dtooth71
asked on
exchange upgrade
I am in the process of upgrading our exchange box, I am looking at a DELL power edge 2950 Dual Core Xeon 2.0 5130 4MB Cache 1333KHz FSB, 4GB RAM, (5) each 73GB SAS 10K RPM HDD w/redundant power supply.
I am currently running Server Standard 2003 w/ Exchange 2003. I have currently about 130 mailboxes that I plan to merge to the new server but plan to have plenty of room for growth. The posts and comments I read on using Exchange 2007 really did not justify, however I still am considering&(thoughts comments)
Since I can not cluster two boxes I am looking for the most redundant solution that will provide the most performace.
The configuration that I am looking at is implementing Harware RAID configuration, RAID 1 on two of the 73GB HD for the OS and RAID 5 for the database/logs ect.
I have huge amounts of questions on the transfer from one box to another but lets start with the configuration of the Hardware for now.
Comments, experience, feedback please
I am currently running Server Standard 2003 w/ Exchange 2003. I have currently about 130 mailboxes that I plan to merge to the new server but plan to have plenty of room for growth. The posts and comments I read on using Exchange 2007 really did not justify, however I still am considering&(thoughts comments)
Since I can not cluster two boxes I am looking for the most redundant solution that will provide the most performace.
The configuration that I am looking at is implementing Harware RAID configuration, RAID 1 on two of the 73GB HD for the OS and RAID 5 for the database/logs ect.
I have huge amounts of questions on the transfer from one box to another but lets start with the configuration of the Hardware for now.
Comments, experience, feedback please
ASKER
is this overkill here in your opinion?
The only thing I would probably consider doing is dropping the RAM. I only put 2gb in my Exchange servers where they are a dedicated machine and they are fine.
The only thing I would suggest changing is the configuration of the hard disks once you have the machine.
Leave the arrays as they are, but partition the mirror. You want a 30gb partition and then the rest. The rest is used for Exchange transaction and message tracking logs.
Exchange's main bottleneck is storage. You can throw lots of RAM and processing power at it and you will not see a massive different. However spend the cash on good quality RAID setup and you will get a good performance from the server for some time to come.
Simon.
The only thing I would suggest changing is the configuration of the hard disks once you have the machine.
Leave the arrays as they are, but partition the mirror. You want a 30gb partition and then the rest. The rest is used for Exchange transaction and message tracking logs.
Exchange's main bottleneck is storage. You can throw lots of RAM and processing power at it and you will not see a massive different. However spend the cash on good quality RAID setup and you will get a good performance from the server for some time to come.
Simon.
ASKER
ya, that is what i have in my current exchange box and it is fine, the page file is a bit used but system memory is fine.
so on the RAID 1 mirror, configure a 30GB partition for OS and then what ever is left on the mirror for the logs and then on the RAID5 for the database?
other than age of machine, my main concern is the storage as we grow and i want to ensure redundancy, is the main reason for upgrading.
so on the RAID 1 mirror, configure a 30GB partition for OS and then what ever is left on the mirror for the logs and then on the RAID5 for the database?
other than age of machine, my main concern is the storage as we grow and i want to ensure redundancy, is the main reason for upgrading.
The RAID 1 mirror you have correct. I have blogged the same configuration in the past, so I am consistent.
The only other thing you might want to consider is using larger hard disks for the database array. I tend to recommend that you have at least the same amount of space again. You haven't said whether you were using standard or enterprise edition of Exchange, which can adjust the parameters a little.
For example, if you are using standard edition then the maximum you can go to is 75gb. Therefore if you have at least 150gb of space (plus some wriggle room) that is all you need. You can restore the entire database to an RSG.
If you were going to use Enterprise edition then I would suggest you have have a policy of each store not going above 50gb (for example) so would need to ensure that there is at least 50gb of space available for a restore.
Many people forget about data recovery scenarios and the space required to do them, particularly now that hard disk space is so cheap.
Simon.
The only other thing you might want to consider is using larger hard disks for the database array. I tend to recommend that you have at least the same amount of space again. You haven't said whether you were using standard or enterprise edition of Exchange, which can adjust the parameters a little.
For example, if you are using standard edition then the maximum you can go to is 75gb. Therefore if you have at least 150gb of space (plus some wriggle room) that is all you need. You can restore the entire database to an RSG.
If you were going to use Enterprise edition then I would suggest you have have a policy of each store not going above 50gb (for example) so would need to ensure that there is at least 50gb of space available for a restore.
Many people forget about data recovery scenarios and the space required to do them, particularly now that hard disk space is so cheap.
Simon.
ASKER
If I do not upgrade to Excahnge 2007 (opinion) then it will be the 2003 Standard edition.
So what you suggest is that the free disk space amount should be equal to or greater than the amount alloted for the mailbox storage? so i can for example have the 73GB HD for the RAID 1 but possibly for the RAID 5 increase the size from 73GB to say..146, 320 or so to increase the storage?
I dont quite understand the retore that you are refering too, but would like to as this upgrade is to ensure ease of recovery if/when necesary.
So what you suggest is that the free disk space amount should be equal to or greater than the amount alloted for the mailbox storage? so i can for example have the 73GB HD for the RAID 1 but possibly for the RAID 5 increase the size from 73GB to say..146, 320 or so to increase the storage?
I dont quite understand the retore that you are refering too, but would like to as this upgrade is to ensure ease of recovery if/when necesary.
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ASKER
Simon,
what is your opinion on v2007?
what is your opinion on v2007?
At the moment E2007 is an unfinished product. SP1 though is very good and when it is eventually released should cause the installations of E2007 to pick up considerably.
I blogged on whether to install E2007 a few months ago.
Simon.
I blogged on whether to install E2007 a few months ago.
Simon.
Simon.