What database do you use for VirtualCenter?

[peetz]

Hi all,

since several years we run VirtualCenter (all versions 1.x through to 2.5 U3 today) with an Oracle database. Since VirtualCenter 2.5 (using Oracle 10.2.0.3) we repeately have problems (VC crashing with database errors ORA-12899 in Windows event log). After opening an SR with VMware they consulted to install Oracle patches 6085625 and 6452485 on the Oracle server. Unfortunately, we currently use a shared Oracle platform in a strictly regulated environment for the VC database, so installing the required patches is not pssible for the short term.

After a short discussion with our DB team we identified the following options:

• switch VC to another Oracle installation that is on the latest patch level 10.2.0.4

• switch to a shared MS SQL server platform

• install and use SQL server on the (physical) VC server itself

What is your current setup, and what option do you recommend?

The size of our VI is as follows: 2 datacenters, 16 hosts, about 380 VMs.

If you have not done this already then please take your vote on this forum's poll "Database use" (s. ), so that we can get a representative view on what database platform people prefer for VC.

Thanks and best regards

Andreas

[rriva]

I'm using :

SQL 2005 Express on the same machine a VirtualCenter

SQL 2005 32bit both on the same machine as the Virtual Center or on other machine

SQL 2000 32bit both on the same machine as the Virtual Center or on other machine

It depends on VI size and customer SQL licensing.

Riccardo Riva

VCP,RHCE,FCNSA

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[geob]

I am using SQL 2005 Standard 32Bit. I prefer SQL because it seems to be easier to manage and less strict controls around the operations of SQL over Oracle in a shared situation. Atleast it's that way in our invironment. Been using VC since 2.0 and have always opted for SQL over Oracle.

-geob

[btobia]

We run VC with SQL 2005 32bit located on a different box than VC. We have centralized backups for our sql servers which made that solution appealing for us. We haven't had any problems and it's more than powerful enough for our environment size (5 hosts, ~ 150 VM's)

We started with SQL 2005 express on the same box as VC. It seemed to handle our environment without any issues. The only reason we moved was so that this DB could be part of our nightly backups.

[peetz]

Thanks for all the answers so far.

Where are the Oracle fans? Is there anyone running VC 2.5 with an Oracle 10 database and without any issues? If so, what patch level are you using?

Andreas

[AntonVZhbankov]

I use Oracle 10 and no issues like yours at all.

Currently I have 8 hosts with 130 VMs, Oracle DB is installed on VC machine (physical).

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