The success of SQL Server in recent years has produced a phenomenon of SQL Server sprawl—the uncoordinated deployment of tens, hundreds or even thousands of database servers. The result has been low levels of utilization, poor availability and, most importantly, an enormous management burden inflicted on many IT departments. There is an acute need for a way to deploy SQL Server that allows capacity to be matched appropriately to need, that provides high availability without introducing extra complexity and extra cost, and that actually simplifies the life of administrators.

This paper describes an approach that provides these benefits, which we call the HP PolyServe Software for Microsoft® SQL Server.