mckeough
asked on
Slowly running out of room on our Windows 2000 Server
Hi all. We are slowly running out of room on the system (root) partition on one of our servers. Yesterday we had about 450mb's of free space on our system partition, but today we have only 415. This server handles SQL, Exchange, and is our DC.
I scanned for viruses and trojans using two different virus scanners, but found nothing. Our Exchange database is on another partition. SQL databases are also stored on another partition. My only good guess is that we're logging too much and that log files are clogging our hard drive. I cleaned some logs out not too long ago, but the space gained by deleting those files didn't last long.
This slow but steady loss of free space will bring this server to its knees very shortly if I don't do something about this.
If it is log files, where do I go to delete the ones we don't need (I can decide how far back we need log files to go if I just know where to find all of them). Also, I already tried deleting all .tmp files, but that only produced a gain of 2mb. What am I missing here?
I scanned for viruses and trojans using two different virus scanners, but found nothing. Our Exchange database is on another partition. SQL databases are also stored on another partition. My only good guess is that we're logging too much and that log files are clogging our hard drive. I cleaned some logs out not too long ago, but the space gained by deleting those files didn't last long.
This slow but steady loss of free space will bring this server to its knees very shortly if I don't do something about this.
If it is log files, where do I go to delete the ones we don't need (I can decide how far back we need log files to go if I just know where to find all of them). Also, I already tried deleting all .tmp files, but that only produced a gain of 2mb. What am I missing here?
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ASKER
Should I delete the Badmail folder, or just the contents? There is quite a bit in there by the way. I think that's the problem. I'll double-check my backups, but I'm pretty sure Veritas is behaving itself.
Delete just the content.. the folder has to stay there.. but it is safe to delete it.
(safe to delete the content :) )
ASKER
OK. Thanks.
BTW, my badmail folder eats up 200 Megs/week..
ASKER
OK. Yeah, mine is about 253 megs right now with about 43,500 items in there. I think you hit the jackpot. Is there a way to automatically clear this folder out?
Also, any other log files I should keep an eye on?
Also, any other log files I should keep an eye on?
You can make a batch file that delete the content of this specific folder, and add it in the task scheduler, and run it once/day..
I would delete the smtp logs too.. I keep 6 months, but it's up to you to decide how long you wanna keep. It depends on your organisation policy.
ASKER
By the way, what exactly is the badmail folder? Is it where all undeliverable mail goes or something like that?
I'll give you another 250 points if you can tell me how to make that batch file, or point me to a website that will tell me how.
I'll give you another 250 points if you can tell me how to make that batch file, or point me to a website that will tell me how.
Ok, here we go.. the badmail folder is all undeliverable mail that end up in your exchange server.. this mail was sent to
a- Non existant people
b- old address that arent in your organisation anymore (old employees, etc...)
Sometimes, spam servers send email to random addresses for a domain, so it will try sending something to jack@yourdomain.com even if it doesnt exist..
to create a batch file:
Type this into notepad
del c:\<insert badmail directory>\*.* /q
exit
and save it as badmail.bat anywhere on your system.
then, go to start - settings - control pannel, and click on scheduled task. click on add scheduled task
it should start a wizard, click next. when it ask for a program, click browse, and go and get your badmail.bat batchfile. click next.
click on "perform this task daily", click next. set the start time, and click on perform this task every day, and set start date. Click next. Then enter your username credentials.. (so that it can run the batch file even if you are not logued in).
Then click finish.
a- Non existant people
b- old address that arent in your organisation anymore (old employees, etc...)
Sometimes, spam servers send email to random addresses for a domain, so it will try sending something to jack@yourdomain.com even if it doesnt exist..
to create a batch file:
Type this into notepad
del c:\<insert badmail directory>\*.* /q
exit
and save it as badmail.bat anywhere on your system.
then, go to start - settings - control pannel, and click on scheduled task. click on add scheduled task
it should start a wizard, click next. when it ask for a program, click browse, and go and get your badmail.bat batchfile. click next.
click on "perform this task daily", click next. set the start time, and click on perform this task every day, and set start date. Click next. Then enter your username credentials.. (so that it can run the batch file even if you are not logued in).
Then click finish.
ASKER
Sweet. Thanks!
your welcome, don't forget your additional 250 pts :)
Just a quick one, make sure your pagefiler is refreshing, not just adding and adding.
ASKER
I have it set at 1.5 gigs. Good point though, that was one of the first things I looked at. Thanks for your comment! :-)
Exchange aware backup = arcserve/Backup exec with Exchange agent running on the exchange server.