Exchange Server Forums
Forums |
Register |
Login |
My Profile |
Inbox |
RSS 
|
My Subscription |
My Forums |
Address Book |
Member List |
Search |
FAQ |
Ticket List |
Log Out
Configuring Multiple Storage Groups and Stores
|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
Logged in as: Guest
|
Login  | |
|
Configuring Multiple Storage Groups and Stores - 11.Jan.2010 12:11:25 PM
|
|
|
VikingLS
Posts: 4
Joined: 5.Jan.2010
Status: offline
|
Exchange 2003 Enterprise SP2. My organization has purchased multiple outside firms and I will need to host each on my Exchange Server. I currently have two information stores within their own storage group (executives, employees), and am looking for some suggestions on how to configure the stores for the other firms we have just purchased.
Do I create a single storage group to contain the firms purchased and then create separate information stores within that group?
My SAN admin wants to give me one large partition - can I locate the information stores for each purchased firm within subdirectories within that same partition, or is that a performance killer?
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Configuring Multiple Storage Groups and Stores - 11.Jan.2010 12:38:00 PM
|
|
|
mark@mvps.org
Posts: 6811
Joined: 9.Jun.2004
From: Philadelphia PA
Status: offline
|
It's irrelevant. Put the users where you want. You've got 19 stores to choose from and where the users are has no bearing on anything.
_____________________________
Mark Arnold (Exchange MVP)
List Moderator
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Configuring Multiple Storage Groups and Stores - 11.Jan.2010 1:44:37 PM
|
|
|
VikingLS
Posts: 4
Joined: 5.Jan.2010
Status: offline
|
I was thinking in mostly in terms of disk performance. Let's say I have the following configuration on the single drive letter (LUN) my SAN Admin assigns to me (M:). Will this have an adverse affect on disk and system performance? Can I place each information store in subfolders of the drive (m:) I am assigned?
M: Subsidiary (Exchange Storage Group)
-----Company A Info Store (m:\co_A)
------------Private Store
------------Public Store
-----Company B Info Store (m:\co_B)
------------Private Store
------------Public Store
-----Company C Info Store (m:\co_C)
------------Private Store
------------Public Store
-----Company D Info Store (m:\co_D)
------------Private Store
------------Public Store
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Configuring Multiple Storage Groups and Stores - 11.Jan.2010 2:05:11 PM
|
|
|
mark@mvps.org
Posts: 6811
Joined: 9.Jun.2004
From: Philadelphia PA
Status: offline
|
That's an even worse idea. Awful.
Can you exactly track the likely performance of each company? If you do what you're thinking of there is a chance that you're going to get odd performance characteristics. If it's all on the same set of spindles presented as a LUN then it's still pointless as splitting up into directories is useless.
You've said nothing so far that makes any sense here. You don't need to so any split on a company basis.
You cannot ask layout questions in this forum because we don't know what SAN you have and what LUNs your admin has given you and how he's carved them up.
Just tell him how many IOPS you need to deliver to the user and he will give the necessary amount of spindles configured in the right way.
Forget all this store/company/directory nonsense. It's IOPS you need to provide. Talk to the SAN admin and focus on that please.
_____________________________
Mark Arnold (Exchange MVP)
List Moderator
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Configuring Multiple Storage Groups and Stores - 11.Jan.2010 2:44:11 PM
|
|
|
VikingLS
Posts: 4
Joined: 5.Jan.2010
Status: offline
|
Okay, so if your corporate server were going to host email for 4 subsidiaries in addition to your own, how do you suggest creating the stores? I need to ensure that downtime on one store doesnt affect all and avoid having lengthy backup times.....
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Configuring Multiple Storage Groups and Stores - 11.Jan.2010 2:51:51 PM
|
|
|
mark@mvps.org
Posts: 6811
Joined: 9.Jun.2004
From: Philadelphia PA
Status: offline
|
Keep the sizes of the stores even. Keep the IO profile of the stores even. Move mailboxes around now and again to rebalance.
Stop thinking at the store level, please.
Lengthy backup times? Huh? You're using a SAN! Don't you have application consistent snapshots?
Again. SPEAK to your SAN admin.
