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 txlog backups to network / UNC location?

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aiken
Aged Yak Warrior

525 Posts

Posted - 2003-04-11 : 15:11:09
Our current main production SQL server is on its last legs, performance-wise. We've got a beefy new one that's on apparent permanent-backorder with IBM, so we've got to get through the next month or two with what we've got.

The main current issue is disk IO, and the thing *averages* 8.0 for the disk queue length. That shoots up to >50 during heavy load, and can reach 80 when heavy load coincides with a transaction log backup.

I can't kill transaction log backups, because we need the recovery interval they provide. And I can't make them less frequent, because then they *really* clobber performance for a long time, albeit less frequently.

Is it safe/sane to move them to a UNC so they're stored on another system? Anyone have any experience with that? On the one hand, I'd expect a performance hit, but on the other hand it's pretty bad right now as is.

I'd just experiment, but it *is* the backup, and that's scary to just mess with.

Thanks
-b

tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2003-04-11 : 15:21:49
First of all, IBM? Ick! I haven't had much luck with them so far, although it's been over a year since I have had to work with one. Most of the servers that were IBM needed to have drives replaced before it was even put into production.

Yes it is safe/sane to move them to a UNC, but you're obviously going to experience slower backups. I would suggest adding another array (if it's at all possible on this server) that would just be for the backups. That way all of the writing that it does wouldn't affect the other array.

Tara
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aiken
Aged Yak Warrior

525 Posts

Posted - 2003-04-11 : 16:00:21
Yes, well, the server we're moving *from* is some offbrand dual pentium pro, with 1GB of RAM and an IDE RAID array (14 drives, but a funky PCI-bridge based controller). It's really not going to be feasible to add another array to that thing.

The IBM looks good enough for me, and the drives in it are all seagate 15K drives, not IBM ultrastors, which I have heard horror stories about. In any event, it will be plenty much an improvement for us.... if it ever shows up!

Thanks for the confirmation on the UNC thing; that's good enough for me. I'll experiment with it and see what happens.

Cheers
-b

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