SQL Server Storage Best Practice Discussion Dell EqualLogic
What s keeping you up at night? Managing the demands of a SQL environment Risk Cost Data loss Application unavailability Data growth SQL Server Sprawl SQL backup windows Protecting virtual SQL Server infrastructure Meeting recovery SLAs 1 Storage Marketing
Key Database Issues and Challenges Source: Your Enterprise Data Archiving Strategy Forrester Research 2
SQL Server data growth Managing SQL Server sprawl Single Server Small Farm Medium Farm Large Farm Complexity 3
Managing your database is your top priority SQL Server Instances SQL Server Instances SQL Server Instances SQL Server Instances SQL Server Instances Test and Development Production Decision Support Disaster Recovery WAN Production Replica Production Archive Replica Archive but different use cases mean varied storage considerations Performance Agility Business continuity Availability Future growth 4
You could keep information always available for faster decisions You could keep mission-critical applications always on You could manage SQL database sprawl within my budget? What if? You could instantly respond to performance and demand spikes? You could empower your IT teams 5
Start with the right storage t infrastructure Dell EqualLogic PS Series Storage that is optimized to scale No forklift upgrades: Seamless growth across array generations Peer Storage linearly scales for performance and capacity Flexible, mix and match arrays to build auto-tiered storage Storage that performs Highly virtualized storage infrastructure Automated load balancing for dynamic, virtualized environments Storage that ensures business continuity Integrated data Protection and management software Array based replication Fully redundant, hot swappable hardware All-inclusive software functionality 6
Key Concepts Groups and Members Volumes Pools A group is a set of arrays that are treated as a logical unit When you configure an array, you make it a member of a group Members share one highlyavailable group IP address All hosts use the group IP address for iscsi connections and management Resources can be moved dynamically within a group automatically or manually, without disruption in service A volume is storage space on the group that the host sees as a SCSI disk Volumes can be created at will from pool free space A volume will be distributed across the members in the pool where it resides The group presents a volume as an iscsi target The iscsi initiator on the host connects to the iscsi target and presents it to the host OS as a SCSI volume A pool is a physical segregation of resources within a group Volumes that are assigned to a pool will reside on members in that pool Members automatically distribute volume data across a pool Pools are the boundary of automatic load balancing Members and volumes can be moved between pools non-disruptively 7
How does a Peer Storage architecture work for you? Clones Snapshots Replication Bandwidth Bandwidth Bandwidth Storage Processor Storage Processor Controller Controller Controller Controller Controller Controller Frame-based architecture Based around a pair of storage processors Purchase add-on disk trays Frameless architecture Each array has drives and a pair of storage controllers Expand capacity by adding arrays seamlessly Adding arrays increases processing, cache, bandwidth and spindle count 8
Unique approach: Scale up vs. Scale out Traditional Scale up Rigid boundaries Limited scalability Storage Islands Forklift migration Peer Scaling Scale out intelligent automation Virtualized storage pool Auto configuration and provision Push button protection Typically avoids forklift upgrades MB/s Disk Scale up Limited options to improve performance Limited scalability Disk Seamless scalability Highly scalable to meet growing capacity and performance needs Add capacity or performance or both to same storage system Workload balancing $ Time Scale up 3 yr planning cycle Over buying High capital expenditure $ Time Grow as you need Pay as you grow Modular = consistent predictable cash flow Buy what you need Storage & capital efficiency 9
Putting SQL Server best practices to work with Dell 10
Best Practices for SQL Server Storage Consolidate Storage and enable centralized backup & helps simplify backup processes 1 2 Virtualize Storage and reduce complexity, ensure recovery & save management costs 3 Archiving Primary Backup Define a holistic data protection strategy and streamline recovery mitigate risk and drive down time & costs to recover Disaster Recovery 11 Storage Marketing
Manage SQL Server deployments Virtualized SQL Server storage Reduces SQL Server CAPEX Redundant servers, storage and network On-going drive to purchase more Reduces SQL Server OPEX Data center space and power Provisioning and management Improves SQL Server agility Do more with less Improve service levels to the business Microsoft Hyper-V / VMware virtual machines SQL Application Servers Switched Ethernet 1GbE or 10GbE IP Storage Network Storage Pool 12
Optimize SQL Server Performance Automatically applies resources where and when needed Network load balancing improves performance by distributing traffic across Ethernet ports Capacity load balancing spreads data workloads evenly across arrays Performance load balancing aligns hot and cool SQL Server data with the most appropriate storage SQL Server Client s EqualLogic Block Storage Corporate LAN SQL Application Servers IP Storage Network Storage Pool 13
Increase SQL Server agility EqualLogic dynamic multipath I/O Provides I/O load balancing across host bus adapters Provides non-disruptive failovers on I/O path failures Improves performance Yields best high availability 14
Ensure SQL Server continuity EqualLogic self-protecting storage Integrate with backup applications Leverage snapshots and clones to protect data locally Implement offsite data protection with replication Consider thin clones for specialized data distribution requirements Feature Description Use cases Snapshot Clone Thin Clone Replica Space-efficient, pointin-time view of a volume Full copy of an entire volume Creation of spaceefficient copies from a volume template Full copy of a volume stored remotely and updated with changes Rapid recovery for corruption or accidental deletion Test environments, reporting servers Virtual desktops, test development environments Disaster recovery, centralized backup 15
