Does SQL Server need its own server?

[henrylee]

Hello,

I just quoted on a development job (ASP) for a client and I told them that they should run their IIS and SQL on separate machines for performance reasons.

Their IT person came back with wanting to run both off of one machine to save money, and wants me to point out 'articles' showing why they need to be on separate machines.

I thought that would be an easy assignment, since I have heard a millions times from people that they should be on separate boxes, but I cannot find a SINGLE article anywhere that says this!

Can anyone help me out?

Thanks a bunch,

Hank
hlee@enforge.com

 

[aalmeida]

Unfortunate you are not totaly right in this issue. It will depend on your design to determine why and what is better.
Money is a very important factor but not the only factor and the price on hardware is not the only cost driver.
1st question is: how the enviroment is set (is there Web administrators? Network Administrator? Database Administrator?) in case of a big shop where all these guys are available odds are that they do not like to share responsibility so yes you more likely have to use separated boxes.
2nd Question is the usage what will be the load on the web site and on the SQL server? how many SQL Server Application will be in the same server? how many Stored Procedures, How many web Sites? is the memory and processor time a concern?
2nd Question is the usage what will be the load on the web site and on the SQL server? if the number of users is low, the number of application is low and I/O performance is not an issue, memory and processor is more that enogh for that is in the box than you do not need two boxes.
3rd Question is Disaster Recovery issues: in case of a disaster what would be easy and how critical is the web site and the database how do they relate to each other?
is availability an issue? If you care abaout availability and recovery and it is critical to be on line 95% of the time then you definately need two boxes for the web site and two boxes for SQL Server and may be set them up in a cluster. but if this are not real issues put them toghether in the same computer.
I hope I helped
AL Almeida
NT/DB Admin
"May all those that come behind us, find us faithfull"