SQL Server Standard vs. Enterprise version

[TheVMinator]

At what point if any do I need to consider using SQL Server Enterprise version for my VMware environment?  Or is the extra licensing above SQL Server Standard ever needed?  Is SQL Server Enterprise overkill for all VMware environments or are there bigger environments that need it?

[TomHowarth]

Are you going to Cluster your Database's if not then stick with SQL Standard.

[TheVMinator]

OK thanks.  What about capacity?  Will Standard version support vCenter Server for even the largest VMware environments in terms of being able to handle the workload?

[TomHowarth]

SQL Standard will be more that adequate have a read of the following MS SQL web page

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143432.aspx

[TheVMinator]

OK thanks.  I'm wondering also regarding the smaller sql databases.  For example, VMware Update Manager needs a sql database.  This is a relatively small database.   The sizing calculator puts my estimated size for VUM database at under 200 MB.  If I'm going to separate these databases from the main database used by vCenter Server, could SQL express be used for these smaller databases to save licensing costs?

[TomHowarth]

remember that the is a 2GB limit on Express DB's,  check your DB sizing.  but for small deployments it will work, however if you are deploying a full SQL environment for vCenter why not create a new instance on the same SQL box and just use that.