Installation standards

I would like to know if Microsoft publishes SQL Server standards which direct or mandate that the database Transaction Log be created on a Mirrored set. Some no-technical management people where I work are stating that placing Transaction Logs on a Mirrored set is a Microsoft standard. I am a DBA and have worked with SQL Server since version 4.2 and all versions since and this is news to me. I understand the performance benefits of placing the Trans. Log on the Mirror BUT in our environment, the operating system is also on the Mirror and we have junior level engineers managing the systems who know nothing about SQL Server. Therefore, I feel placing the Transaction Log on the Mirror in our environment would create unneccessary risks; especially since we are having no performance problems.
PLEASE!!! I would appreciate the response of anyone who can tell me if placing the Trans. Log on a Mirror is a Microsoft Standard or not. I have always understood Microsoft's statements regarding Mirroring the Trans. Log to be merely suggestions or recommendations not a directive. I do not want upper management sold on accepting what I see as a risk by non-technical people who are stating that placing the database Transaction Log on a Mirrored set is a standard that we have to follow.
Sorry for being so lengthy but I am take my job and protecting data very seriously and this issue is making me lose sleep.It seems like you understand the implications for this, so the short answer is: "No, this is not a
directive, only a recommendation".
One thing, though: If the part where the data is crashes in any way, you definitely want to get to
your tlog files, as it allow you to backup the log using NO_TRUNCATE. Placing the log with the data
is increased risk exposure in this regard.
--
Tibor Karaszi, SQL Server MVP
http://www.karaszi.com/sqlserver/default.asp
http://www.solidqualitylearning.com/
"SQLDBA_723" <SQLDBA_723@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:7C2CD527-1514-4F9B-90E9-0E118EB2C017@.microsoft.com...
> I would like to know if Microsoft publishes SQL Server standards which direct or mandate that the
database Transaction Log be created on a Mirrored set. Some no-technical management people where I
work are stating that placing Transaction Logs on a Mirrored set is a Microsoft standard. I am a
DBA and have worked with SQL Server since version 4.2 and all versions since and this is news to me.
I understand the performance benefits of placing the Trans. Log on the Mirror BUT in our
environment, the operating system is also on the Mirror and we have junior level engineers managing
the systems who know nothing about SQL Server. Therefore, I feel placing the Transaction Log on the
Mirror in our environment would create unneccessary risks; especially since we are having no
performance problems.
> PLEASE!!! I would appreciate the response of anyone who can tell me if placing the Trans. Log on
a Mirror is a Microsoft Standard or not. I have always understood Microsoft's statements regarding
Mirroring the Trans. Log to be merely suggestions or recommendations not a directive. I do not want
upper management sold on accepting what I see as a risk by non-technical people who are stating that
placing the database Transaction Log on a Mirrored set is a standard that we have to follow.
> Sorry for being so lengthy but I am take my job and protecting data very seriously and this issue
is making me lose sleep.|||Hi,
>>that placing Transaction Logs on a Mirrored set is a Microsoft standard.
Iam not speaking for Microsoft here but just letting you know what
information I have with respect to your concern.Iam not aware about any such
"standard" that Microsoft, has w.r.t SQL2000 setup.All the important things
that you have to take care before SQL2000 setup like required space, MDAC
level,IE level etc are mentioned in the readme.txt file or "help" topics
that accompany the setup CD.Any performance enhancement other than those are
solely left as an exercise to the person who is installing, based on his/her
experience with the same.The PSS team reports to the SQLServer team the
various issues that customers face regularly which often result in poor
server performance, disaster recovery etc.Based on those, Microsoft
occassionally publishes whitepapers for the benefit of SQLServer admins and
users.Here are some:
'SQL Server 2000 Operations Guide'
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2000/maintain/sqlops0.mspx
'High Availability Resources'
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/techinfo/administration/2000/availability.asp
>> I am take my job and protecting data very seriously and this issue is
making me lose sleep.
Not that it's any of my business, but I couldn't help asking it.What is your
role at this workplace? Based on the above statement, it seems you are a
DBA.If so, why should you let those 'junior level engineers' manage the
SQLServer systems?
--
Dinesh
SQL Server MVP
--
--
SQL Server FAQ at
http://www.tkdinesh.com
"SQLDBA_723" <SQLDBA_723@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:7C2CD527-1514-4F9B-90E9-0E118EB2C017@.microsoft.com...
> I would like to know if Microsoft publishes SQL Server standards which
direct or mandate that the database Transaction Log be created on a Mirrored
set. Some no-technical management people where I work are stating that
placing Transaction Logs on a Mirrored set is a Microsoft standard. I am a
DBA and have worked with SQL Server since version 4.2 and all versions since
and this is news to me. I understand the performance benefits of placing
the Trans. Log on the Mirror BUT in our environment, the operating system is
also on the Mirror and we have junior level engineers managing the systems
who know nothing about SQL Server. Therefore, I feel placing the
Transaction Log on the Mirror in our environment would create unneccessary
risks; especially since we are having no performance problems.
> PLEASE!!! I would appreciate the response of anyone who can tell me if
placing the Trans. Log on a Mirror is a Microsoft Standard or not. I have
always understood Microsoft's statements regarding Mirroring the Trans. Log
to be merely suggestions or recommendations not a directive. I do not want
upper management sold on accepting what I see as a risk by non-technical
people who are stating that placing the database Transaction Log on a
Mirrored set is a standard that we have to follow.
> Sorry for being so lengthy but I am take my job and protecting data very
seriously and this issue is making me lose sleep.|||If I may add my 2 cents...
Microsoft does not generally give ANY directives, the world is so varied the
answer to almost any question is 'depends'...
You do not have to do any design on the database structure - There is no MS
directive, but to normalize the database is 1. A Best Practice 2. Highly
recommended
as is mirroring the transaction logs IF you need up to the minute recovery
without loss of data.
Wayne Snyder, MCDBA, SQL Server MVP
Mariner, Charlotte, NC
www.mariner-usa.com
(Please respond only to the newsgroups.)
I support the Professional Association of SQL Server (PASS) and it's
community of SQL Server professionals.
www.sqlpass.org
"SQLDBA_723" <SQLDBA_723@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:7C2CD527-1514-4F9B-90E9-0E118EB2C017@.microsoft.com...
> I would like to know if Microsoft publishes SQL Server standards which
direct or mandate that the database Transaction Log be created on a Mirrored
set. Some no-technical management people where I work are stating that
placing Transaction Logs on a Mirrored set is a Microsoft standard. I am a
DBA and have worked with SQL Server since version 4.2 and all versions since
and this is news to me. I understand the performance benefits of placing
the Trans. Log on the Mirror BUT in our environment, the operating system is
also on the Mirror and we have junior level engineers managing the systems
who know nothing about SQL Server. Therefore, I feel placing the
Transaction Log on the Mirror in our environment would create unneccessary
risks; especially since we are having no performance problems.
> PLEASE!!! I would appreciate the response of anyone who can tell me if
placing the Trans. Log on a Mirror is a Microsoft Standard or not. I have
always understood Microsoft's statements regarding Mirroring the Trans. Log
to be merely suggestions or recommendations not a directive. I do not want
upper management sold on accepting what I see as a risk by non-technical
people who are stating that placing the database Transaction Log on a
Mirrored set is a standard that we have to follow.
> Sorry for being so lengthy but I am take my job and protecting data very
seriously and this issue is making me lose sleep.