Standalone SQL database

[ANSA]

At what point should one condider installing a separate stand alone SQL database host server for the virtual center database ? Is there a best practice for this ?

[MattG · Accepted solution]

Use the vVenter sizing calculator:

http://www.vmware.com/support/vsphere4/doc/vsp_4x_db_calculator.xls

-MattG

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".

[ANSA]

Unable to download calculator from site

[vmroyale]

Hello.

If scalability is your concern - "Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express is intended to be used for small deployments of up to 5 hosts and/or 50 virtual machines." - from kb 1009080

Beyond scalability, there are other factors to think about as well. There are Backup/Recovery/DR, performance, dedicated DBA availability, licensing, politics and many many other things I am probably omitting here.

Good Luck!