Since vSphere 4.0 i have always installed my MSSQL in a separate VM. I do know that some people install full MSSQL on the vCenter server.
what do you think?
what is the best practices?
Do you use a separate SQL Server installation for vCenter Server?
What's the size of your environment (hosts, VMs) and which other VMware applications (e.g. View, ...) do you use?
Depending on your needs you may want to take a look at the vCenter Server Appliance when upgrading to version 5.5. The appliance supports up to 100 hosts and 3000 VMs.
André
In a production environment I always install SQL on a separate VM. I don't want to build a monster VM. I want to ensure that SQL processes do not overtake any vCenter processes.
I know this article is a little old, but the points that are made are still valid -
http://rodos.haywood.org/2009/02/vcenter-server-database.html
since I will need heartbeat, VCSA is out. And is another discussion (2 VMs versus 1VM and 1Physical)
I am talking in general and in a production environment (10 Hosts; 500 VMs). MSSQL licenses are not an issue and lets say that the SQL server will only be used for VMware.
In my opinion you have several things to consider.
Advantages of having SQL together with vCenter:
I also recommend to watch great video from VMworld 2013 which explains a bit more about topic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUFg2iuBjXE
