If you're on Compaq - try this link (remeber it all screams HP these days)
http://activeanswers.compaq.com/ActiveAnswers/Render/1,1027,1-6-100-225-1,00
.htm
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Hyra, Bev A [SMTP:[Email Address Removed] Sent: Tuesday, December 10, 2002 2:34 PM
> To: LazyDBA.com Discussion
> Subject: RE: Sizing a server
>
> Hi Thomas, thanks for the reply.
>
> I got the disk space down it is the memory and horse power I'm having a
> problem with.
>
> We are a purchase the application shop and often our users have no
> accurate
> idea how much data they will have because they don't really know the data
> model they are getting, but I like the idea of the 80/20 rule that will
> help
> me out. As I can use range estimates.
>
> I know nothing about standard server sizes. Maybe that is what I need to
> find out. We use Compaqs and maybe Compaq has some advice for me that I
> could leverage. I'll have to take this angle today. I know what we have
> in
> the shop right now and I think I can make intelligent comments on how
> those
> servers/databases/applications are running. So maybe if I knew all the
> possible combinations for memory and cpu and server model I'd be a bit
> more
> helpful in the sizing.
>
> Thanks again.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: thomas.[Email Address Removed] [mailto:thomas.[Email Address Removed] Sent: Tuesday, December 10, 2002 6:37 AM
> To: Hyra, Bev A
> Cc: [Email Address Removed] Subject: Re: Sizing a server
>
>
>
> Bev,
>
> They just need to be educated (your job) about what you need to size it.
> Generally, I've gone with 3x the amount of raw data. If you want to keep
> backups on disk, add more disk. If you wan to stage the data on the
> server
> or do olap you will need more disk. You can figure out the "raw" data by
> computing the sizes of the rows and multiplying by the number of the rows.
> For varchar columns, they will need to tell you the average length of the
> columns. Remember that nullable columns take an extra byte. Find out how
> many years they want to store and then multiply that number by 3 (three
> pretty accurately accounts for indexes, administrative tables and
> overhead,
> transaction log space, temp db space. ) Usually, users balk at having to
> give a number of how much space will be used in varchar columns and how
> many
> columns per year will be put in. If they do, then you need to explain to
> them that you don't have a crystal ball and if they don't know, how can
> they
> expect you to know. Some
> users say just assume the maximum for column size and give you a max
> number
> or rows - not a realistic number - in which case, you spec out a server on
> steroids. In addition to this, some vendors can be helpful in
> guesstimating
> how much space is needed. (I know that you already tried this but they may
> be more receptive when they are asked for estimates. It is wholly
> reasonable to talk to the vendor of a packaged product to find out if it
> has
> a special profile and in this time of tightening budgets, it would be
> negligent not to.) A final thought - the 80/20 rule generally applies to
> databases so if you can get enough RAM for 20% of your database, then it
> is
> probable that 80% of your queries will be from cache. If it is going to
> be
> a large database, then you won't get all that RAM but it's good policy to
> let them know that the price they pay is performance. Don't forget to
> spec
> out a backup system, a cluster if appropriate, and a hot spare if
> appropriate. (find out what their
> requirements are for response time, up time, etc.)
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> . . . Tom
> On 12/09/2002 04:16:54 PM "Hyra, Bev A" wrote:
> > Hi everyone,
> >
> > Does anyone know where I can find a white paper/other information on
> sizing
> > a server to run an sql server 2000 database for an application based on
> the
> > number of users, number of transactions per second you expect to need
> > processed?
> >
> > My server group is asking me to get involved in sizing servers and
> although
> > the best advice I can give them is to ask the vendor of the application
> what
> > they say is needed to run their application, they look at me like I'm a
> > moron for saying this.
> >
> > I need some other information to offer them as well.
> >
> > Thanks in advance for all replies.
> >
> > Bev.
> >
>
>
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> Visit our Internet site at http://www.reuters.com
>
> Get closer to the financial markets with Reuters Messaging - for more
> information and to register, visit http://www.reuters.com/messaging
>
> Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual
> sender, except where the sender specifically states them to be
> the views of Reuters Ltd.
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> TO REPLY TO EVERBODY , PLEASE CLICK REPLY-ALL, NOT JUST REPLY
> To unsubscribe, e-mail: mssqldba-[Email Address Removed] For additional commands, e-mail: mssqldba-[Email Address Removed]MS Sql Server LazyDBA home page