Well while studying for my VCP5 I have discovered that the “Solution/Database Interoperability” support matrix for vCenter databases is not quite as straight forward as I would have expected. For instance, MS SQL Server 2008 Enterprise R2 SP2 is only supported with VMware vCenter Server 5.0U2.  For MS SQL Server shops, it appears as if the currently “safe” DB options are MS SQL Server 2008 R2 (no SP) and MS SQL Server 2008 SP2. These appear to have the broadest support – of course if you are installing vSphere 5.0U1 or U2 (which you probably should be) then you can use R2 SP1. Once more, it pays to check the HCLs carefully. You can determine the version and service pack level of MS SQL Servers using the information in KB321185 from Microsoft.

Also, the matrix has a footnote for some of the MS SQL Server versions stating they are not supported with vCSA – but not all the MS SQL Server entries have this note implying some versions of MS SQL Server are supported with vCSA.

And for Oracle support – that is a bit of a minefield too. Various versions of 10gR2 and 11gR2 are supported with various patch sets. Once again, do you homework carefully!