SQL Server database - best way to deal with mass amounts of data

Question

I have a SQL Server database and I'm looking for a design to store mass amounts of data.

I'm running various throughput tests on different software builds and for each level of attenuation I'm obtaining metrics. There are 50 levels of attenuation for each software build for each device and multiple devices will be tested.

I also want to display graphs for each build on each device.

I'm currently thinking of storing to xml file and reading off that.

Thanks.

EDIT: I suppose my specific question is can SQL Server handle the amount of data I'm feeding it?

EDIT2: I'm displaying data results for other tests internally using graphs, so that really isn't an issue. The issue is can SQL Server handle that amount of data and if not what can I do to prevent it?

Answer 1

Yes, SQL Server can absolutely handle that amount of data, and it can be pretty speedy about it, too. That's precisely what database engines are built for.

And XML is much, much, much slower than a database, which is why nobody uses it for high-end data storage.