Forum Discussion

Copper Contributor

Dec 28, 2021

Solved

What to use ReFS or NTFS?

Hi All I'm preparing for SQL Server 2022 inplace upgrade when it arrives, and have just purchased a new hardware where I will use Windows Server 2022 and SQL Server 2019 Ent. until the new toy ar...

olafhelper
Dec 29, 2021
JensNilsson , see SQL Server Hardware and software requirements => Hard Disk

ReFS is supported, but because of security reasons not recommended, so better go with NTFS.
Format the disk for data files with a sector size of 64 kb instead of default 4 kb, that's best practice.

olafhelper

Bronze Contributor

Dec 29, 2021

JensNilsson , see SQL Server Hardware and software requirements => Hard Disk

ReFS is supported, but because of security reasons not recommended, so better go with NTFS.

Format the disk for data files with a sector size of 64 kb instead of default 4 kb, that's best practice.

MrKvasi
Copper Contributor
Nov 28, 2023
That's incorrect. ReFS is just as safe as NTFS.
I would however still choose NTFS since the performance tests I've seen have favored NTFS.
--BF--
Copper Contributor
Feb 08, 2022
The doc you cite does not match what was stated.

"Installing SQL Server on computers with the NTFS or ReFS file formats is recommended. The FAT32 file system is supported but not recommended as it is less secure than the NTFS or ReFS file systems. "

FAT32 is less secure, not ReFS
- olafhelper
  Bronze Contributor
  Feb 09, 2022
  --BF-- , please have a look at your calendar: We are writing year 2022, and you talk about FAT32; really?
JensNilsson
Copper Contributor
Dec 29, 2021
Thanks! olafhelper
That helped my decision. The sector size I'm aware of, so that I'll fix 🙂

Have a great new year of 2022
/Jens