SharePoint 2010 Tip #7: Creating Site Collection in new Content Database

Another quick but efficient tip, this time for SharePoint 2010: creating a Site Collection in a different or new Content Database.

One would have guessed that would be very simple. Maybe you'd have a choice in the Site Collection creation interface. And in that choice, you'd be able to choose which Content Database to use, or even creating a new one. But no, there is no option whatsoever in the Site Collection creation interface regarding Content Databases.

Well, although it's not that intuitive, it is easy. Here's what you need to do.

First, you need to create the new Content Database. You can do it in the Central Administration interface for that purpose, very simple and no caveats there.

After having the target Content Database created, before you create your Site Collection, you need to get all the other Content Databases in that Web Application status to Offline, leaving your new Content Database as the only one with status set to Ready.

Now, just create the Site Collection and it will use your Content Database, as it is the only one with Ready status.

Don't forget to re-set all the other Content Databases status to Ready in the end.