If you need to optimize your disk for database access, and have implemented all the reasonable caching methods available, you can look into different disk optimization techniques.
The simplest optimization is to put in a faster disk. Even when you purchase a database server there are many options for your disk systems. The least expensive are usually based on SATA drives. SATA drives come with different speeds, sizes and controllers. The combination determines how quickly the drive will read/write your database changes.
SCSI disks have been around for a longer time than SATA disks. They can be purchased with different speeds. The faster the disk is, the more expensive the cost. Still, your performance increases with the faster speeds. SCSI disks generally have much less storage capacity than a SATA disk.
If you’re going for the faster disk available you can look into an SSD. The solid state disk drives have a limited lifetime compared to hard disk technologies. That is due to the continuous read/write activity of a database. An SSD as a hard disk for your laptop may last years. That is not typically the case on a database that is constantly in use by many users. It will run really fast, until the SSD acquires more and more dead spots.
The most radical disk implementation you can do is to install a RAM Disk. Unlike an SSD, a RAM disk is volatile. When your computer power is turned off, all contents of your RAM disk are lost. This makes it a good candidate for TempDb. However, SQL Server is pretty awesome at determining how best to use memory. You are often better served to allocate all RAM available to SQL Server, and allow it to determine where it is needed most.
Tomorrow we’ll look into ways to combine disks for performance purposes.
Cheers,
Ben