SBS 2011 server - can I move the SQL to my raid 5 volume? Is it worth it?

[ITMAN]

Hi

I have an sbs 2011 that I migrated from sbs 2003 in December. All is working fine but I am not happy that by default sbs installed the SQL server / instances on the c -system drive drive which is raid 1. I would rather the SQL instances were on the raid 5 data volume as I think this would be better

There are 4 instances - sbsmonitoring, share point, ACT and Sophos

Is there a simple way to move the SQL servers/instances? Is it worth it?

Thankyou all

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Yes (simple way) and yes (worth doing it)
Several methods....from command line, to the GUI approach (using SQL Manager Studio)

Basically dismount the database (in SQL manager studio) shut off a few services, move the database, and then restore it (in SQL manager studio)

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/wi...ore-a-sql-server-database-to-a-new-server/454

 

[ITMAN]

Great thankyou. I have found that in sbs you can move share point easily it's the other that I would have a problem with. Thankyou for your link I shall do this at the weekend

James

 

[HankArnold]

Great thankyou. I have found that in sbs you can move share point easily it's the other that I would have a problem with. Thankyou for your link I shall do this at the weekend

James

My only concern is with putting SQL on a RAID 5. You will almost certainly experience a slowdown in performance. RAID 5 is simply slower that RAID 1. If possible, i'd suggest adding a 4th drive and go with a RAID 10. If you do choose to move to the RAID 5 (or RAID 10), I would strongly suggest leaving the log files on the original RAID 1. This will speed things up and give you some DR options. It's always best to have the MDF and LDF files on separate drives/spindles.

Hank Arnold (MVP)

 

[krtechsolutions]

I am with Hank on this one be careful putting databases on a raid 5 volume, if they are heavily used you will see a performance decrease.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

For huge environments it's optimal to spread SQL stuff (like logs) around faster write or lower utilized drive setups...but he's dealing with SBS and most of those instances are just little native instances to SBS (meaning...small and lightly used). I see Act mentioned....but since it's SBS it won't be a huge amount of users to still rather small.

He didn't state which RAID controller this server has.....in the early days, or talking about software RAID, yeah 5 has slightly slower write speeds, however with some of todays better RAID controllers write speeds are up. And of course read speeds were always better.

 

[ITMAN]

Hi

It's on a powerwdge with sas raid

I will move the db files to the raid 5 and leave the logs on the raid 1 hopefully that will help

Act db is approx 500mb so not massive but its used by all 15 users everyday

Thankyou for your input!