How does changing allocated RAM affect backups & replicas?

[ianc911]

Hi folks,

I have a SQL 2014 server running on a two-node Win2K16 Hyper-V cluster. Initially I allocated it 48 GB of RAM, figuring that Exchange & SQL will glom onto all the RAM they can. In addition to regular VM backups of this machine, I'm replicating it (via Veeam) to my DR site as well as to another on-prem Hyper-V cluster.

After looking at the cluster, I'm seeing that RAM usage is really not exceeding ~24 GB at any time, and it seems like the high RAM allocation is causing difficulties and slowdowns with cluster operations, such as startups, live migrations, etc.

I'd like to shut down the VM during our maintenance window and decrease the RAM allocation to it significantly, but am unsure how this will affect the existing replicas & backups. I want to say it should have no effect, but better safe than sorry...

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Ian

[HannesK]

Hello,
and welcome to the forums.

The only effect is, that the next backup / replication cycle will recognize the changed settings. But there is nothing you really need to take care of.

Best regards,
Hannes

[ianc911]

Thanks Hannes!