_____________________________
Mark Arnold (Exchange MVP)
List Moderator
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Configuring Multiple Storage Groups and Stores - 17.Feb.2010 10:04:29 PM
|
|
|
@@exch@@
Posts: 25
Joined: 10.Jan.2009
Status: offline
|
Any suggestions or concerns I should be aware of if I upgrade Exchange 2003 Standard to the 2003 Enterprise edition? I acquired the Enterprise Edition and figured that with it I can create a separate Storage Group and resolve some of the space constraints the server has been having. Meaning the database reaching the 75GB limit before dismounting.
Will upgrading retain the current configuration? Is it as easy as the link below states? Do my licenses carry over?
http://www.petri.co.il/upgrading_from_exchange_server_standard_edition_to_the_enterprise_edition.htm
If there aren’t any major concerns and we move forward on this, is there a recommended setup if having multiple Storage Groups?
Example – would it be wrong to have both databases reside on the same partition within the same path.
I have priced out a new 64bit server along with Exchange Server 2010 which we will hold on if we can implement this.
Some insight and/or any documentation that would assist would be appreaciated.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Configuring Multiple Storage Groups and Stores - 18.Feb.2010 7:44:56 AM
|
|
|
mark@mvps.org
Posts: 6811
Joined: 9.Jun.2004
From: Philadelphia PA
Status: offline
|
With Windows 2003 you should create a new storage group and put a new store in it. Then another SG and another store. When you have all four SGs each with one store that's when you go back and add a second store into a storage group (in Windows 2000 the model was one SG, fill it with stores and create a new SG)
In terms of disk, common sense applies. Provide the logs with enough spindles to write to efficiently and at a RAID level that provides the right level of protection. If all of your logs can be handled by a single RAID1 pair then fine, otherwise a couple of RAID1 pairs might be necessary. Don't RAID5 your logs.
_____________________________
Mark Arnold (Exchange MVP)
List Moderator
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Configuring Multiple Storage Groups and Stores - 19.Feb.2010 7:57:44 PM
|
|
|
@@exch@@
Posts: 25
Joined: 10.Jan.2009
Status: offline
|
So the copy of this Enterprise Edition is toast. Is it still available through MS? I am waiting to hear from Dell as I purchased the hardware/software thru them to see if there is way to get a copy and what the cost would be.
The Exchange server has a C:\ 100GB and B:\ 740GB
The B:\Exchange\Database is where the database resides.
C:\Exchange\Logs is where the Transaction Logs reside.
Assumming I can get my hands on a valid version of Exchange Enterprise 2003, run the upgrade and then setup another Storage group, where would it be best to place the Transaction Log path for the 2nd SG and what about the 2nd DB? Can I simply go C:\Exchange\Logs and B:\Exchange\Database2\ ???
Also,
Curious what your views are on running Disk Defrag on servers? I have heard mixed opinions.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Configuring Multiple Storage Groups and Stores - 3.Mar.2010 1:42:59 PM
|
|
|
@@exch@@
Posts: 25
Joined: 10.Jan.2009
Status: offline
|
Since the Enterprise Edition media did not work out on to plan B.
Going off another suggestion.
We have our old Exchange 2003 Standard Edition running on Windows 2003 Server. It is in a different domain and the Storage Group is configured to use the previous company domain name.
What would be the best way to cleanly transition that server to be configured on the current domain and work in conjunction with our current Exchange server?
Hopefully the server does not need to get rebuilt.
Going to power it up today without connectivity and poke around.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Configuring Multiple Storage Groups and Stores - 3.Mar.2010 2:29:27 PM
|
|
|
@@exch@@
Posts: 25
Joined: 10.Jan.2009
Status: offline
|
Is there anyway of achieving without having to reinstall Exchange? If it is recommended to remove and reinstall are there any instructions that I should note in the configuration.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Configuring Multiple Storage Groups and Stores - 3.Mar.2010 2:38:52 PM
|
|
|
mark@mvps.org
Posts: 6811
Joined: 9.Jun.2004
From: Philadelphia PA
Status: offline
|
You can't re-domain a box when Exchange is on it.
Longer option would be to drag all the email out to PST files and then throw the old box away. Do what you want with Exchange on the new box and either give the users a PST file or import it for them. I'd just give them a PST and put a GPO on place that renders it effectively read-only so that they don't try and put more stuff in it.
