Home > Workload Solutions > SQL Server > White Papers > Scaling SQL Server 2022 VMs on Dell Integrated System for Microsoft Azure Stack HCI > Using a consultative approach to sizing
Azure Stack HCI is a fully productized HCI solution, which means customers do not have to spend valuable time planning to run Microsoft SQL Server 2022 VMs. Traditional multi-tiered architectures often require extensive customization of hardware and software settings to optimize the performance and resiliency of database workloads. In the case of Azure Stack HCI, Dell Technologies engineering validates a broad range of intelligently designed configurations ready to meet the requirements of even the most demanding SQL databases. To determine the right-sized system that achieves the best return on investment, it is essential to understand the performance and capacity characteristics of your existing database environment.
Dell Technologies follows a consultative and systematic approach to help customers modernize their data estate. Dell Live Optics is a free, online software tool used to collect, visualize, and share data about existing IT infrastructures and database workloads.
Optical Prime is software that collects metrics like peak CPU utilization, IOPS, used storage, and average daily writes from various operating systems. Optical Prime also comes bundled with workload collectors to gather critical information directly from the application layer.
Results are stored in a uniform format called a Collector Run to be analyzed in the Live Optics Portal with the Live Optics Viewer. This view is required to understand the current performance and capacity requirements for your new system.
The SQL Server workload collector goes into application-layer detail of the current environment.
The data collected by Live Optics would then be provided to your Dell Technologies account team to influence selections in the Azure Stack HCI Sizer Tool. The sizer tool integrates all the Azure Stack HCI design constraints and best practices from extensive engineering validation efforts. This tool ensures that each potential configuration generated is a balanced and viable option. Customers can produce multiple configurations with the Dell Technologies account teams to compare and select a configuration that meets their current database performance, capacity, and resiliency requirements as well as future growth projections within the allocated budget. For more information about Live Optics, see the Live Optics for SQL Server Knowledge Base.
Note: Only Dell Technologies direct sales and its partners can access the Azure Stack HCI Sizer Tool. Customers can contact their Dell Technologies account team or preferred channel partner to create recommended configurations in the tool.