a cost attached to its performance.
Since you have 4x146 GB Drives on the machine, I would recommend that buy
another couple of drives identical in size and host RAID 1 on it and use it
for OS.
For other 4 drives set up RAID 5 and use them for SQL data and log.
Hope this helps.
"mp3nomad" wrote:

> I have a new dell 2850 server with 4 146gb drives attached to a raid 5
> controller. I would like to know how I should setup the drives for
> installation of server 2003 std os and sql server 2005. This server is going
> to be a dedicated sql server to serve databases for web applications.
> Thanks and let me know if I should supply any additional info.
> Shelly Campbell
|||Thanks! This helps.
"Farmer" wrote:

> This will give you some ideas
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...n/sqlops6.mspx
> In BOL, index tab, type NTFS, see note.
> SQL Server magazine had a good article on hardware for SQL Server . I can't
> post it as it is for subscribers only
> http://www.windowsitpro.com/SQLServe...92/46492.html#
> In the nutshell, system = RAID1, logs = RAID1, data = case when cash poor
> then RAID5 else RAID10 end.
>
> Farmer.
> "mp3nomad" <mp3nomad@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:1923B0A6-06A2-4041-850A-C692718D54AB@.microsoft.com...
>
>
|||Thanks Mark.
Since we're kind of tight on funds, I'm going to setup the drives as follows:
1 separate 36 gb drive for OS and SQL Server program install.
1 separate 146 gb drive for Tlogs.
3 146 gb disks in RAID 5 array for data.
Does this look acceptable? Not the best, but acceptable?
"mp3nomad" wrote:

> I have a new dell 2850 server with 4 146gb drives attached to a raid 5
> controller. I would like to know how I should setup the drives for
> installation of server 2003 std os and sql server 2005. This server is going
> to be a dedicated sql server to serve databases for web applications.
> Thanks and let me know if I should supply any additional info.
> Shelly Campbell
|||NO, this set up is not acceptable.
If you use only one drive for OS, if the drive fails, everything is gone.
Therefore, you must, must, and must use RAID 1 for OS which will involve a
minimum of 2 drives.
Here is what you need to remember:
RAID 1 requires at least 2 drives.
Raid 5 requires at least 3 drives.
If you use only 1 drive as you are mentionining, you can only build RAID 0
on it which gives no protection against data recovery.
I would say based on your server since it's not on SAN, use 2 drives for
RAID 1 and set up OS on it and use 4 drives for RAID 5 and set up SQL Data on
it. SQL Binaries can say on the same RAID Volume where OS resides.
I hope this helps.
"mp3nomad" wrote:
[vbcol=seagreen]
> Thanks Mark.
> Since we're kind of tight on funds, I'm going to setup the drives as follows:
> 1 separate 36 gb drive for OS and SQL Server program install.
> 1 separate 146 gb drive for Tlogs.
> 3 146 gb disks in RAID 5 array for data.
> Does this look acceptable? Not the best, but acceptable?
> "mp3nomad" wrote:
|||I see. Ok.
Where would the transaction logs go? On the same RAID volume with the OS?
"Mark" wrote:
[vbcol=seagreen]
> NO, this set up is not acceptable.
> If you use only one drive for OS, if the drive fails, everything is gone.
> Therefore, you must, must, and must use RAID 1 for OS which will involve a
> minimum of 2 drives.
> Here is what you need to remember:
> RAID 1 requires at least 2 drives.
> Raid 5 requires at least 3 drives.
> If you use only 1 drive as you are mentionining, you can only build RAID 0
> on it which gives no protection against data recovery.
> I would say based on your server since it's not on SAN, use 2 drives for
> RAID 1 and set up OS on it and use 4 drives for RAID 5 and set up SQL Data on
> it. SQL Binaries can say on the same RAID Volume where OS resides.
> I hope this helps.
>
> "mp3nomad" wrote:
|||currently the server is configured as follows:
4 146 gb drives in RAID 5 container partitioned as C:\ (30 gb) and D:\
(remainder of space)
Windows Server 2003 w/ SP1 installed on C:\ partition
nothing else installed as yet
I'm trying to figure out if this setup is ok and then just add an additional
RAID 1 array for the transaction logs?
I appreciate your assistance.
Shelly
"Mark" wrote:
[vbcol=seagreen]
> NO, this set up is not acceptable.
> If you use only one drive for OS, if the drive fails, everything is gone.
> Therefore, you must, must, and must use RAID 1 for OS which will involve a
> minimum of 2 drives.
> Here is what you need to remember:
> RAID 1 requires at least 2 drives.
> Raid 5 requires at least 3 drives.
> If you use only 1 drive as you are mentionining, you can only build RAID 0
> on it which gives no protection against data recovery.
> I would say based on your server since it's not on SAN, use 2 drives for
> RAID 1 and set up OS on it and use 4 drives for RAID 5 and set up SQL Data on
> it. SQL Binaries can say on the same RAID Volume where OS resides.
> I hope this helps.
>
> "mp3nomad" wrote:
|||Do not put log on same drive where the OS is.
"mp3nomad" wrote:
[vbcol=seagreen]
> currently the server is configured as follows:
> 4 146 gb drives in RAID 5 container partitioned as C:\ (30 gb) and D:\
> (remainder of space)
> Windows Server 2003 w/ SP1 installed on C:\ partition
> nothing else installed as yet
> I'm trying to figure out if this setup is ok and then just add an additional
> RAID 1 array for the transaction logs?
> I appreciate your assistance.
> Shelly
> "Mark" wrote:
|||ok. thanks! we're trying to configure this box the best we can based on the
hardware we can afford to purchase.
"Mark" wrote:
[vbcol=seagreen]
> Do not put log on same drive where the OS is.
> "mp3nomad" wrote: