Introduction
When it comes to running SQL Server in the cloud, storage performance is key. You want your queries to run lightning fast, but you also need high availability and scalability without breaking the bank. That’s where Azure’s new Premium SSD v2 managed disks come in.
In this article, I’ll share what I’ve learned and show you how Premium SSD v2 can take your SQL Server workloads on Azure VMs to the next level. Get ready for some serious storage gains!
What is Premium SSD v2?
Premium SSD v2 is the next generation of Azure managed disks designed for IO-intensive workloads like SQL Server. Compared to the previous Premium SSD (Gen 1) offering, Premium SSD v2 delivers:
- Higher capacity – Up to 64 TB per disk
- More IOPS – Up to 80,000 IOPS per disk
- Faster throughput – Up to 1,200 MB/s per disk
- Lower latency – Sub-millisecond
The best part is you can adjust the disk size, IOPS and throughput independently to optimize for your specific workload. No more over-provisioning storage just to get the performance you need.
Premium SSD v2 vs Other Azure Disk Options
So how does Premium SSD v2 stack up against other Azure managed disks for SQL Server? Here’s a quick rundown:
| Disk Type | Max Size | Max IOPS | Max Throughput |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium SSD v2 | 64 TB | 80,000 | 1,200 MB/s |
| Premium SSD | 32 TB | 20,000 | 900 MB/s |
| Ultra Disk | 65 TB | 160,000 | 2,000 MB/s |
Ultra Disk offers the highest performance but has some limitations:
- Only available in certain regions
- Requires specific VM sizes/configs
- No support for disk snapshots, encryption, or replication
- Much more expensive, especially at scale
For most SQL Server workloads, Premium SSD v2 hits the sweet spot of performance, flexibility and cost-effectiveness. You get ultra-fast storage with none of the Ultra Disk caveats.
Sizing Storage for SQL Server on Premium SSD v2
With the huge capacity of Premium SSD v2, many SQL Server deployments can get away with a single disk. For example, here’s how the latest Ebdsv5 Azure VMs fare with just one P80 v2 disk:
| VM Size | vCPU | Memory | Premium SSD v2 Disks | Max IOPS | Max Throughput |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E16bds_v5 | 16 | 128 GB | 1 x P80 | 80,000 | 1,200 MB/s |
| E32bds_v5 | 32 | 256 GB | 1 x P80 | 80,000 | 1,200 MB/s |
| E64bds_v5 | 64 | 512 GB | 1 x P80 | 80,000 | 1,200 MB/s |
In my testing, a single P80 v2 disk delivered stellar performance for databases up to 8 TB. That’s pretty incredible when you consider the previous gen required 16+ Premium SSD disks in a storage pool to get similar results.
Of course, for larger DBs and heavier workloads you can always add more Premium SSD v2 disks. The key is to benchmark your storage and scale out as needed. With Premium SSD v2, you’ve got plenty of headroom.
Conclusion
If you’re running SQL Server on Azure VMs, you owe it yourself to check out Premium SSD v2. The performance gains are substantial, and the pricing is very competitive when you factor in the consolidation benefits.
Migrating to Premium SSD v2 is a piece of cake too. Just provision a new Ebdsv5 VM in the portal, select Premium SSD v2, and off you go. I moved several production databases over and the whole process was seamless.
But don’t just take my word for it. Put Premium SSD v2 to the test in your own environment. I think you’ll be just as impressed as I was with the storage-optimized performance, flexibility and scale.
The future of SQL Server in Azure is Premium SSD v2. It’s lightning fast, highly capacity, and ultra-reliable. Strap in and enjoy the ride!
Read the official Microsoft Blog here: Azure Premium SSD v2
