Planning, Implementing and Supporting SQL Server Virtualization with Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V and Live Migration

Technical White Paper

Writers: Shirmattie Seenarine (Independent Technical Writer) and Ross Mistry (Microsoft Corporation)

Technical Reviewers: Sung Hsueh and Prem Mehra

Editor: Craig Huber

Published: July 2010

Applies to: Microsoft Windows Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft System Center

Summary:

This whitepaper provides prescriptive guidance and detailed steps for planning and implementing SQL Server virtualization with Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V and Live Migration.  The document also communicates strategies for managing a SQL Server virtual environment with SQL Server native capabilities and System Center products such as Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) 2008 R2, Configuration Manager 2007 R2, Operations Manager 2007 R2 and Data Protection Manager 2010.

Authors

Shirmattie Seenarine is an independent technical writer with more than 10 years of experience. She has contributed to many books, including Introducing SQL Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008 Unleashed, Exchange Server 2007 Unleashed, SharePoint Server 2007 Unleashed, and SQL Server 2008 Management and Administration. Shirmattie has written many articles, whitepapers, architecture design documents and operational procedures for Fortune 500 organizations including Microsoft, CIBC, Solectron, Network Appliance and Gilead Sciences.

Ross Mistry is an Enterprise Architect at the Microsoft Technology Center (MTC) in Silicon Valley.  He provides executive briefings, architectural design sessions, and proof of concept workshops to some of Microsoft's largest customers.  He specializes in SQL Server and architects solutions focusing on upgrades, migrations, high availability, consolidation and virtualization.

Ross is also an author on many books, articles and whitepapers. His recent books include: Introducing SQL Server 2008 R2 (MSPress), Windows Server 2008 R2 Unleashed (SAMS), SQL Server 2008 Management and Administration (SAMS), Exchange Server 2010 Unleashed (SAMS) and SharePoint 2007 Unleashed (SAMS).

Ross is a former SQL Server MVP, well known in the worldwide SQL Server community and frequently speaks at technology conferences and user groups around the world.  Conferences include PASS, SQL Connections, Europe PASS, SQL BITS, User Groups and Microsoft.  You can follow and contact Ross on Twitter @RossMistry.

Copyright

The information contained in this document represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation on the issues discussed as of the date of publication. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commit on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented after the date of publication.

This white paper is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT.

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Microsoft may have patents, patent applications, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property rights covering subject matter in this document. Except as expressly provided in any written license agreement from Microsoft, the furnishing of this document does not give you any license to these patents, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property.

© 2010 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Hyper-V, Microsoft, SQL Server, Windows, and Windows Server are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Introduction              6

Overview of Technologies and Concepts               7

1. Planning SQL Server Virtualization              8

1.1. Step 1: Conduct SQL Server Inventory              9

1.1.1. Using the MAP Toolkit to Conduct a SQL Server Inventory (Step-by-Step)              10

1.1.2. Analyzing the Results              10

1.1.3. Generating a SQL Server Summary Report and Proposal              11

1.2. Step 2: Understanding Hyper-V Maximum Configurations              13

1.2.1. Maximum Configurations for Virtual Machines              13

1.2.2. Maximum Configurations for Servers  running Hyper-V              13

1.2.3. Maximum Configurations for Hyper-V and Failover Clusters              13

1.3. Step 3: Determine SQL Server Workloads to Virtualize              14

1.4. Step 4 - Determine High Availability, Security and Isolation Strategies              17

1.4.1. High Availability Strategies              17

1.4.2. Security and Isolation Strategies              19

1.5. Step 5 - Determine the Version and Edition of SQL Server and the Operating System              20

1.5.1. SQL Server Editions, Components and Features              20

1.5.2. Windows Server Editions and Features              20

1.6. Step 6: Determine Virtualization Strategy              20

1.6.1. Virtualization Strategy: Physical-to-Virtual Conversion              21

1.6.2. Virtualization Strategy: Server Consolidation              21

1.7. Step 7: Determine Hyper-V Hardware              21

1.7.1. Hyper-V R2 Enhancements              22

1.7.2. Storage - Pass-through vs. Fixed Size VHD              23

1.7.3. Hyper-V R2 System Requirements              23

2. Implementing SQL Server Virtualization              24

2.1.1. Operating Systems Supported              24

2.1.2. P2V Conversion Process              24

2.1.3. P2V Conversation Step-by-Step              25

2.1.4. Starting and Stopping a SQL Virtual Machine              30

3. Implementing Live Migration for SQL Server 2008 R2              30

3.1. Enabling Cluster Shared Volumes (CSV)              31

3.2. Creating a SQL Server Virtual Machine with Hyper-V              33

3.2.1. Creating a SQL Server Virtual Machine with Hyper-V Manager              34

3.2.2. Creating a SQL Server Virtual Machine with Virtual Machine Manager R2              37

3.3. Initiating Live Migration for a SQL Server VM              39

4. Supporting a Virtualized SQL Server Environment              40

4.1. Patch and Service Pack Management              41

4.1.1. Windows Update:              41

4.1.2. Windows Server Update Services 3.0 SP2 (WSUS) :              41

4.1.3. System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R2:              42

4.1.4. Applying Updates and Service Packs              42

4.2. Tools to Manage SQL Server Virtual Machines              43

4.2.1. The VMM 2008 R2 Administration Console's Virtual Machine View              43

4.2.2. The VMM 2008 R2 Administration Console's Administration View              44

4.2.3. Utility Control Point              45

4.2.4. Data Collector              46

4.3. System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2 Integration              46

4.3.1. Viewing Virtual Machine Reports with System Center              47

4.4. How to upgrade a SQL Server Instance within a Virtual Machine              48

4.5. Backing Up SQL Server Virtual Machines              48

4.5.1. Using Data Protection Manager (DPM) 2010 to Protect  SQL Server Virtual Machines              49

5. Conclusion

Introduction

With the introduction of Windows Server 2008 R2 comes a plethora of innovative capabilities for the Hyper-V platform that will significantly enhance, simplify and streamline your SQL Server virtualization efforts while improving efficiency and minimizing costs.  In addition, virtualization can also be used as an enabling factor for SQL Server consolidation.  By also leveraging the new capabilities in System Center such as System Center Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) 2008 R2, System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2 and System Center Data Protection Manager 2010, you will establish a more dynamic and flexible virtualized SQL Server infrastructure that will enhance your provisioning, protection and managing experience. 

This document is organized into four sections to deliver a straightforward and un-daunting process for planning, implementing and managing your SQL Server virtualization efforts. The document opens with a high level introduction that will acquaint you with the technologies and concepts involved in planning, implementing and managing SQL Server virtualization. The document then expands on these technologies by discussing how to use each capability to simplify your SQL Server virtualization efforts.  The four sections include:

§         Part 1 Planning: This section of the document describes the steps on how to effectively plan a SQL Server virtualization strategy by first communicating how to conduct a discovery of SQL Server computers, instances, and databases in your network.  ...