Step-by-Step Guide: How to spec your SQL Server hardware needs

One of the more difficult tasks on a database administrator's to-do list is to make economical hardware recommendations for applications still under development or about to be deployed. You must select a reputable hardware vendor with a strong future, quantify various indices about your anticipated workload in order to size the hardware correctly and ensure that your hardware solution is modularized to plug in additional capacity on demand. In addition, you have to continually consider new technology advancements, such as the move to 64-bit architectures or switching from local storage to storage area networks.

This guide walks you through the decision-making process.


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Spec your SQL Server hardware needs

 Home: Introduction
 Step 1: Invest in good application design
 Step 2: Understand your workload
 Step 3: Know your memory support limitations
 Step 4: Choose a reliable hardware brand
 Step 5: Take advantage of 64-bit
 Step 6: Take advantage of storage area networks
 Step 7: Properly configure your RAID arrays
 Step 8: Use separate disk controllers
 Step 9: Choose and optimize your disks wisely
 Step 10: Optimize CPU activity and speed

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    • ABOUT THE AUTHOR:   
    Hilary Cotter
    Hilary Cotter has been involved in IT for more than 20 years as a Web and database consultant. Microsoft first awarded Cotter the Microsoft SQL Server MVP award in 2001. Cotter received his bachelor of applied science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Toronto and studied economics at the University of Calgary and computer science at UC Berkeley. He is the author of a book on SQL Server transactional replication and is currently working on books on merge replication and Microsoft search technologies.
    Copyright 2006 TechTarget

    This was first published in January 2006

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