Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Tip
If you own VMware vCloud Suite licenses, you already have everything you need
to get started with virtualized networking and security with VMware's vCloud
Networking and Security. This is not as feature rich as VMware NSX, but many
of the same concepts apply. To learn more about vCloud Suite and vCloud
Networking and Security, see
http://www.vmware.com/products/vcloud-suite/
.
To learn more about VMware NSX, see
http://www.vmware.com/products/nsx/
.
Summary
In this chapter, we covered how to get the required network performance from your
SQL Server VMs by choosing the right virtual network adapter, VMXNET3, and how
using jumbo frames, where appropriate, can greatly increase performance and reduce
CPU utilization. We showed you some of the advanced tuning options that may be
required in certain situations to optimize the virtual network performance of SQL
Server databases, including when using AlwaysOn Availability Groups and other forms
of database replication.
You can't have a high-performing virtual network without a high-performance, scalable,
and reliable physical network. We have covered the critical VMware vSphere network
design components, including virtual switches, physical adapters, teaming and failover,
and the physical network. Our recommendation is to use vSphere distributed switches
and port groups with the Route Based on Physical NIC Load setting to ensure SQL
Server network performance. To provide quality of service, leverage the Network I/O
Control feature, and to enhance availability, use vDS Network Health Check and vDS
Backup and Restore. When required for large hosts and monster VMs, use Multi-NIC
vMotion.
Your storage network is also critical to the performance of your SQL databases and
their data availability and integrity. Having a high-performance and resilient network
includes your storage network. Your objective is to design the best network possible
within your constraints, while minimizing or eliminating single points of failure.
We concluded this chapter by discussing network virtualization and virtualized network
security and how security can be greatly enhanced in a virtualized environment.
VMware is the biggest company for virtual server access ports in the world. By
virtualizing your networking and security, you benefit from the performance of
distributed virtualized computing and web-scale architectures, with performance
increasing in line with Moore's Law.
