Comments on: SQL Server Operating System Checklist

By: bradmcgehee

bradmcgehee — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:06:35 +0000

John–That’s a great question. I have written about this in the past on another website, but the information is out of date. When I write my new book, based on these checklists, I will be discussing a lot of best practices in regards to configuring the OS for optimum SQL Server performance.

Until I get my book finished, does anyone else have any good suggestions for John’s question?

By: John

John — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:53:16 +0000

Brad,

Checklist idea is a great one. More than once I have felt a little naked about my windows server OS knowledge. Can you suggest a publication or website that might have requisite windows OS info as it relates to SQL Server?

Thank you.

By: Brad M McGehee

Brad M McGehee — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 20:12:37 +0000

Svetlana, one of your suggestions is already on the list, it is called, “Is “Processor scheduling” Set to “Adjust for best performance of Background services”, which is the term used in Windows 2008.

The other suggestion you have for “Memory Usage” does not apply to Windows 2008 (but is available in Windows 2003). You might also want to check out this article, http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/ff723772.aspx, which describes how this setting should be set for Windows 2003 and SQL Server 2008. Because of the complications of keeping track of both Windows 2003 and Windows 2008, I have focused the list on Windows 2008 only.

By: Svetlana Golovko

Svetlana Golovko — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:28:38 +0000

Hi Brad,

I would add System Performance options check. I inherited several servers where “Memory Usage” was set to “Programs” instead of “System cache”. The same is for the “Processor scheduling” – check that it is set to the “Background services” option.

By: bradmcgehee

bradmcgehee — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:40:14 +0000

Bill, a PowerShell script to collect all this data would be great. What are you doing in your spare time? I have a project for you.

Sven, thanks for you suggestions. I do plan to talk about the BPA tool in my book, but have yet to include it in any of my checklists. In addition, the book I am writing will focus on the best practices, while the spreadsheets focus more on collecting data. Hopefully it will all make sense when the project is done.

By: Sven Aelterman

Sven Aelterman — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 13:22:43 +0000

Brad,

Great work. How about just clarifiying under “The Basics” that Product Key is the OS product key?

In addition, under the hardware driver section, I am not sure if I would state “latest.” I would focus more on WHQL-listed or “stable” drivers. Frequently, driver updates are not performed on servers if there is no need, so for many servers, the answer would be “no” to the “latest” question — which may very well be OK.

Other than that, the list looks very useful. I am not sure about the use of the word “checklist” though… it seems more like collecting and storing configuration data for later use, rather than actually a list of best practice settings.

Which brings me to ask if you plan to include anything about running the SQL BPA and documenting exceptions to those best practices?

Sven.

By: Bill Ramos

Bill Ramos — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 02:54:05 +0000

Hi Brad,
Great series. How about coming up with the powershell scripts to return this data.
Cheers,
Bill

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Fri, 25 Jun 2010 09:53:32 +0000

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