Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Without a doubt, the database server requires additional CPU capacity, RAM, and disk storage
just like SSO and the Inventory Service, so you will need to plan accordingly. That brings us to
the next topic: choosing which database server to use.
Choosing a Database Server for vCenter Server
In light of the sensitive and critical nature of the data in the vCenter Server databases, VMware
supports vCenter Server issues only with backend databases on enterprise-level database serv-
ers. Both the Windows Server-based version and the virtual appliance version of vCenter Server
use a backend database, so you'll need to decide which one to use either way. vCenter Server
ofi cially supports the following database servers:
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Express (bundled with vCenter Server)
◆
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 (32-bit or 64-bit; SP3 is required, and SP4 is recommended)
◆
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 (32-bit or 64-bit; SP1 is required, and SP2 is recommended)
◆
◆
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2
Oracle 10
g
R2 (10.2.0.4 required)
◆
Oracle 11
g
R1 (11.1.0.7 required)
◆
Oracle 11
g
R2 (11.2.0.1 with patch 5 required)
◆
Note that although a database might be supported for use with vCenter Server, that same
database might not be supported for other components of vSphere such as vSphere Update
Manager or other plug-ins that require database support. For up-to-date compatibility informa-
tion, refer to the vSphere Compatibility Matrixes available from VMware's website
(www
.vmware.com). I
n addition, note that Microsoft SQL Server is supported for use by a Windows
Server-based installation of vCenter Server, but it is not supported by the vCenter Server virtual
appliance.
For smaller environments, users have the option of using Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express
Edition or, if using the virtual appliance, an embedded database. As of this writing, VMware
had not yet published any sizing recommendations regarding the use of the embedded data-
base. As stated in the sidebar “Author Nick Marshall's View on the vCenter Virtual Appliance,”
the use of the vCenter virtual appliance specii cally with the embedded database is probably
best suited for smaller environments.
Users should use SQL Server 2008 Express Edition only when their vSphere deployment will
be limited in size; otherwise, users should plan on using a separate database server. If you are
starting out with a small environment that will work with SQL Server 2008 Express Edition,
note that you can upgrade to a full-featured version of SQL Server at a later date. While it is not
necessarily an automated or supported migration path, more information on upgrading SQL
Server 2008 Express is available on the Microsoft website (
www.microsoft.com
). Depending on
your situation, it might be better to build a new SQL server and then follow the VMware migra-
tion plan for relocating vCenter databases.
