vCenter + VUM migration from Oracle to MS SQL

[komanek]

Hi all,

I am using four ESX 4.1u1 hosts + vCenter & VUM (Advanced Plus vSphere edition, virtual Win2008 R2 64bit machine) with Oracle database (on a separate physical server). I would like to install MS SQL on the same virtual server where vCenter and VUM are running, but I have a few questions:

1. Is it wise to migrate to MS SQL and to have it installed on the same server as vCenter and VUM ? If so, SQL 2008 or SQL 2008 R2 - which is better for VMWare ?

2. From compatibility matrices I think vCenter 4.1u1 supports the newest SQL (MS SQL 2008 R2 64bit) in both Standard and Enterprise editions, so it seems to me that standard edition is sufficient. In the case of VUM, there is nothing about editions. Is Standard edition OK ?

3. Is it possible to migrate the existing database (both vCenter and VUM tables reside in the same Oracle database instance) to MS SQL without loss of data ? Do I need some extra paid tools for this or is it somehow possible from the vCenter itself ?

Thank you in advance for any comments and opinions.

[kjb007]

I co-locate SQL server and vCenter together on the same vm.  I  believe the recommendation is to separate SQL server once you go over  the 200 host managed mark.

You should be fine with 2008 R2 for both vCenter and VUM, and is listed as such in the compatibility matrix.

I've  never tried to migrate vCenter from Oracle to SQL, so can't speak to it  with experience.  You would have to migrate the data itself, and there  may be schema differences inherently between a SQL install vs an Oracle  install of vCenter.  The safest course of action would be to reinstall.

-KjB

[komanek]

Thank you for describing your experience. So it sounds good to do such a move, the only unresolved question seems to be if there is some supported way to migrate data from Oracle to MS SQL. Otherwise it could be time-expensive to configure all hosts, resource pools etc. again.

Regards,

  David

[idle-jam · Accepted solution]

it's an old thread, but the closest i can find .. http://communities.vmware.com/thread/178164

[komanek]

Well, it's an incredibly old thread, but somehow I forgot to get a conclusion here, so: yes, it was a painfull manual process to get rid of oracle db and to move to something cheaper and local to vcenter installation. Never mind :smileysilly: