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In a high availability DAG environment with multiple Exchange servers [in this case 2] what is the appropriate process for deleting the merge files?

plafond412
plafond412 asked
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I had this question after viewing Exchange 2013 - Index Merge logs.

I tried rebooting and the files remained.  So are these merge files being replicated (it would seem so) and if so what is the appropriate process for removing them? As stated we have 2 Exchange servers setup with a DAG database.
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Jose Gabriel Ortega CastroCEO Faru Bonon IT /Top Rated Freelancer on Upwork / Photographer
Awarded 2018
Distinguished Expert 2018

Commented:

Hello Plafond412, Thank you for your question.


The problem here is that in the question you referenced there's no "DAG" configuration or specified anywhere, or even multiple servers so I assume that is a single database within a single server. So this "solution" is not viable in your scenario.

Now
here's a more accurate answer related to your question

https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/29111328/Is-it-safe-to-delete-old-Exchange-2013-content-index-files.html

Adam BrownSenior Systems Admin
Top Expert 2010

Commented:

Rebooting (Actually just restarting the search service) will clear only old, committed DAT files in those folders for a single server setup. If you have a DAG, the .DAT files from the other server will be replicated from the other server. If you want to clear those files in a DAG, you need to reboot both servers at the same time, I believe. That said, I've never seen any reason at all to clear them. If you don't have enough space for them and your database, start looking for more storage if you can. 

Network Security Engineer
Distinguished Expert 2018
Commented:
If you are talking about file Index, there's a way for you to do it without rebooting the server.
Just stop these two services.

1- Microsoft Exchange search
1- Microsoft Exchange host controller.

Go to the destination folder and delete the files manually, then afterward start the services.

Cheers,
Adam BrownSenior Systems Admin
Top Expert 2010
Commented:

If you are talking about file Index, there's a way for you to do it without rebooting the server.
                                   Just reboot these two services.
                                   
                                   1- Microsoft Exchange search
                                   1- Microsoft Exchange host controller.
                                   
                                   Go to the destination folder and delete the files manually, then afterward start the services.


Note that in a Dag environment, you have to do this on both servers. Stop services on both, delete files on both, start services on both. Otherwise, just run update-mailboxdatabasecopy <db name> -catalogonly