vCenter database full with only 2 hosts?

[caustic386]

Over the past week, my vCenter server has crashed 3x.  As far as I can tell, the SQLExpress database has hit it's 4GB limit.  No problem, I'll just follow the operation here:

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=102591...

Unfortunately, that only freed up 10MB.  So, needless to say, less than a day later we're back to where we started.  Next,  I ran this:

http://blogs.vmware.com/kb/2010/09/dealing-with-vcenter-41-database-tables-growth.html

After deleting(?) the VPX_EVENT and _VPX_EVENT_ARG tables, I rebooted the box and we're back up (for now).

As someone who has *no* experience with SQL, how can I figure out how much free space I now have in my VCDB, and more importantly, what is causing it to fill up?  My best guess is we use Vizioncore's vReplicator (do not buy this), which could be generating lots of events, but I have no way to verify it and they tell me "you need to call VMware."

Suggestions appreciated!

[Troy_Clavell]

SQL Express really shouldn't be used in a production enviorment for many reasons, one of which is the 4GB limit.  I would suggest moving your DB instance to SQL Enterprise Server.

Below are a few good points, for the move and maintenance.

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/7960893

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1003980

http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/vc_microsoft_sql_server.pdf

[caustic386]

If I remember right, the vCenter install suggests SQLExpress for less than 10 hosts and/or 50 VMs - we're currently at 3 hosts with 26 VMs.  Is there something that I'm missing?

[jasoncllsystems]

I do not agree with you.

I would said for any environment less than 3 hosts or due to budget constrain, I do not see any problem using SQL express. It's just a matter of how do you manage it.

[Troy_Clavell]

take my opinion for what it's worth, it's just an opinion.  However, I still believe you can get useful information from some of the links I posted, whether Express or otherwise, along with the below.

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1003990

[caustic386]

There is a lot of good performance info in that last link, but I still can't find a simple way to see how much space is available in the VCDB.  I'm willing to open a support case with VMware, if necessary, but I want to make sure I haven't already found a decent solution.

[kjb007]

You can use SQL Management Studio Express to connect to a SQL Express db.That will show you how much each db is using within the instance.

-KjB

[caustic386]

that's precisely what I'm trying to do, but I don't see any options that display used or free space?

[Troy_Clavell]

right click on your DB and choose properties.

[caustic386]

OK, you definitely got me there.  I guess I was imagining it to be moer difficult!

Now the tough part - what's a good way to keep an eye on this?  check the available space once/twice per week, and if it starts to get out of hand, run the table queiries again?

FYI, I now have 1.2GB free (out of 4GB), which is FAR beyond vCenter's estimated .7GB utilization projection.  This still feels off to me...

[Troy_Clavell · Accepted solution]

you may also want to check your Statistics in vCenter .  The higher the number for Statistics level, the larger your DB could get.  Also, you can look at maintenance jobs to help with keep this DB under control.  I don't know about Express, but when you are in the properties of the DB, see if you have  a recovery model, if it's anything other than simple, change it to.  Also, I posted a KB above which will help with your transaction logs.  These tend to be the bulk of the size of the DB instance.