Any reason to replicate SQL Server database for reporting?

Question

We are upgrading our ERP application to run on SQL Server 2008 R2. It currently runs as a file-based system in it's own Server 2008 virtual machine. SQL Server will be installed into that VM.

We have a separate virtual machine (on the same physical host) that runs SQL Server for other data. Is there a reason (performance or otherwise) to go through the trouble of replicating data from the ERP SQL server to another VM? My original plan was to replicate for reporting purposes and reduce the load on the ERP SQL server, but if both SQL servers are on the same physical host, I can't see a performance benefit to doing so.

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 10 '12 at 16:15

Depends what you nuderstand under "same physical host". YOu could:

Run into VM limits (Hyper-V: 4 virtual processors per VM at the moment, which may max out)
Run into IO limits and have different discs for the second VM.

Otherwise you are right. Can only be a small installation anyway.

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 10 '12 at 17:16

1

If your reports could be run in such a way as to block your application, then this is a no-brainer for me.

answered Jan 10 '12 at 17:16

Ben Thul

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this is an excellent reason to replicate. thank you. – John Galt Jan 12 '12 at 17:08

Any reason to replicate SQL Server database for reporting?

2 Answers2