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SQL Server Disk Partition Alignment Whitepaper

I have over the past couple of years engaged with many customers around the benefits of correct partition alignment for their SQL Server disk sub-systems. There is finally a  comprehensive white paper on the subject for our reference: Disk Partition Alignment Best Practices for SQL Server.

Windows Server 2008 avoids the issue completely through  the use of a 1024Kb alignment offset and whilst the whilst this whitepaper has a SQL Serer 2008 logo in the banner this information is likely to have more benefit to those running on older versions of SQL on older versions of the the operating system (Windows Server 2003 or Windows 2000 Server). Especially for those using SANs it should also be noted that the partition alignment happens when the partition is created and as such LUNs with partitions created on older versions of the operating system will continue to be misaligned even when presented to a Windows 2008 Server.

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