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Running SQL Server 2005/2008 on WHS

Question
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Hi,
I'd like to run SQL Server 2005 or 2008 on the Windows Home Server. I might need more than 20 GB for my databases so I wish to set the SQL Server's data directory to D:\SQLDATA. Will that work or should I expect problems/interference with drive extender?
Greetings
Andreas M. (WHSAdmin)Sunday, October 5, 2008 1:55 PM
Answers
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Applications other than those that are built into Windows Home Server are supported, if at all, by the publisher or OEM, not by Microsoft. In general, however, if it's not available as an add-in for Windows Home Server, you should not expect it to be supported. It may work, but you're likely to be on your own as far as installation, configuration, and support.In general, I would recommend that you not install applications that are intended to manage/work with disk configuration, networking, etc. (Anything that WHS might need for it's own operation, in other words.) If you have storage needs that are likely to be greater than a couple of GB, you should add a disk which you won't place in the storage pool for that use.And you should keep in mind that a major cause of system instability on any computer is constant installation, uninstallation, and upgrading of software. Windows Home Server is not a desktop operating system, and in general servers perform best when they're not used as multipurpose devices. So you should choose what you add to your server carefully.
I'm not on the WHS team, I just post a lot. :)- Edited by Ken WarrenModerator Tuesday, October 7, 2008 2:49 PM spelling
- Marked as answer by Andreas Unverdorben Wednesday, October 8, 2008 6:15 AM
Tuesday, October 7, 2008 2:48 PMModerator
All replies
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WHSAdmin said:
Hi,
I'd like to run SQL Server 2005 or 2008 on the Windows Home Server. I might need more than 20 GB for my databases so I wish to set the SQL Server's data directory to D:\SQLDATA. Will that work or should I expect problems/interference with drive extender?
Greetings
Andreas M. (WHSAdmin)
First, running any version of SQL on WHS is unsupported.
Having said that, DE will only handle files it's aware of (meaning the files go through the normal shares that show up in the Console). Since you wouldn't be doing that, DE won't interfere. However, depending on the size of the MDFs you're talking about, you might want to consider a different approach: adding a drive to the server, but not adding it to the storage pool, then storing your MDFs there. The reason being your D partition is your "landing zone" and the less space you have on it, the lower the amount of data you can transfer to the server at one time (if you're using Vista).- Proposed as answer by Lara JonesModerator Monday, October 6, 2008 4:50 PM
Sunday, October 5, 2008 2:45 PMModerator -
The additional drive has also other benefits besides not interfering with WHS software directly (if SQL server has issues with the WHS software, is currently unknown, but it has been said, that it is unsupported, so you have been warned):
The performance on a separate drive is better and on top you could setup a backup job as scheduled task, which stops SQL server service, copies the database to one of your shared folders on the server and starts it again (if you do not use the integrated backup features of SQL server for this). So you have also for these files a kind of duplication.
Best greetings from Germany
OlafSunday, October 5, 2008 5:13 PMModerator -
Thank you for your informative replies. You say that running any version of SQL Server on WHS is unsupported. Can you direct me to any kind of official Microsoft documentation that says so? Or is there some sort of "whitelist" of applications that are supported? Rumour has it, that the Belinea o.Center is running SQL Server 2005 Express (http://forum.home-server-blog.de/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3377&p=23976&hilit=sql+server#p23976). So either it is supported (at least for OEMs) or the OEM has undergone the risk of being on his own if problems should arise.
I'd be very grateful if someone could point to Microsoft resources that clearly state which applications are supported/unsupported on WHS.
Thanks in advance!
Andreas M. (WHSAdmin)Monday, October 6, 2008 9:04 PM -
Hallo Andreas,
it's easy to explain - all applications, which are not delivered as Windows Home Server components and are not made available as an Add-In for access via the WHS console, are not supported. (Add-Ins are also only supported by their creator, if he is willing to give any support.) Also the EULA somewhat restricts, what you are allowed to do with wHS.
(I also run WSUS on my Windows Home Server, which includes an adapted database - also unsupported, but running. Although I use also a disk outside of the storage pool for this due to the reasons mentioned.)
Best greetings from Germany
OlafMonday, October 6, 2008 9:27 PMModerator -
Applications other than those that are built into Windows Home Server are supported, if at all, by the publisher or OEM, not by Microsoft. In general, however, if it's not available as an add-in for Windows Home Server, you should not expect it to be supported. It may work, but you're likely to be on your own as far as installation, configuration, and support.In general, I would recommend that you not install applications that are intended to manage/work with disk configuration, networking, etc. (Anything that WHS might need for it's own operation, in other words.) If you have storage needs that are likely to be greater than a couple of GB, you should add a disk which you won't place in the storage pool for that use.And you should keep in mind that a major cause of system instability on any computer is constant installation, uninstallation, and upgrading of software. Windows Home Server is not a desktop operating system, and in general servers perform best when they're not used as multipurpose devices. So you should choose what you add to your server carefully.
I'm not on the WHS team, I just post a lot. :)- Edited by Ken WarrenModerator Tuesday, October 7, 2008 2:49 PM spelling
- Marked as answer by Andreas Unverdorben Wednesday, October 8, 2008 6:15 AM
Tuesday, October 7, 2008 2:48 PMModerator