Sharepoint Admins – The reluctant DBA

This session was intended for the SQL Server DBA that is responsible for the databases associated with SharePoint.

• WSS and MOSS
• Farm configuration is stored in SQL.
• All SharePoint content is stored in SQL
• Central admin is a web config
• Content Databases
• Sharepoint 2010 will only use 64 bit.
• Don’t do basic installs.
• Create maintenance plans

Check DB integrity

Reindex or rebuild DB

Update Stats

Backups

Defrag the file system

Run DBCCCHECKDB as often as backups.

• Consider compression for backups
• Need to defrag the File system.  Use something like diskeeper.
• Never shrink databases because Databases always grow.
• Size your databases for 1 year of growth and set an initial size that allows for fee space so the file does not have to Auto grow.
• Database Best Practices and more:

Create multiple TempDB

Put database and corresponding transaction logs on different drives

Arrange db according to speed

Use autogrow sparingly

Keep you db under 100 GB

Don’t alter the sharepoint databases

If using SQL 2005, install SP2. SP1 breaks the Sharepoint search.  Happens only when you rebuild indexes.

Can use Sharepoint farm backups to backup SQL

Don’t forget your system databases

Sharepoint 2007 SP1 supports SQL 2008

Use multiple contend databases.

Use database encryption.  Has a 3 to 5 percent performance hit.

The presenters really did a great job of explaining how to administrator SQL Server databases.  They were a little less technical so they spent more time explaining the detail.  Really nice presentation.