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Reccomended Vendor

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Topic

tripodal
Constraint Violating Yak Guru

259 Posts

Posted - 2008-02-20 : 12:00:51

I am in the uniquie position to buy the ideal hardware for a sql server. The goal being maximum uptime. We have approx 20gb of databases (300+)

Does anyone have a US vendor / brand they would reccomend?
It seems everyone uses clusters, so what is the all-in-one sql package I would need?

SwePeso
Patron Saint of Lost Yaks

30421 Posts

Posted - 2008-02-20 : 13:06:26

I usually recommend HP or DELL.

E 12°55'05.25"
N 56°04'39.16"

Haywood
Posting Yak Master

221 Posts

Posted - 2008-02-20 : 17:20:07

tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2008-02-20 : 17:51:10

HP

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/

dewacorp.alliances

452 Posts

Posted - 2008-02-20 : 21:10:21

I recommended IBM servers as well as IBM SAN cause that what we use in our environment.

tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2008-02-21 : 00:08:56

We used IBM at my last job and absolutely hated the hardware. We had a bunch of servers that had to be sent back due to hardware failures.

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/

Haywood
Posting Yak Master

221 Posts

Posted - 2008-02-21 : 10:31:54

IBM servers like e & p series running on proper PowerPC architecture are what you want, if you want to use IBM. Then again, you're probably going to be on AIX and not Winders.

If you don't need to run high-end Unix systems on really really expensive hardware, buy HP. :)

I've been using DELL at my current employment, and while it's certainly cheaper than HP, it isn't nearly as nice, or high-quality that HP is. DELL works and is tough, it's just not as good as HP though.

Having used both vendors now for several years, I'd go with HP no questions anymore.

tripodal
Constraint Violating Yak Guru

259 Posts

Posted - 2008-02-21 : 13:39:12

Ill call HP. We build pc's and knock dell down all the time.
It would probably be bad to use them now. :-p

tripodal
Constraint Violating Yak Guru

259 Posts

Posted - 2008-03-28 : 14:34:08

So anyone that Is curious about my journey.
I called up HP, spoke with a very nice lady. Who was happy to quote me lots of neat things. And when It came to asking if they will help support and setup the software she said "uhhhh ummmm"
So, off to Microsoft vendor list.

I have called up EMC, they have been helpful and Communicative so far. This monday we are meeting with an engineer and hopefully I will have some detailed useful information.

Anyone here had any experience with EMC?
all opinions are equally welcome :)

NeilG
Aged Yak Warrior

530 Posts

Posted - 2008-03-28 : 15:04:03

Dell or HP for me

Haywood
Posting Yak Master

221 Posts

Posted - 2008-03-28 : 16:07:11

EMC's hardware is good, but avoid thier software if you can...Currently having a lousy experience with EMC Networker & Replication Manager. However, the DMX3 hardware has been stellar.

EMC Hardware - Good.
EMC Software - Not so good.

rmiao
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

7266 Posts

Posted - 2008-03-28 : 23:34:22

>> We have approx 20gb of databases.

I think EMC is too big for that. By the way, we have HP on site all the time for supporting.

tripodal
Constraint Violating Yak Guru

259 Posts

Posted - 2008-03-31 : 10:48:35

Unfortunately tho, I need a sql dba with the package, I cant run to you guys all the time, as... well maybe I could.
But it just seems more professional to have a sql expert on call, for when I goof it up.

Haywood, "EMC Networker & Replication Manager"
What does that handle specifically? I will make sure to ask very pointed questions there.
My meeting with thier engineer is tommorow :)

tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2008-03-31 : 12:49:58

You won't be getting a sql dba with these vendors. You would be getting server support only, not database support.

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/

Haywood
Posting Yak Master

221 Posts

Posted - 2008-03-31 : 22:33:36

quote:
Originally posted by tripodal

Unfortunately tho, I need a sql dba with the package, I cant run to you guys all the time, as... well maybe I could.
But it just seems more professional to have a sql expert on call, for when I goof it up.

Haywood, "EMC Networker & Replication Manager"
What does that handle specifically? I will make sure to ask very pointed questions there.
My meeting with thier engineer is tommorow :)

Networker is a tape backup solution.

Replication Manager is a hardware based BCV/Snapshot solution (LUN cloning and whatnot).

tripodal
Constraint Violating Yak Guru

259 Posts

Posted - 2008-07-23 : 11:01:45

Well,
The journey continues.
I managed to get EMC to quote me a full package to come in and "do it all" in terms of configuring the sql cluster i wanted, setting up the san, helping me configure our web stuff to use the cluser accurately, and make me a manual to go with it. I originally said I couldnt spend more than 60,000 well
thier quote was 110,000
Hahahaha
So
Now Im really stuck doing it myself. I know that in order to move forward I need a SAN first.
Whats the best SAN?
Still a tie between DELL / HP?

tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2008-07-23 : 13:08:41

We use Hitachi for the SAN. We've got probably a few hundred terabytes across the company on the SAN.

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/

Subscribe to my blog

Donald Murphy
Starting Member

5 Posts

Posted - 2008-07-24 : 12:34:36

IMHO:

I don't think you really need a full blown SAN (we use Hitachi as well) for that amount of data. I had a similar amount of data at a previous job and was very happy using the lower end HP Storage Works solutions. It attached via SCSI cables (no extra cost for fiber switches and such) and I created Raid 10 (striped mirror volume) across a bunch of spindles to spread the load.

For performance bang for the buck I would spend my money on lots of RAM and look at going with a 64-bit setup (Windows & SQL Server).

-- Donald

tripodal
Constraint Violating Yak Guru

259 Posts

Posted - 2008-07-24 : 13:52:18

My particular case, has about 20gb of sql data 20-100gb of email data and 50-100gb of web data

there is a content server which has raw imagest etc, with 200gb of data.

I want to evantually move all of that into one location, I was thining SAN in order to setup clustering. I am also aiming HIgh because If I get them to bite on this, I want one of the best solutions, and howswapping every part on the fly gets me working 8 hours a day, instead of at 2am.

I am grateful for all the information, and am highly amused at tkizer throwing around 100's of terabytes. One day I hope to have a bigger harddrive than all of you!

tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2008-07-24 : 13:59:42

Well the stuff that I support doesn't have what I mentioned above, but we have that much data on the SAN overall amongst the company.

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/

Subscribe to my blog

tripodal
Constraint Violating Yak Guru

259 Posts

Posted - 2008-10-20 : 15:44:20

A more detailed question, if you dont mind me necroing this thread once again.

One several of the quotes im seeing line items referencing SQL "snap manager SQL" in particular.

Question being,
Is it useful to be able to backup the sql database on the fly via the san hardware. ( this would be a live database), or is it still best to use EM, and mssql's backup?

Thanks again!
Tripodal

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