I need to determine how to place 10 SQL Server clusters that are using Microsoft WSFC and pmode RDMs on my ESXi 5.1 compute clusters.
- 10 WSFC clusters - 20 vms total - 2 in each cluster
- 100 ESXi hosts
- 3000 vms total
- ESXi clusters are made up of all development VMs or all production VMs. Windows clusters are likewise either development or production
- Can choose cluster design maximize manageabilitiy and performance but must use pmode RDMs as per upper management requirements
Option 1:
I can disperse my Windows clusters among my existing clusters
Pros:
-No special SQL cluster needed
-No wasted space on physical servers on an ESXi cluster dedicated to only 20 SQL Server VMs
Cons:
- Every time I need to put an ESXi host in maintance mode, I can't vmotion my SQL server VMs. I have to do a failover, involving approvals, change controls, other departements, extra time, and hassle.
- I have to always keep track of what ESXi servers have pmode RDMS and remember that I can't do anything on them that requires vmotioning all the VMs suddenly.
Option 2:
I can create a separate, very small ESXi cluster to handle the Windows clusters
Pros: My Windows cluster VMs sit on their own ESXi hosts and won't impact other vms and interfere with maintenance on my other production ESXi hosts
Cons:
-Wasted space on this SQL/WSFC ESXi cluster as 20 VMs on two hosts leaves 60% wasted space on those physical hosts.
-If I ever have to do maintenance on my ESXi cluster with the WSFC VMs, EVERY single cluster is affected at once - change controls have to be approved for every VM and every system owner has to approve at the same time while one node in the WSFC is failed over.
What is the best way to structure my ESXi clusters and place my WSFC clusters among them and why?