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The optimized Microsoft SQL Server platform is a validated design that includes three PowerEdge servers, two Top-of-Rack (ToR) network switches, and a Dell PowerStore storage array. The optimized platform is a flexible database architecture that can serve various use cases.
These business drivers are ideal for the Microsoft SQL Server validated design. At the compute layer, PowerEdge servers accelerate the SQL Server database. Three PowerEdge R750 servers are part of the database infrastructure design. Each server is powered by a 3rd generation Intel Xeon scalable processors that is configured for your databases. For database consolidation, there are a broad range of high core CPUs like the Intel Xeon Platinum 8380 with 40 cores and with hyperthreading 80 threads. The PowerEdge R750 is a two-socket server and customers can use 80 cores and 160 threads due to hyper-threading.
A moderate sized consolidated database platform can use the Gold 6348 with 28 cores and 56 threads. With both sockets in use, the total number of physical cores totals 56 and 112 threads. These are two consolidation configurations to consider, but the strength of PowerEdge servers is the board number of CPUs available.
In consolidated database environments, memory is as important as the number of CPU cores in the system. The PowerEdge R750 can support up to 8 TB LRDIMM memory or 2 TB of RDIMM memory. The ability to configure the PowerEdge R750 for consolidation by customizing the processor and memory maximizes design flexibility. The goal is to configure the servers in your optimized Microsoft SQL Server platform to match your performance requirements.
Two Dell PowerSwitch S5224F-ON switches connect the PowerEdge servers to the network. Databases transfer significant volumes of information, which makes network switches a critical part of the design. PowerSwitches used in the integrated system are designed for high performance computing and databases that demand the highest bandwidth. In addition, the network switches support larger maximum transmission unit (MTU) packet sizes, which improves network performance.
A PowerStore 1000T performance storage array was used for the Microsoft SQL Server databases. The PowerStore 1000T is a 2U, two-node dual socket Intel® Xeon® platform storage array. This PowerStore model was chosen for this validated design because it balances performance and capacity for a midrange storage array. Customers can choose the model that best matches their database demands. The PowerStore 9000T is at the top of the PowerStore model family and offers greater performance and capacity.
Three PowerEdge R750 servers, two PowerSwitches S5224F-ON, and the PowerStore 1000T are the foundation of the validated design for Microsoft SQL Server databases. All components in this validated design have been tested to provide an optimized SQL Server platform for your databases.