vCenter Server 4.1U1 and SQL 2008 x64 (R2) Express

[Walsu]

Hi all,

I have installed vCenter Server 4.1.U1 (and Update Manager) on Windows 2008 x64 R2 running SQL Server 2008 x64 Express.

I go everything to work, but after some time I got a warning in vCenter Service Status node indicating that performance rollups within the vCenter database were not taking place.

"Performance statistics rollup from past day to past week is not occurring in the database"

If I would be running a full version of SQL there would be an easy fix (KB1004382), but the problem is that I'm not able to create jobs in Express version of SQL...

Is there any way to fix this issue?

I have searched the net, but the only solution seems to be a re-install, with the SQL bundled with vCenter Server...

I have installed the SQL server Express with the default instance (since other programs running on the server demand it), so I think that vCenter thinks that I'm running a full version of SQL...

And YES I know, that SQL Express is not recommended...

I have a small installation (2 hosts with 40 VMs).

Br.

Walsu

[EshuunDara]

I'm having the same problem -- did you ever get this resolved?

[AndreTheGiant]

The SQL Express 2008 is experimental.

The SQL Express 2008 R2 is neither considered.

See: http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_compatibility_matrix.pdf

I suggest to install and use SQL Express 2005

Andre

[Kevin_Beaumont]

Just to bring this one back up - I have exactly the same problem here.  The Support Matrix linked in this thread is for 4.0, which is the wrong version - this is 4.1 Update 1, which I believe supports SQL Server Express 2008 R2.

Unfortunately it triggers the "Performance statistics rollup from past day" error.

[mpozar]

Check this KB Article:

     http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=1036085&s...

I have the same issue and getting p#$$@& off.

Vmware recommends upgrading tot he FULL MS SQL Version. I would like to find out who I send the Invoice to at VMware for the upgrade...

Have FUN!

Michael

[schepp]

Michael Pozar wrote:

Check this KB Article:

     http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=1036085&s...

I have the same issue and getting p#$$@& off.

Vmware recommends upgrading tot he FULL MS SQL Version. I would like to find out who I send the Invoice to at VMware for the upgrade...

Have FUN!

Michael

The KB says:

"To resolve this issue, migrate the SQL database to a full edition (32bit or 64bit) or a 32bit SQL Express edition."

So go and try a 32 Bit Express before buying the full. Don't get it why VMware should pay for it, though.

[mpozar]

VMware is touting that Virtual Center is a 64 Bit Application and should be deployed on a 64 bit platform but then we find that with MS SQL Express you CANNOT deploy the 64Bit version because they have a BUG.

It is our policy, and also for most of our customers that we deploy VMware solutions for, that if utilising a 64bit platform then 64bit versions of applications SHOULD be deployed and not 32bit unless we absolutely have to.

Virtual Center works with MS SQL Server 2008 R2 Standard and Enterprise (only 64bit) so I am a bit dumbfounded/perplexed that it will not work with a 64bit Express edition of SQL.

Microsoft has made it clear that 32bit is a thing of the past and all future OS and Applications will ONLY be 64bit.

My motto is that if you are going to do something then do it properly or don't do it at all..

Sorry, but bit pissed of with software companies this week. Seem to be running into half baked solutions that then has me running around in circles to resolve issues that I believe should not be there in the first case.

Have FUN!

Michael

[Kevin_Beaumont]

It's possible it's a Microsoft bug (speculation) - it could be the relevant bits of SQL don't run properly in the 64bit Express versions yet.

Either way, somebody has screwed up, be it Microsoft or VMware.

I'm now considering how technically complex it would be to install SQL Express 2005 32-bit on the same box, and then migrate the SQL Express 2008 R2 databases across to it.   Hmmm.

[schepp]

Michael Pozar wrote:

Seem to be running into half baked solutions that then has me running around in circles to resolve issues that I believe should not be there in the first case.

That's the idea of software these days, customers are beta testers, but I think there are many companies worse than VMware

As the compatibility matrix is showing the support for SQL 2008 express (32 & 64) is experimental, so it shouldn't be considered for hosting productive environments.

[Kevin_Beaumont]

Tim wrote:

As the compatibility matrix is showing the support for SQL 2008 express (32 & 64) is experimental, so it shouldn't be considered for hosting productive environments.

That's the compatibility matrix for 4.0, which we aren't using - this is 4.1 Update 1, which I believe has SQL Express 2008 supported.

[schepp]

Kevin Beaumont wrote:

That's the compatibility matrix for 4.0, which we aren't using - this is 4.1 Update 1, which I believe has SQL Express 2008 supported.

Nope, look at it again, it also says 4.1 U1 in the table. Don't get confused by the "r40" in the link

Regards.

[Kevin_Beaumont]

Tim wrote:

Nope, look at it again, it also says 4.1 U1 in the table. Don't get confused by the "r40" in the link

Regards.

Aha.  Correct.  That said, it does say SQL Express 2005 is supported - but that doesn't work properly in 64 bit either.

[schepp]

SQL 2005 Express is 32 Bit only. There is a package to install on 64 Bit Systems, but the database software itself is also 32 Bit.

Regards

[keithlammersBFS]

Does anyone know if vCenter Server 5.0 supports SQL 2008 R2 Express x64? It's not listed in the Compatibility Matrix yet and for the life of me I can't find it in any of the documentation.

I was thinking maybe upgrading to vCenter Server 5.0 would resolve this issue, but just wondering if anyone has tried it yet.

[schepp]

Hi,

this site: http://partnerweb.vmware.com/comp_guide/sim/interop_matrix.php

says SQL 2008 R2 Express 64 Bit is supported for vCenter 4.0 U3 and 4.1 U1 but says nothing about 5.

So you may think:

a) if it's supported for 4.1 U1 it will be supported for 5 and they just forgot to update it

or

b) it's not supported anymore

Good Luck

Regards

[keithlammersBFS]

Funny that that page shows it as compatible, but there's this KB article that says to switch to 32-bit because of the bug with the stored procedures: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=1036085&sl...

As a temporary workaround, I ended up setting up a Windows Scheduled Task that runs every hour and executes the statsrollup Stored Procedures using sqlcmd.

Eventually I'll update to vCenter Server 5.0 to see if it fixes up the issue permanently.

[AndreTheGiant]

Sound strange that vCenter 5 does not support. Is the one used in the installable version.

Andre

[keithlammersBFS]

vCenter 5.0 may support it, I just couldn't find any documentation on it and haven't had a chance to install it. The vCenter 5.0 documentation only lists SQL 2008 R2 Express without mention of whether it's x86 or x64.