Disk defragmentation on SQLserver

SQLserver 200 SP3 running on Win2000
I check disk D: where all the databases reside and found that it is heavily
fragmented. The list of most fragmented files include some important
database (MDF) files.
I would like to defragment the disk but also concerned about possible
problem with the databases in question since they are up and running during
the defragmentation process.
What's a safe procedure to perform defragmentation on the the disk and how
to reduce fragment in the furture?
Any suggestion is greatly appreciated.
Bill
First off always make sure you have FULL and tested backups before
attempting something like that. While some vendors state they can defrag
the sql files while running I personally would not trust my data to it. If
you want to prevent fragmentation in the first place you should always start
with a clean disk and each time you add a new database you should do the
following:
One at a time:
1. Create the database with the files at say 10MB in size. (this is so you
can always shrink it down later if need be)
2. Immediately after creating the database, alter the database and grow
each file to the size you think you will need for the next year or two
allowing plenty of room for free space in each file.
If you do that for each database as you create them the files will be
contiguous on disk and there will be no need to defrag them in the future
unless you srink or grow them again.
Andrew J. Kelly SQL MVP
"Bill Nguyen" <billn_nospam_please@.jaco.com> wrote in message
news:%2368scSPcEHA.2520@.TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> SQLserver 200 SP3 running on Win2000
> I check disk D: where all the databases reside and found that it is
heavily
> fragmented. The list of most fragmented files include some important
> database (MDF) files.
> I would like to defragment the disk but also concerned about possible
> problem with the databases in question since they are up and running
during
> the defragmentation process.
> What's a safe procedure to perform defragmentation on the the disk and how
> to reduce fragment in the furture?
> Any suggestion is greatly appreciated.
> Bill
>