Sql-server – Suitability of DL380p-Gen8 + D2700 for SQL 2012 Standard Edition

hphp-prolianthp-smart-arraysql serverstorage

A question for those who know about HP server performance and SQL…

I am trying to spec a suitable server that has the following requirements:

  1. Run SQL 2012 Standard Edition (I cannot get approval for Enterprise edition)
  2. Main database is currently 600 GB, allow for growth up to 1,200 GB over next 3 years
  3. Log files for main database is currently 120 GB, allow for growth to 300 GB
  4. OLAP database is 60 GB, allow for growth up to 120 GB
  5. Reporting Services is about 5 to 10 GB

Windows 2012 Standard Edition allows >32GB (yay!) and SQL 2012 Standard Edition allows 64 GB RAM usage, so I was thinking that a server with 96 GB of RAM would be sufficient for the OS, SQL, OLAP, and RS…

Now my concern is disk space requirement, I would like to put each component on its own Raid 1 or Raid 1+0 volume, so by that measure I would need:

  1. 2 x 300GB 15K RPM 6GB DP SAS disks in RAID 1 for Boot OS (300 gb usable)
  2. 8 x 300GB 15K RPM 6GB DP SAS disks in RAID 1+0 for main database (1,200 gb usable)
  3. 2 x 300GB 15K RPM 6GB DP SAS disks in RAID 1 for log files for main db (300 gb usable)
  4. 2 x 300GB 15K RPM 6GB DP SAS disks in RAID 1 for OLAP
  5. 2 x 300GB 15K RPM 6GB DP SAS disks in RAID 1 for Reporting Services
  6. 2 x 300GB 15K RPM 6GB DP SAS disks in RAID 1 for Temp DB

OK, I know that Reporting Services and Temp DB do not need 300 GB each, but I think there is something to be said for having all the same disk size

Since the HP DL380p-Gen8 only has 8 disk slots, I would need an external SAS drive array such as the D2700 which would hold the remaining 10 disks.

I am not concerned about having too much disk space.

My main goal is to get the maximum performance out of this server.

So my primary question is: Is the IO throughput between the DL380 and the D2700 sufficient? It appears it only uses a single mini-SAS cable to connect the external drive enclosure to the server.

My secondary question is, does the overall server spec confirm to good/best practice?

I have been given a ballpark budget limit of $60K, which I think is insufficient, so I may be able to ask for a bit more if I can justify it.

Many thanks in advance!

Best Answer

I dont know aobut HP but the disc layout smells "SLOW" to mee.

Seriously.

First - separate RAID 1 for everything means that if something is not in use, the IOPS is - wasted. I would go with one RAID 10.

Second, you use expensive 15k ROM discs and - whow - would get about 100 times the IO Performance - for a lower price - with SATA based.... SSD.

So, I would personally make sure you don't go on a hirig spree in my company ever again after this proposal. It is very state of the art - for the year 2000. Now we have some years later.

With the DL 380p having 8 drives I would go with an ALL OUT SSD SETUP, using 480GB Samsung 843T enterprise level SSD. Raid 10. THat is 1200gb rougly usable space. with 8 drives, 1600 with 8 - and the performance will fly around your more expensive setup. Buy 9-10 drives so a replacement is there and there you go. Not sure the raid controller will be able to handle that bandwidth ;)

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