fyrfyter
asked on
RAID allocation for exchange server
Experts,
I am setting up a stand-alone Exchange 2003 server on a Windows server 2003 box, and am looking for some advice on how I should configure my RAID containters to maximize performance and fault tolerance.
Hardware:
Dell PowerEdge 2950 2 gig ram
6x73GB SAS HD's
Right now our exchange database(s) is less than 16GB, but I would like to go as high as 100GB on the new server.
I was thinking that I could put the OS and the store on a RAID 5 container with 4 of the disks, and put logs on a RAID 1 container with the other 2 disks. Would I want to put the OS and the store on the container like that?
Is there a better way?
Thanks,
I am setting up a stand-alone Exchange 2003 server on a Windows server 2003 box, and am looking for some advice on how I should configure my RAID containters to maximize performance and fault tolerance.
Hardware:
Dell PowerEdge 2950 2 gig ram
6x73GB SAS HD's
Right now our exchange database(s) is less than 16GB, but I would like to go as high as 100GB on the new server.
I was thinking that I could put the OS and the store on a RAID 5 container with 4 of the disks, and put logs on a RAID 1 container with the other 2 disks. Would I want to put the OS and the store on the container like that?
Is there a better way?
Thanks,
ASKER
About 100 users with an average mailbox size of 100MB. I would like to go higher on mailbox sizes though. Say about 500MB.
I will go with option 1. An additional spare can be a big help.
IK
IK
ASKER
What would be your recomendation for creating volumes? For example, I usally create a c:\drive for the OS, a d:\drive for installed applications, and an e:\drive to store local data.
If I were to go with option 1, would I put the OS and T-logs on the c:\drive, or should I create a volume just for the T-logs?
And where would the "M:\drive" be located?
I'll boost points for you:)
Thanks,
If I were to go with option 1, would I put the OS and T-logs on the c:\drive, or should I create a volume just for the T-logs?
And where would the "M:\drive" be located?
I'll boost points for you:)
Thanks,
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I wouldn't split the OS from the applications. I don't see the point.
With 100 users I would run with the configuration outlined as config 1 above.
The C drive would be a partition of 20 gb and would contain the OS and the application files.
The rest of the drive would be D, used for the transaction and message tracking logs. Both in a folder, not in the root of the drive.
The database would be on the other array, again in its own folder. RAID 5 on this type of load should be fine. To go to any other kind of RAID configuration would probably require more disks.
Simon.
With 100 users I would run with the configuration outlined as config 1 above.
The C drive would be a partition of 20 gb and would contain the OS and the application files.
The rest of the drive would be D, used for the transaction and message tracking logs. Both in a folder, not in the root of the drive.
The database would be on the other array, again in its own folder. RAID 5 on this type of load should be fine. To go to any other kind of RAID configuration would probably require more disks.
Simon.
ASKER
Sembe,
Just so that I can be clear on what you are saying,
"The rest of the drive would be D, used for the transaction and message tracking logs. Both in a folder, not in the root of the drive."
Means that I should use:
D:\Transaction logs\E00.log
And not:
D:\E00.log
Is this correct?
Just so that I can be clear on what you are saying,
"The rest of the drive would be D, used for the transaction and message tracking logs. Both in a folder, not in the root of the drive."
Means that I should use:
D:\Transaction logs\E00.log
And not:
D:\E00.log
Is this correct?
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ASKER
Excellent timely advice. I appreciate everyones input very much. I will split points.
Thank you,
Thank you,
1.
2X73GB RAID 1 OS + Exchange logs
3X73GB RAID 5 Exchange DB
1X73GB Hostspare
Ideal solution if load is not very high.
2.
2X73GB RAID 1 OS + Exchange logs
4X73GB RAID 10 Exchange DB
If you could provide more information on the number of users and mailboxes sizes, that would help.
IK