Leverage centralized data protection tools Auto-Snapshot Manager/Microsoft Application aware, wizardbased protection for entire Windows environment Advanced automation and data recovery Simply create and schedule snapshots, clones, replicas Rapidly recover data from space-efficient SAN-based copies Easy online recovery, serverless backup, disaster recovery, and accelerated test and development Increase RTO and RPO through Point-In-Time Protection and Recovery of SQL Server Databases 16
Enable management from a single SQL Server Host Integration Tools for Microsoft(HIT) Groups Enable centralized management and data protection capabilities Optimize and manage SAN access and performance MPIO, Remotely install & upgrade HIT/Microsoft on all SQL Servers Streamline SAN management with enhanced PowerShell tools for EqualLogic arrays, replicas and iscsi connections 17
Simplify storage management EqualLogic Group Manager SAN HQ Monitor SQL Server data from a single interface Intuitively manage storage groups, pools and volumes Activate data protection features with point-andclick ease Role-based administrators can securely and cooperatively manage shared storage resources Spot-check operations and analyze the impact of tiering settings 18
Augment backup processes Smart copies/auto-replication for SQL Server data protection Simplify business continuity Easy to configure and set up Leverage existing IP network infrastructure and expertise Synchronously replicate to meet stringent RPO Asynchronously replicate over any distance Flexibly address varying needs Multiple recovery points stored efficiently Per-volume replication schedules for varying service levels Fast failback to primary site 1-way, bi-directional, or many-to-one replication 19
Augment backup processes, Synchronous replication (Sync Rep) SyncActive pool SyncAlternate pool GbE GbE Writes to volumes are mirrored SQL Server Data Logs EqualLogic Group SQL Server Data Store Logs Real-time data protection Hardwareindependent copy of the volume Minimally disruptive maintenance windows Fast failover 20
Augment backup processes, part 2 Smart copies/auto-replication for SQL Server data protection Simulated OLTP application with four SQL Server Databases Minimal performance impact on transactions/ second with SyncRep Virtually no response time degradation when SyncRep is engaged 21
Reduce SQL database recovery times Smart copy restore Smart Copy Restore options for SQL Server databases Restore selected databases Selective restore for shared objects Restore all Complete roll back of entire database volume(s) Restore all as new Side-by-side recovery of database smart copy 22
All enterprise-class software included at no additional cost Array Software 6.0* Host Integration Tools SAN HQ 2.5* Advanced SAN functionality that automatically virtualizes and optimizes storage resources Enhanced data protection and disaster recovery with synchronous replication Increased efficiency with snapshot borrowing, volume un-map, volume undelete Improved data security, incorporating full encrypting SED drives and IPSEC EqualLogic software that tightly integrates popular applications and operating platforms from VMware, Microsoft and Linux HIT/VMware 3.5* manage multiple EQL groups from a single vcenter HIT/Microsoft 4.5* protect SQL Server data with ASM for Microsoft Edition(ASM/ME) * Adds Support for SQL Server 2012 A full-featured monitoring and analysis tool for EqualLogic PS storage arrays to analyze and optimize storage performance and resource allocation NEW Automatic diagnostic data collection and transmission to Dell Support, designed to expedite resolution of issues Support for new array software 6.0 features 23 23
EqualLogic delivers: Perpetual investment protection All-inclusive software Incremental technology protection without forklifts Consistent performance Optimization of resources across the SAN Non-disruptive data movement Flexible storage infrastructure Add capacity to existing groups without disrupting critical business applications Comprehensive data protection Space-efficient snapshots Clones Replication Instant restores 24 Storage Marketing
All our major business applications are in our Dell based private cloud. We re more competitive because we don t need to spend money every time we launch a new service or scale. The infrastructure is totally virtual. Shaun Phillips General Manager, IT Operations and Infrastructure Europcar South Africa Build a cloud infrastructure to deliver services on the fly and maximize customer service Customer Study: Europcar, South Africa 25
Dell Microsoft SQL Server Solutions Database and Data Warehouse solutions to meet your needs SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse SQL Server 2012 Data Warehouse SQL Server 2012 Quickstart Data Warehouse Appliance The system you need, when you need it 26
Dell Professional Services for Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Workshop Understand the potential Assessment Make informed decisions Design Lay the path for success Implementation Capture the value Manage/Support Ongoing success Architectural design/upgrades Design and implement enterprise ready architecture Design and implement DR/HA solutions Migration planning services Consolidation Inventory existing user databases Categorize for consolidation or virtualization Create and build consolidation plan Health check Assess SQL Server for performance and maintainability Identify resource intensive operations for remediation Access database designs and configurations with recommendations for improvement Workload design Review current roles and workloads for best practice recommendations Design and build storage optimization plan 27
Dell EqualLogic Solutions for Microsoft Environments Leading iscsi SAN for Microsoft Innovative, intelligent, virtualized consolidated storage solutions Perpetual investment protection All-inclusive software Incremental technology protection without forklifts Flexible storage infrastructure Add capacity without disruption Comprehensive data protection Space-efficient snapshots Clones Replication Instant restores 28