Re: SQL transaction logs on iSCSI

Well I can say that I have been using SQL2K running iSCSI to you NetApp for
over 2 years now. I have 4 DB servers that have a total of about 150GB of
databases between the servers. I have boththe logs and the DB out on the
filer. I noticed a definate performance increase when they were moved over. I
don't have the logs or the DBs on local disk.

I have had a couple of issues, espically since I was testign it when it
became available, but nothing that caused any data loss or corruption. Over
all it has been running great.

The recommendations I can give are make sure your traffic is isolated off
the public network. make it as redundant as possible. Mostly don't cut
corners on products either. I run HP server with teamed NICs going to two
seperate trunked Cisco switches.
--
Douglas Watt



"Geoff N. Hiten" wrote:

I have heard too many horror stories about iSCSI storage with SQL to be
comfortably using any solution. I do know some people have had success
using iSCSI, but when it goes bad, it goes way, way bad. I would not
recommend using iSCSI without a manufacturer showing me both a live customer
install AND letting me play with a setup for afew days.

I have had excellent results with EMC Clariion boxes, provided the SAN
Architect actually understands how to set up a system for Microsoft SQL
Server.

Either way, don't automatically select the lowest cost provider. If this is
your first foray into the SAN world, you really need good advice and
guidance. That means paying for professional services along with the
hardware. Make sure your vendor can provide both to the level you need.

--
Geoff N. Hiten
Senior Database Administrator
Microsoft SQL Server MVP




"AJ" <AJ@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:09F0A374-2188-4FA9-9AAE-9B09E90C38BD@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
We have been advised that there are performance issues with putting
transaction logs on iSCSI targets. Can anyone give more
detail/confirm/repudiate this?

We are looking at implementing a two node (probably single instance to
begin
with) SQL 2K cluster with an iSCSI or fibre channel set of disk resources.
We would prefer to use iSCSI due to our existing data network but we are
unsure of the performance implications of doing this.

Has anyone installed anything similar? I have been looking at NetApp, EMC
and HP iSCSI targets.

Thanks in advance. Any pointers are appreciated.



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