PerfectDisk Blog from Raxco.com| Defrag Software

Defrag SQL Server 2008 FILESTREAM systems automatically

              

Database and SQL administrators deal with structured data -- defined and preset tables and the like that follow definite patterns and rules. But a lot - or most - of the data that "regular" users are creating and modifying is unstructured. For example, regular text documents, images, and videos and music files don't have a set format. This unstructured data is typically stored outside of the structured database, resulting in extra complexity for the data management. If the data is associated with structured storage, file streaming and performance can take a hit.

             

FILESTREAM is a new data type available with SQL Server 2008 which allows data to be stored outside of the SQL server data tables and then be handled by NTFS. FILESTREAM integrates the SQL Server Database Engine with an NTFS file system by storing varbinary(max) binary large object (BLOB) data as files on the file system. Transact-SQL statements can insert, update, query, search, and back up FILESTREAM data. FILESTREAM uses the NT system cache for caching file data, helping to reduce any effect that FILESTREAM data might have on database engine performance. The SQL Server buffer pool is not used, leaving this memory available for query processing.

The Microsoft Developers Network (MSDN), of which the PerfectDisk development team is a long-standing member, lists 6 "Best Practices" for FILESTREAM Physical Configuration and Maintenance. Number 2 on the list? "Regularly defragment FILESTREAM computer systems." Another instance where automation -- whether background processing or via an automated schedule -- and defragmentation come together to improve system performance.

Get your stream together.                        

 

PerfectDisk ready for Hyper-V launch next week, defragmenting Hyper-V systems today

Microsoft will launch Hyper-V and expand on its virtualization strategy in Bellevue, Washington on September 8th. And while this may be another instance of Microsoft not being the first to a big party (think Internet, think search, think lots of things), this is another one where they want to attend in a big way. They want to be a part of virtualization that extends from the data center to the desktop, and in another move we've seen before, are shaking the market up, starting with pricing. It's already caused changes, starting with industry leader VMware's pricing, strategy and CEO change.

                     

PerfectDisk 2008 Server, which was certified by Microsoft for Windows Server 2008 upon PerfectDisk's launch at the beginning of this year, has been running on Hyper-V since that time. At the time, Windows Server 2008 certification did not include Hyper-V (Chapter 6, if you're keeping score). So while that certification is a formality, we are in the process of receiving that certification now. 

Hyper-V certification requirements are pretty basic. They include:

• Recovery after Save state and Start of the virtual machine
• Recovery after a Pause and Resume of the virtual machine
• Do not prevent shutdown
• Recovery after a Snapshot is taken and applied.

So basically, a Hyper-V certified application has to be installed in the Guest OS and adhere to the above list, which PerfectDisk does. This Hyper-V chapter now goes along with all the rest of the Windows Server 2008 certification requirements. PerfectDisk's official certification for Hyper-V will occur shortly.

Here's a screen shot of a perfectly defragmented Hyper-V system from our labs here: 

 

We'll let Microsoft and VMware battle it out for virtualization supremacy, along with all the other players vying for a piece of the action.

              

And PerfectDisk, with its family of products that includes PerfectDisk 2008 for VMware and the PerfectDIsk 2008 for VMware ESX Bundle, will defragment them all - hosts and guests.

Ready, able...and performing today.

First and only again -- Microsoft certifies PerfectDisk 2008 for Windows Server 2008

On the heels of Microsoft certifying PerfectDisk 2008 for Vista, Microsoft has also certified PerfectDisk 2008 for the soon-to-be-released Windows Server 2008. Microsoft will launch Windows Server 2008 on February 27th in what the company calls the "largest enterprise launch in its history." It is being launched along with Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008. As the only disk defragmenter certified by Microsoft for Windows Server 2008 (as well as the only one certified for Vista), Microsoft has also asked Raxco Software to participate in the worldwide launch event.

There are lots of reasons that many of the world's largest organizations turn to PerfectDisk for their enterprise defragmentation needs. Microsoft's stamp of approval is just one, and we're glad that we've done the work necessary to achieve this certification.

First and only.

    

PerfectDisk 2008 -- Go!

Welcome to PerfectDisk 2008

• PerfectDisk 2008 Professional
• PerfectDisk 2008 Server
• PerfectDisk 2008 for VMware Workstation
• PerfectDisk 2008 for VMware Server
• PerfectDisk 2008 for Exchange
• PerfectDisk 2008 for Windows Home Server

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