_____________________________
Mark Arnold (Exchange MVP)
List Moderator
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Configuring Multiple Storage Groups and Stores - 3.Mar.2010 2:55:36 PM
|
|
|
@@exch@@
Posts: 25
Joined: 10.Jan.2009
Status: offline
|
So I should disregard Neko's instructions? If that is the case and I want to use this hardware then I would need to format, reinstall Windows 2003 Server, and reinstall Exchange..correct?
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Configuring Multiple Storage Groups and Stores - 3.Mar.2010 3:30:46 PM
|
|
|
mark@mvps.org
Posts: 6811
Joined: 9.Jun.2004
From: Philadelphia PA
Status: offline
|
Neko's instructions still stand if you need to use that bit of tin and put it as an Exchange server into the new forest.
Mine are ok as a backup (for sure) but also if you end up with an existing Exchange server in the new domain and can just import the data. It all depends on what kit you can get and when.
_____________________________
Mark Arnold (Exchange MVP)
List Moderator
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Configuring Multiple Storage Groups and Stores - 15.Apr.2010 6:50:39 PM
|
|
|
@@exch@@
Posts: 25
Joined: 10.Jan.2009
Status: offline
|
The Enterprise route fell thru.
I rebuilt the server and I am going to install Exchange 2003 Standard on it. So my goal would be to have two Exchange servers both working together with the same configuration. What is the best (easiest) way for me to configure this storage group to have the same configuration as the current/active storage group?
Once configured I would then move some of the mailboxes to this storage group. How would OWA work for the new storage group...would it point to the current setup on the current server?
Do you have an article or some guidelines to follow so that I can achieve this?
Your insight is much appreciated.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Configuring Multiple Storage Groups and Stores - 15.Apr.2010 7:42:25 PM
|
|
|
uemurad
Posts: 8232
Joined: 7.Jan.2004
From: California, USA
Status: offline
|
If the server is joined to the existing domain, then Exchange installed on top of it, it will automatically be part of the same Exchange Organization. The two servers will work together seamlessly as far as internal mail and if you have to move users from one to the other.
OWA is a different story. With two mailbox servers, you either need to connect to the appropriate server or have a FrontEnd server to which you point all OWA connection attempts. In other words, if your mailbox is on ServerA, you have to connect directly with ServerA or have a FrontEnd server (a 3rd server in your case).
_____________________________
Regards,
Dean T. Uemura
Microsoft MVP - Exchange (2007-2011)
exchangeguy.blogspot.com
uemurad@yahoo.com
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Configuring Multiple Storage Groups and Stores - 15.Apr.2010 8:05:30 PM
|
|
|
@@exch@@
Posts: 25
Joined: 10.Jan.2009
Status: offline
|
So once I place Server B into the same domain and then go thru the Exchange install (can't recall) does Exchange auto connect and pull config from Server A or will it ask me to connect and configure accordingly?
If Server A is running IIS along with OWA config and the SSL cert and users currently connect by https://mail.abc.com then how do I direct any mailboxes on Server B to communicate? I know you said connect to the other server but I not clear on what you mean by that. I apologize for my lack of knowledge with this setup but hope that you can point me in the right direction.
thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Configuring Multiple Storage Groups and Stores - 15.Apr.2010 11:39:29 PM
|
|
|
uemurad
Posts: 8232
Joined: 7.Jan.2004
From: California, USA
Status: offline
|
Yes - when you build the server with Windows, you make it a domain member server. When you install Exchange, it will automatically become part of the existing Exchange Organization. You can configure what you need to at that point - what are you envisioning you need to configure?
Since ServerA has the SSL cert, nothing will change for the mailboxes on that server. OWA will still function using https://mail.abc.com.
ServerB does not yet have an SSL cert, so you won't be able to connect securely. You need that server to have its own public IP address, and its own SSL cert (e.g. https://mail2.abc.com). The users will have to connect to the appropriate server to access their mailbox.
The other option is to build a third server and make it a FrontEnd, give that server the public IP address to which https://mail.abc.com points and install the cert. Everyone will continue to connect to OWA with that URL, and it then doesn't matter which of the two mailbox servers (BackEnd servers) actually holds each mailbox.
Does that answer your questions?
_____________________________
Regards,
Dean T. Uemura
Microsoft MVP - Exchange (2007-2011)
exchangeguy.blogspot.com
uemurad@yahoo.com
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
 Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts |
|
Printable Version
