SQL Server - data files - How is write operation performed  on data files

Hi,

The topic is quite big. Better start from reading "Physical Database Storage Design" http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/cc966414.aspx, you will find further references there.

Regardsm
Slawek

Hi,

    I read this one but it does not say how exactly data is written when you have more data files in the same file group.

    I have a very good understanding about the overall SQL Server storage picture but I need a more to the point explanation.

     As I know SQL Server should stripe the extents across the data files and theoretically what happens is that write operations are load balanced between the data files. Now I need to know the formula or the thinking behind this load balancing operation- how much weight a data file size and the free space inside inside has when SQL Server decides how much to write to one data file and how much to write to the other.

Thanks

Hi,

No, extents are not stripped across data files. I mean single extent is never stripped across data files.

Load balancing works only when new extents are allocated. If SQL storage engine has to allocate one new extent  then it is allocated from the file with most free storage space. When it needs to allocate more than one extent then the first new extent goes to the data file with most free space, and second can go to the same file if after allocating first extent still the most space is in the same file.

As long as the free space will not be balanced between files all new extents will be allocated from the file with the biggest free storage space - so it is crucial to create database with data files equal in size.

FILEGROUP has nothing to do with physical data allocation as far as I now - it is used only for logical management, like backups etc.

Regards,
Slawek

Hi Slawek,

     This is exactly what I also suspect judging by the SQL2k5 I/O DMVs, do you also have some web-links for this info?

Thanks

thanks