SQL Server File System Layout ├─── Central Theme: Separation, Organization, Performance, Manageability │ ├─── 📂 Operating System Volume (C:\) │ ├─── Purpose: Windows OS, Paging File, essential system files │ ├─── RAID: OS volume - RAID 1 (Mirroring) is good, but not performance critical for SQL Server │ └─── Contents: │ ├─── Windows OS Files │ ├─── Pagefile.sys │ └─── (Ideally) Minimal Application Data - Keep C:\ clean │ ├─── 💾 Binary Volume (S:\ - Example, can be other drive letter) <-- **Custom Binary Path!** │ ├─── Purpose: SQL Server Program Files (Binaries) │ ├─── RAID: Not performance critical, RAID 1 or even single disk is acceptable. Focus on redundancy over speed for binaries. │ └─── Contents: │ └─── S:\SQLBinaries\ (Example Root Folder) │ ├─── MSSQL16.INSTANCE1\ (Instance Root Directory - e.g., MSSQL16.MSSQLSERVER) │ │ ├─── MSSQL\ (SQL Server Engine Binaries) │ │ ├─── Binn\ (Executable binaries) │ │ ├─── <... other binary folders and files ...> │ └─── MSSQL16.INSTANCE2\ (For Named Instance "INSTANCE2") │ └─── ... │ ├─── 🗄️ Data Volume(s) (D:\, E:\, F:\...) │ ├─── Purpose: SQL Server Data Files (.mdf, .ndf) for user databases │ ├─── RAID: RAID 10 (Recommended for performance and redundancy), RAID 5/6 acceptable for read-heavy workloads │ └─── Directory Structure (Example for D:\) │ └─── D:\SQLData\ │ ├─── INSTANCE1\ │ │ ├─── Database1\ │ │ │ ├─── Database1.mdf │ │ │ ├─── Database1_02.ndf │ │ │ └─── ... │ │ ├─── Database2\ │ │ │ ├─── Database2.mdf │ │ │ └─── ... │ │ └─── ... │ └─── INSTANCE2\ │ └─── ... │ ├─── 📜 Log Volume(s) (L:\, M:\, N:\...) │ ├─── Purpose: SQL Server Transaction Log Files (.ldf) for user databases │ ├─── RAID: RAID 10 (Recommended for optimal write performance and redundancy) │ └─── Directory Structure (Example for L:\) │ └─── L:\SQLLogs\ │ ├─── INSTANCE1\ │ │ ├─── Database1\ │ │ │ └─── Database1_log.ldf │ │ ├─── Database2\ │ │ │ └─── Database2_log.ldf │ │ └─── ... │ └─── INSTANCE2\ │ └─── ... │ ├─── ⏳ TempDB Volume(s) (T:\, U:\, V:\...) <-- Separate Data & Log! │ ├─── Purpose: TempDB Data and Log files - **CRITICAL for Performance** │ ├─── RAID: Fast Storage (SSDs ideal if possible). RAID 10 or RAID 0 (Data - carefully consider), RAID 10 (Log) │ └─── Directory Structure: │ ├─── T:\TempDBData\ (TempDB Data Files) │ │ └─── INSTANCE1\ │ │ ├─── TempDB_Data1.mdf │ │ ├─── TempDB_Data2.ndf (Multiple files recommended) │ │ └─── ... │ └─── U:\TempDBLog\ (TempDB Log File - Separate Disk/Volume from Data) │ └─── INSTANCE1\ │ └─── TempDB_log.ldf │ ├─── 💾 Backup Volume(s) (B:\, P:\, Q:\...) │ ├─── Purpose: SQL Server Backup Files (.bak, .trn) │ ├─── RAID: RAID 5, RAID 6, or RAID 10 (depending on needs) - Capacity and reasonable speed │ └─── Directory Structure (Example for B:\) │ └─── B:\SQLBackups\ │ ├─── INSTANCE1\ │ │ ├─── Database1\ │ │ │ ├─── Full\ │ │ │ │ └─── Database1_Full_YYYYMMDD.bak │ │ │ ├─── Diff\ │ │ │ │ └─── Database1_Diff_YYYYMMDD.bak │ │ │ └─── Log\ │ │ │ └─── Database1_Log_YYYYMMDD.trn │ │ ├─── Database2\ │ │ │ └─── ... │ │ └─── ... │ └─── INSTANCE2\ │ └─── ... │ ├─── 🗂️ Full-Text Catalog Volume (Optional - F:\) │ ├─── Purpose: Full-Text Catalog files (if used heavily) │ ├─── RAID: SSD or RAID 10 for performance if full-text search is critical │ └─── Directory Structure (Example for F:\) │ └─── F:\SQLFTCatalogs\ │ ├─── INSTANCE1\ │ │ ├─── Database1\ │ │ │ ├─── Catalog1\ │ │ │ └─── <Full-Text Catalog Files> │ │ └─── ... │ └─── INSTANCE2\ │ └─── ... │ ├─── 📂 FileStream/FileTable Volume (Optional - W:\) │ ├─── Purpose: FileStream/FileTable data (if used heavily) │ ├─── RAID: Depends on workload (RAID 5, 6, or 10) │ └─── Directory Structure (Example for W:\) │ └─── W:\SQLFileStream\ │ ├─── INSTANCE1\ │ │ ├─── Database1\ │ │ │ ├─── FileStreamData1\ │ │ │ └─── <FileStream Files> │ │ └─── ... │ └─── INSTANCE2\ │ └─── ... │ └─── 📝 Error/Trace Log Volume (Optional - E:\, TR:\) ├─── Purpose: SQL Server Error Logs, Trace Files, etc. ├─── RAID: Less critical, standard storage acceptable └─── Directory Structure: ├─── E:\SQLErrors\ (Error Logs) │ └─── INSTANCE1\ (or just root if single instance) │ ├─── Errorlog.log │ ├─── Errorlog.1 │ └─── ... └─── TR:\SQLTraces\ (Trace Files) └─── INSTANCE1\ (or just root if single instance) ├─── TraceFile_YYYYMMDD.trc └─── ...
* **Drive Letters are Examples:** Use drive letters that are available. Mount points are an alternative. * **Instance Specific Folders:** Structure includes instance-specific folders if you have multiple SQL Server instances on the same server, making it organized. * **Optional Volumes:** Full-Text, FileStream, and Error/Trace Log volumes are optional and depend on your usage and needs. * **Binary Path Highlight:** The "Binary Volume (S:\)" clearly illustrates the custom path for SQL Server binaries, moved off the C:\ drive. * **RAID Recommendations are General:** Choose RAID levels based on your specific performance, redundancy, and budget requirements. RAID 10 is frequently recommended for Data and Logs. * **Adapt to Your Needs:** This is a template; adjust the number of volumes, drive letters, RAID levels, and optional volumes based on your specific SQL Server environment and hardware. | 
