This white paper provides an architectural overview and configuration guidelines for deploying Microsoft SQL Server 2005 x64 SP2 with Microsoft Windows Server® 2008x64 Enterprise or Standard Edition on Dell PowerEdge servers with Dell PowerVault and Dell/EMC CX3 storage. Using the knowledge gained through joint development, testing and support with Microsoft and EMC, the Dell Reference Architecture Guide for SQL Server documents best practice that can help speed SQL Server 2005 solution implementation and help simplify operations, improve performance and availability.