Building
Ted Krueger
SQL Server MVP
Data Architect
a SQL Server Test Lab
What makes a full SQL Server Lab Useful
An installation nightmare on one system
Error prone shared features and files
Multiple versions, builds, and editions
Testing unique installations
Testing Security, Network, Domain, Cross Environments
Agenda
Decisions on Virtual Technology
Hyper-V
VMWare
VHD
Cost Associations
Speed Testing
Storage
Fundamental requirements of your lab
Network
Domain
Storage Server
Security
Licensing We dont need no stinking
Decisions, decisions
How much money do you have
VMWare Workstation is around $250
Client Hyper-V
Windows 8 Pro
Windows 7 Upgrade to Windows 8 Pro or VMWare
Can your laptop/desktop handle this?
Memory is cheap so why do you have 4GB
Disk is cheap but can a laptop take more
Allocate around 25% to 30% to your virtual lab when it is running
Ease of installation and use
Windows 8 Pro? Hyper-V installation is a feature on tick away
Hyper-V is a bit more configuration needy
VMWare Workstation
VMWare out of the box runs with little to no configuration other than, create VM
Do you intend to share virtual machines?
Consultant, FTE, Geek in a garage
Cost
VMWare Workstation around $250
SQL Server Developer around $50
Windows Server 2012 Evaluation for 180 Days
Possible Disk, Memory Upgrade Needs
You are ready to go
All of these are feasible and
much room for company
expenses based on how you
sell the need
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VMWare battles with Hyper-V Decisions
What really is our need?
Setting up a SQL Server lab, not learning virtualization
Purchase, install, configure what will be efficient
Both will suck the life out of your machine
Both will require more disk
Did I mention Windows Server is not free?
Yes, SQL Server does not come with it either
On Windows 8 Pro? No brainer, Hyper-V
Cant have both
Did someone say, Cloud?
AWS and Azure Decisions
Completely Capable Resources
Full Windows Server Installation Support
Full SQL Server Feature-set Support
Cost associated in bandwidth more than anything
Evaluation in Azure is greatly increased now
Performance variations do apply Metal and Cloud are not the same
Disk Configurations
Core Count
Memory Usage
Shared Areas
Speed, performance, I/O, Memory
Speed is a critical factor to calculate
Testing on a virtual lab <> Server infrastructure
Laptop <> DL580
Calculate a base formulation for a Best Estimate
4MB
2048 MB
X
65536 MB
Who wants a mini-NAS?
Seriously, mini/portable SAN/NAS devices are useful
External Drives
Utilizing the ROM bay
Who really uses CD/DVDs any more?
Laptop upgrade
Multiple bays
SSD vs. SATA
Fundamental Needs
Complete Solution
Active Directory
DNS
Storage Services
SQL Server
Features
Failover
Active Directory
SQL Server 2012 Developer
DNS
SQL Server 2012 Developer
Storage Server
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Whats first?
Things have to go in order
Domain Controller VM
DC Configure Active Directory
DC Configure DNS
DC Configure Storage Services and Shares
Snapshot Clone
Create Windows Server 2012 VM
Feature installations (.NET etc), Patch, hotfix, Security, Configure
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Snapshot Clone
Copy Windows Server 2012 VM Clone x 2
Install SQL Server 2012, patch, configure
Snapshot Clone
Install SQL Server 2012, patch, configure
Network VMWare/Hyper-V
Hyper-V requires you to create a virtual switch
After that, you are good enough
VMWare will allow out-of-the-box type configurations
So youre good from there
Network configuration
Complicated or Simplistic
Remember what the purpose is
Availability Group and multi-subnet testing
Internet access
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Domain Controller to Rule Them All!
Were not working at being an expert here
Step one install operating system
OK, were better than that
Step one Windows Server 2012 makes this easy
Install Active Directory Domain Services and Group Policy Management
Add Domain Controller
Add Forest
Checkbox, Checkbox, CheckboxDNS you dont want to have to add this later
Dont forget passwords and dont write them under your laptop on a sticky note
Pick a meaningful NetBIOS name
ONPNT.TedsDomain.com
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Windows Server VM Build
Ensure you have your ISO ready
Never bypass patching, SP level, Hotfixes
Security Do it right as easy as it is to do it wrong
Decide between Server Core or GUI or Both
I created my domain and a Windows Server but the Windows Server
cannot see the domain
Network. Its always the network
IP Configuration is your quickest configuration to a happy end result
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SQL Server / Windows Server Failover Cluster
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High Availability testing in your virtual lab
Never bypass patching, SP level, Hotfixes
Technology testing for SQL Server 2012/2014
Feature-set exposure
Capitalize on Windows Knowledge
Capitalize on quick VM builds to SQL Server configuration
Startup / Shutdown Order
First rule, dont leave your VMs running all the time
Second rule, dont leave your VMs running all the time
Think about the order of shutdown
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Node 4
Node 3
Secondary in failover
Primary in failover
Domain is always last we havent setup DC replication
Negatives vs. Positives
Cons
Remember, it is a hard life for your laptop/desktop
Cost associated with it
Pros
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You can test just about everything on your own
You have a much less chance of affecting your host
You can start from scratch in minutes
Supporting multiple versions, editions and on different OS versions, Editions
You know you have a list of them
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