How do I defragment my Exchange 5.5. databases?

A few points before you do this:

1. - The /b switch in eseutil creates a backup of your database in the path location that follows the switch. Make sure that you have enough disk space on that path. For the sake of example, I've put in the path "c:\backup". Change this to wherever you want your database backed up.
2. - You can use the /t switch to have the compacted version of the database reside somewhere other than the orginal database location. If you don't use this switch, make sure that you have free space equal to 110% of the existing database on the drive where the database resides.
3. - If you've never done this before, I highly recommend that you contact Microsoft Premier Support Services and have them walk you through the procedure.
4. - The eseutil can potentially destroy all of the data in your database. I don't warranty anything in this FAQ, so if you screw up your database, it's your fault.



To defragment your Directory Services database (dir.edb):
1. - Back up your Exchange databases.
2. - Stop your Directory Service service by issuing the following command at a command prompt:
net stop msexchangeds
If you are prompted to stop other services, agree to this. Other services that depend up the Directory Service service are the Information Store Service, the Event Service, the MTA and the IMC.
3. - Issue the following command in your .\exchsrvr\bin diretory:
eseutil /b c:\backup /ds
4. - Start your Directory Service service by issuing the following command at a command prompt:
net start msexchangeds
If necessary, the following commands will start the remaining services (issue them in this order):
net start msexchangeis
net start msexchangemta
net start msexchangeimc
net start msexchangees

To defragment your Private Information Store database (priv.edb):
1. - Back up your Exchange databases.
2. - Stop your Information Store service by issuing the following command at a command prompt:
net stop msexchangeis
If you are prompted to stop other services, agree to this. Other services that depend up the Information Store service are the Event Service, the MTA and the IMC.
3. - Issue the following command in your .\exchsrvr\bin diretory:
eseutil /b c:\backup /ispriv
4. - Start your Information Store service by issuing the following command at a command prompt:
net start msexchangeis
If necessary, the following commands will start the remaining services (in this order):
net start msexchangemta
net start msexchangeimc
net start msexchangees

To defragment your Public Information Store database (pub.edb):
1. - Back up your Exchange databases.
2. - Stop your Information Store service by issuing the following command at a command prompt:
net stop msexchangeis
If you are prompted to stop other services, agree to this. Other services that depend up the Information Store service are the Event Service, the MTA and the IMC.
3. - Issue the following command in your .\exchsrvr\bin diretory:
eseutil /b c:\backup /ispub
4. - Start your Information Store service by issuing the following command at a command prompt:
net start msexchangeis
If necessary, the following commands will start the remaining services:
net start msexchangemta
net start msexchangeimc
net start msexchangees


See KB article 192185 for more information.