Migrating Vcenter database from SQL express to Full SQL server

[hadiqj]

Hello :smileyhappy:

We are planning to move our database to a full on SQL server, and i am wondering what should be the specs of the computer hosting the database?

Our current database is @10 GB size and we currently have 5 clusters, consisting of 10 hosts with 77 Virtual machines.

Determining the exact specs of the new MS SQL server is our main concern, in what way we can measure exactly what is the best specs that is needed to match our growing environment and avoid upgrading the same SQL server as far as possible in the future. Which Microsoft SQL server version is the best to go about it?

Our existing vCenter Server version 5.5.0, 6516310

Thank you

Message was edited by: Hadi Altaha

[daphnissov]

What version of vCenter Server is this?

[hadiqj]

Thank you for reply, this is the version

vCenter Server version 5.5.0, 6516310

[daphnissov]

vSphere 5.5 goes end of support in September of this year, about 8 months from now. So why bother migrating your backend database for a soon-to-be unsupported version? The better thing to do in your case is to plan to upgrade to vSphere 6.5 on the vCenter Server Appliance (vCSA). There is a convenient upgrade utility built-in that will move your entire vCenter 5.5 on Windows instance over to it easily.

[hadiqj]

Thank you for this valuable input! I will surely plan on that first. Moving forward, can you offer any help regarding which MS SQL server is best and the specs that should be assigned for the server?

[daphnissov]

Moving forward past 5.5, you do not even require MS SQL and so is another inducement to upgrade to vSphere 6.5 rather than try and reconfigure your existing installation. When on the vCSA, it uses a built-in postgres instance and does not support any form of external database (nor does it need it). So you kill two birds (and more) with one stone by upgrading. This should be your primary focus.