vmware SQL database

[badders]

Does anybody know which would be the best database format for running 4 hosts and about 20 vm's? The vmware manuels say that SQL 2005 express will only support 5 hosts and 5 virtual machines, I'm sure that I read on the vm site that it was 5 hosts and 50 virtual machines. Should I even use SQL 2005 express or just go for SQL 2005 standard edition?

[Theblacksheep]

Its 5 hosts and 50VMs for the sql express version with VC2.5.

 

"Note VMware recommends Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express for small deployments only (up to 5 hosts and 50 virtual machines)."

 

http://pubs.vmware.com/vi35/install/wwhelp/wwhimpl/common/html/wwhelp.htm?context=install&file=install_unified_vi.8.6.html

 

This is down to a 4GB limit to the database.... I'm not sure if this is a phyical limit or a 'suggested limit' as the database size predictor doesnt get near 4gb with 5 hosts and 100 guests.

 

I've just setup 4 hosts (bl480c), seperate VC box (rm dualsrv) with sql express. Apparently its not hard to migrate to a full SQL install if you want to support more VMs (like VDI (view)).

 

Moving SQL database:

http://www.amikkelsen.com/files/documents/MovingVCenterDBfrom1SQLtoanother.pdf

Edited February 14, 2009 by Theblacksheep

[ranj]

Great thread, a question I had was if it I wanted to move the database from one server to another, if this could be done. It seems like it is possible.

[ranj]

Hi sorry

I got a question about the SQL database which vcenter uses.

 

We have an issue at the moment where from a client we were not able to login to the vcenter server, this was because the vcenter server service was going to a stopped state.

VMware support told me it was because the database was growing in size and once we ran a backup it seemed to have resolved the problem.

We are in a similar situation where we only have 3 hosts so dont need a full blown SQL server so have been using SQL express with management studio express.

Through this I can do one off backups but it means I need to remember to do them.

 

Is anyone else using SQL express with vcenter and able to do scheduled backups.

I am not very good with backup scripts. Has anyone got one that I could borrow? The VMware guy said I could use Transact SQL to do scheduled backups??? He wasn't able to talk me through with this though.

 

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

[badders]

Have a look at this:

 

Scheduled backups for SQL 2005 Express

 

Just tried it on our vcenter and seems to do the job.

 

I ignored step 1 and just clicked on script on the Back Up Database page, then saved the script out to the desktop.

Edited September 29, 2010 by badders

[ranj]

Have a look at this:

 

Scheduled backups for SQL 2005 Express

 

Just tried it on our vcenter and seems to do the job.

I ignored step 1 and just clicked on script on the Back Up Database page, then saved the script out to the desktop.

 

Yes I can confirm this works. Thanks!