As your business grows, so does your database… New clients, more transactions, financial information and marketing data all add to your database server’s storage size. No matter what database server software you use, that means the potential for slower performance. And when your database server slows down, so does your entire business.
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 was engineered with growth in mind. Microsoft’s goal was to reduce the increased amount of IT administration typically associated with larger and slower database datasets. Here are just a few of the performance-related features Microsoft packed into SQL Server 2008 R2:
Data Compression
A somewhat obvious approach to large datasets is compression. SQL Server now utilizes UCS-2 Unicode compression, which will save up to 90% in storage space.
Live Migration
SQL Server’s availability is greatly increased when placed in a Hyper-V virtual machine (VM) using Live Migration. Live Migration allows a VM to move from one server to another without interruption. This means no downtime when it comes time to migrate to new hardware.
Better Support
SQL Server and Windows Server 2008 R2 now support up to 256 logical processors, which is much more than you’ll likely see in a small business environment. This increased support allows SQL Server to take full advantage of your hardware, which means less migration in the future.
Resource Governor
This feature allows IT to prioritize resource usage based on incoming queries. This means that if a certain task generates a performance-reducing query, it can be given a lower priority than more important tasks. You won’t have to worry about accounting’s quarterly reports slowing down client transactions.
When addressing database server performance for your company, it’s important to consider every aspect of your environment–hardware, software, applications and how those applications use the database. OAC Technology, a Minneapolis-based IT company, has been helping small- to medium-sized business manage their IT environment for over a decade, and we can help you assess your company’s database server needs. Contact us today for a free consultation.
