Introduction:
This whitepaper is a guide for DBAs on moving SQL Server from a physical environment to a virtual environment. Virtualization has become a major topic for Database Administrators. In the early days of virtualization, SQL Server was not considered suitable for virtualizing. However, the virtual platforms have matured, and virtualizing SQL Server is a widely accepted practice. Virtualization is now a critical part of enterprise environments to varying degrees.
Virtualization also plays a major role in consolidation, especially in large enterprises. Virtual machines (VMs) offer a way to consolidate many small physical servers into a few large servers while still maintaining separation of the workloads. A well-tested, successful approach to virtualization is to start slow and grow your virtual platform. Combine this approach with proper planning and good standards and practices to ensure a successful mover to VMs.