Who is running a SQL server succesfully under Virtual PC for WIN7

[Adenoid Hynkel]

Hi,

WIN 7 is the host OS. Win XP SP 3 is the guest OS. SQL server 2005 is installed on the Guest OS. 2-3 users pull data of the SQL server but it so slooow. I can walk faster.
Internet, FTP all works well on the Guest OS. Full speed. File transfer up to 12mb/sec.
Client app (installed on WIN7) connection to Virtual XP SQL server, max of 30kb sec when pulling Data. Heeelp :erm:

The rig is powerfull enough (Quad 3.4ghz - 8GB ram - Virtual XP on a sep drive - even bought another network card) so this cant be the problem. 3GB of Ram has been assigned to the Guest OS. 32bit, so more is not possible.

Anyone have some tips for me?

 

[gregmcc]

Try Virtualbox instead of virtual PC.

 

[iblade]

Have to agree, use Virtualbox if you have to run it on a client OS. Would suggest Hyper-V or VMware if you have a server.

If I remember correctly VMware has a free client OS virtual application, I found that fast as well.

Just be aware of licensing restrictions around virtualization, in a virtual machine every core exposed to the virtual is seen as a processor by SQL and therefore must be licensed seperatly.

 

[bekdik]

use vmserver, free from vmware.

 

[Conradl]

VMware has vmware server which is free. I don't really like it and would rather use VirtualBox. MS Virtual PC is total crap, and MS HyperV is a hermaphrodite (has type1 and type2 hypervisor characteristics).

When you created the disk did you assign all the space, or did you thin provision the disk? Assigning the space will improve disk IO. Also try run HDTune on the guest/host OS to determine if the disk is correctly configured.

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

I use VirtualBox (OK in Linux) but it seems that your virtualization instance is emulating a 10Mbit LAN card. This is a very common problem.

This is a software and not a hardware issue here. Best bet is take the advice of others and use VB or something else.

 

[Adenoid Hynkel]

Thanks Guys. Will give Virtual Box a shot.
I just dont understand the logic. The inet speed is fine, even transfering files from the user to the guest os gets up to 12mb/sec, but sql runs really slow, below 50kb/sec when pulling data.

Will give Virtula Box a go 2m, will update.

I use VirtualBox (OK in Linux) but it seems that your virtualization instance is emulating a 10Mbit LAN card. This is a very common problem.

This is a software and not a hardware issue here. Best bet is take the advice of others and use VB or something else.

It emulates some Intel Adapter. Googled my Butt of for a solution and found that many users have props with similiar setups.

 

[kilos]

Does SQL server not have an interface to show you possible bottlenecks
Possibly memory allocation, IO, SQL code, CPU allocation, Application code

Look at the free product also from VMware called ESX4i, which installs a small OS of 32Mb RAM on a baremetal box.

With VMware Server (free) you have to install an OS (Windows or Linux), with ESX4i it installs Linux OS just to boot the server.
Built for the datacenter, free edition does not include support, there is a free VmWare Converter Tool to migrate your Windows OS to a VMware Server see below quote

From the FAQ

Can I run virtual machines created by Microsoft Virtual Server, Microsoft Virtual PC, or VMware Server on VMware ESXi?

Yes. You can use the free VMware vCenter Converter to import virtual machines that were created using VMware Server, Microsoft Virtual Server, or Microsoft Virtual PC version 7 or higher. VMware vCenter Converter also supports conversions from sources such as physical machines and certain 3rd party disk image formats. View the VMware vCenter Converter FAQs for further details.