Virtualization and storage area network (SAN) expertise is hard to find: vendors point fingers at each other, but whose fault is it really? When performance issues occur, it’s critical that the your organization receive the most objective answers to the tough questions about the network. Knowing definitively which combination of variables are affecting SAN performance is vital to limiting the impact on your investment.
Brent Ozar PLF brings hands-on VMware and storage area network management experience with a deep understanding of the technologies your storage area network is built upon. We deliver the results you need and ensure that all members of your SAN team understand the issues, can communicate where the problems reside, and are able to collaboratively resolve them within tight service level windows.
Why We Do It – by Brent Ozar
Brent Ozar Talking Storage on SQLCruise 2011
After I’d been a SQL Server database administrator for a few years, I got sick of the finger-pointing:
- It’s a SAN problem.
- It’s a database problem.
- It’s a hardware problem.
- It’s a virtualization problem.
- It’s a network problem.
I decided to make myself a better DBA; I learned more about the technologies that surround SQL Server. When our SAN administrator quit, I volunteered to take over his duties just so I could see what was happening behind the Fiberoptic Curtain. When we implemented a fancy new cost-saving system called VMware ESX 2, I was the first one in line to work with the storage configuration. Whenever we had to evaluate a new iSCSI vendor, I stayed late to benchmark their gear.
I’ve administered it all – storage, virtualization, databases, and apps – and I know when it really is a SAN problem. I’m able to bridge the gap between the SAN administrators and the sysadmins. I speak both languages, and I’m able to get to the root causes – there’s rarely only one – to get your business applications running fast.
VMware and SAN Articles I’ve Written
- Top 10 Keys to Deploying SQL in VMware – including avoiding 1Gb iSCSI, using memory to overcome slow storage, and why you should coordinate memory reservations with SQL Server’s settings.
- SAN Multipathing 101 – this technology is one of the keys to solid application performance. We bring an in-depth understanding of how it works and how to configure your application for multipathing.
- Fusion-IO ioDrive Review – Brent benchmarks FusionIO with his favorite storage testing tool, SQLIO, and talks about the pros and cons of solid state storage.
- The Basics of SQL Server Storage – three-part blog series for SQL University Storage Week covering what SQL Server stores, our storage options, and what happens when it all falls apart.
- Shared Drives or Dedicated Drives? – Brent tackles the most frequently asked question from his storage sessions.
- SAN Storage Best Practices for SQL Server – how to find the right best practices guidelines for your SAN and how to interpret the recommendations.
- Professional SQL Server 2008 Internals and Troubleshooting – Brent wrote the Storage chapter in this popular technical book.
Contact Us
If you’re frustrated with the finger-pointing and you want to get your money’s worth out of your expensive VMware and SAN investment, contact us. In just 3 days we can pinpoint storage-related bottlenecks, identify easy improvements, and teach your staff how to diagnose and solve the next problem.
