Hardware Sizing Microsoft SQL Server
Last updated: April 4, 2016.
The following are some resources to help determine hardware needs for Microsoft 
SQL Server deployments.
 
Recommended blog posts.
1. 
SQL Server Sizing Resources by Bart Duncan (MSFT).
2. 
Hardware Update 2014 and Server Sizing (Joe Chang).
3. 
Hardware 201 - Sizing Database Hardware with Glenn Berry. Available in 
Youtube too (here).
 
Tools from Microsoft and Hardware Vendors.
1. 
Dell SQL Advisor (SQL Server Hardware Specification Calculator). To know 
about the methodology behind this tool click 
here.
2. 
SQL Server DataSizer Tool. A spreadsheet tool that helps estimate the 
size of tables.
Sizing an OLAP Solution.
1. 
Scale-Out Querying with Analysis Services - SQL Server Best Practices Article. 
Sizing Guidelines.
2. Scaling 
Up Your Data Warehouse with SQL Server 2008.
3. 
Hardware Sizing a Tabular Solution (SQL Server 2012).
4. 
HP Sizer for Microsoft SQL Server (2008 R2 Fast Track 3.0/2012 Fast Track 4.0) 
Data Warehouse.
 
Useful documentation.
1. SQL 
Server Best Practices Article. Predeployment I/O Best Practices.
2. 
Analyzing I/O Characteristics and Sizing Storage Systems for SQL Server Database 
Applications.
3. 
Analyzing I/O Characteristics and Sizing Storage Systems for SQL Server Database 
Applications. Section "Sizing Considerations for the Physical Storage 
Components", page 11.
4. Server sizing 
recommendations for Microsoft SQL Server 2005.
5. Hardware 
and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2008 R2.
6. 
Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2012.
7. 
Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2014.
8. 
Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2016.