Memory and CPU requirements for Exch 2010 DAG
I just wanted to put this out there and see what kind of setup I would need, approx., for memory and CPU..
There will be 2 Mailbox servers in a DAG and 2 CAS servers. (EXCH 2010 Enterprise)
There will be about 5500 users with their database limits set to 2GB. They have a very high amount of email coming in each day. There will be about 80 databases which will be setup between the 2 servers in the DAG and none of them will go any larger than 200GB.
So I was just wondering the best setup for CPU, which I think I will go with 4 cpu's on each mailbox server, and how much memory for this to work well?
I tried the exchange calculator but I cant seem to get it to give me any info. I guess I maybe doing that wrong.
There will be 2 Mailbox servers in a DAG and 2 CAS servers. (EXCH 2010 Enterprise)
There will be about 5500 users with their database limits set to 2GB. They have a very high amount of email coming in each day. There will be about 80 databases which will be setup between the 2 servers in the DAG and none of them will go any larger than 200GB.
So I was just wondering the best setup for CPU, which I think I will go with 4 cpu's on each mailbox server, and how much memory for this to work well?
I tried the exchange calculator but I cant seem to get it to give me any info. I guess I maybe doing that wrong.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
Well we are going with 2 mailbox servers and 2 CAS servers.
So I figured 4 cpu and 40GB on the mailbox servers.
Should I put the same on the CAS servers or can they be less since the mailbox roles will be on the other 2 server?
So I figured 4 cpu and 40GB on the mailbox servers.
Should I put the same on the CAS servers or can they be less since the mailbox roles will be on the other 2 server?
The CAS servers can have less RAM. I would keep the CPU's the same. Any reason you are not doing multi-role (CAS + MB) servers?
ASKER
Well it was just how they wanted it setup...
This should not be an issue setup this way correct?
This should not be an issue setup this way correct?
CAS only won't need more than 8gb. It is fine to have cas/hub on two servers and mbx separated. Also, going beyond 32gb for exchange 2010 is a bit much even for multirole servers. Exchange will use everything you throw at it, but performance gains after 32gb are close to nil.
ASKER
Ok thanks that's why I decided to go with 24GB on the mailbox servers and 8GB on the CAS...
ASKER
I am going to have 4 mailbox server now with 24GB and 4 cores..
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
Sembee,
Well the config is going to be 4 mailbox servers and 2 CAS servers..
Does Microsoft frown on this setup if we don't want to use a Load balancer?
Well the config is going to be 4 mailbox servers and 2 CAS servers..
Does Microsoft frown on this setup if we don't want to use a Load balancer?
ASKER
Sembee,
What if I or can I use the CAS servers as mailbox also by installing the mailbox role on them since they already have the CAS and Hub?
What if I or can I use the CAS servers as mailbox also by installing the mailbox role on them since they already have the CAS and Hub?
Multi-role is CAS+HT+Mailbox roles all on same server. There is nothing wrong with doing that. also a hardware Load Balancer is recommended for Exchange Server 2010 but not required.
ASKER
David what I am asking is right now I have 2 mailbox servers and 2 CAS servers. Can I take the 2 CAS servers and add the mailbox role to them making 4 total servers with all of the roles and if so does that keep all of my CAS setting in tact?
Then I would add the CAS and Hub roles also to the 2 existing mailbox servers if that is correct also?
Then I would add the CAS and Hub roles also to the 2 existing mailbox servers if that is correct also?
ASKER
another note to that is I guess if I can add the mailbox role to the 2 already running CAS servers, if that is possible,then I don't really need to add the CAS and HUb to the other 2 existing mailbox servers?
You can add the role to an existing server if you wish.
However my preference is to have all three roles on all servers. I see no reason to split the roles out. I work with some very large clients (100,000 plus) and the best practise is pretty simple:
- all roles on all servers
- keep everything as vanilla as possible
- install everything in the defaults (move the logs and databases)
- make all changes globally - so do not have different configurations on different servers.
- use hardware load balancers.
Microsoft Exchange team don't recommend WINDOWS NLB, not load balancers in general.
http://www.stevieg.org/2010/11/exchange-team-no-longer-recommend-windows-nlb-for-client-access-server-load-balancing/
Simon.
However my preference is to have all three roles on all servers. I see no reason to split the roles out. I work with some very large clients (100,000 plus) and the best practise is pretty simple:
- all roles on all servers
- keep everything as vanilla as possible
- install everything in the defaults (move the logs and databases)
- make all changes globally - so do not have different configurations on different servers.
- use hardware load balancers.
Microsoft Exchange team don't recommend WINDOWS NLB, not load balancers in general.
http://www.stevieg.org/2010/11/exchange-team-no-longer-recommend-windows-nlb-for-client-access-server-load-balancing/
Simon.
ASKER
Simon or whomever would lie to respond,
This is what my plan was for the 4 servers I have already in place now. Let me know if this will work or not?
2 CAS which have the Hub already on them, just add the Mailbox role to them
2 Mailbox servers, just add the CAS and Hub to them.
That would give me 4 servers with all of the roles...
Is this possible to do?
This is what my plan was for the 4 servers I have already in place now. Let me know if this will work or not?
2 CAS which have the Hub already on them, just add the Mailbox role to them
2 Mailbox servers, just add the CAS and Hub to them.
That would give me 4 servers with all of the roles...
Is this possible to do?
That would work fine - you can then spread the mailboxes over the servers.
Do ensure that that you deploy an RPC CAS Array right at the start, so if you do decide to deploy load balancers later it is easy to deploy.
Simon.
Do ensure that that you deploy an RPC CAS Array right at the start, so if you do decide to deploy load balancers later it is easy to deploy.
Simon.
ASKER
Simon,
One more question and then I promise I will close this..
Can I just run with the 2 CAS servers and not have to worry about making the other 2 mailbox servers CAS and can I do this during production, adding these role, without affecting the users??
Sorry that was 2 questions.. :)
One more question and then I promise I will close this..
Can I just run with the 2 CAS servers and not have to worry about making the other 2 mailbox servers CAS and can I do this during production, adding these role, without affecting the users??
Sorry that was 2 questions.. :)
Exchange fuctions differently when cas and mailbox roles are together, so if you have cas and mbx on the same server in part of your environmemt it is best to do it in all the environment. Also, i would schedule downtime for that change. Adding roles may require reboots and could mpact your users.
ASKER
No I don't if you look at my notes from above..
I have 2 Mailbox servers and 2 CAS with Hub servers..
I have 2 Mailbox servers and 2 CAS with Hub servers..
@ acbrown2010
"Exchange fuctions differently when cas and mailbox roles are together"
Really? What changes? I have never seen any differences. Exchange is specifically designed to not care whether the roles are on the same server or not. The only thing that having all of the roles on the same server does is stop you from using WNLB, which is no bad thing.
Simon.
"Exchange fuctions differently when cas and mailbox roles are together"
Really? What changes? I have never seen any differences. Exchange is specifically designed to not care whether the roles are on the same server or not. The only thing that having all of the roles on the same server does is stop you from using WNLB, which is no bad thing.
Simon.
ASKER
solved
ASKER