Defragging a Windows 2003 Web Server a Bad thing?

[derbyp]

I used analyze in the disk defragmenter for our windows 2003 server. It shows that our server is heavily fragmented. It is a Windows 2003 Standard Server, and it runs our company website. Do we need to free up some disk space on the server to make defragging work properly? It takes forever for a defrag to run

I asked our 3rd party server administrator about it, and here is what he told me. I'm just trying to find out if he is correct, or if I'm right to be concerned:

Honestly Paul it really doesn't matter. The defrag is going to optimize access to large chunks of files, something the web server doesn't have.
Being a web server, there are many, many small files the server is dealing with and it doesn't matter where on the disk they are located, fragmented or not. The reason the report is not showing a defragmented drive even after performing the operation is because the majority of files on that server are tiny and also because the server is heavily used not allowing enough quiet time. 

I've had to fix servers before that have had catastrophic failure from doing defrags over and over. I can try it again sometime once I figure out the absolute slowest traffic time out of the month. If it doesn't work the second time I'd say leave well enough alone.

 

[LWComputingMVP]

I don't generally agree with him. Specifically, I've never seen a server fail from "excessive defrags". If it's the disk's time to go, then it's the disks time to go.

I would take the server offline to do the defrag if your server is THAT busy. You might also look into buying a third party defrag tool like Perfect Disk or Diskeeper.

Do you need to free up disk space? Maybe... how much do you have available and how much total space is there?

 

[58sniper]

I agree with lwcomputing. On top of using a 3rd party tool, especially Diskeeper, I'd configure a boot time defrag to optimize things even further.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[derbyp]

Iwcomputing, Our Windows 2003 server has a C drive with 10.17 GB and free space of 4.2 GB. D drive with 91.53 GB and free space of 18.34 GB.

 

[LWComputingMVP]

C sounds fine... D is a little tight, but should still be good enough to defrag with. Manual Defrag - Backup, wipeout, restore. When you try to defrag, what files are listed as being too fragmented?

 

[derbyp]

Iwcomputing, I haven't ran defrag so I do not have that information. I am still waiting to get a response from the person who takes care of this. I am concerned based on the info they provided. I am looking for a general concensus on whether or not defragging isn't that important on a web server.

 

[nsanto17]

I recomend getting diskkeeper...

I have diskkeeper running on all of my servers and it defrags every night with no problems.

Hope this helps.

 

[LWComputingMVP]

Defrag is going to help on any server. Check your baseline to what it is today. (A properly managed server should have periodic baselines done to establish normal resource usage.

Defragging helps on a busy web server - in fact, I would expect it to potentially (though you'll never really be able to tell yourself) lengthen the life of the disk. If the heads don't have to move back and forth as much, that can only help on the wear of the drives. So if you have a busy website, a once a day defrag and potentially improve performance, and as I would see it, improve the life of the disk.

 

[58sniper]

One of the nice things about Diskeeper is that you can exclude directories. This is helpful if you're wanting to defrag, say, and Exchange server. You'd need to exclude the \mdbdata folder (or risk working a full weekend doing a disaster recovery).

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[derbyp]

Iwcomputing, First I would like to thank you for all your help. Here are the C and D drive stats.

Volume (C
Volume size = 10.17 GB
Cluster size = 4 KB
Used space = 5.99 GB
Free space = 4.18 GB
Percent free space = 41 %

Volume fragmentation
Total fragmentation = 26 %
File fragmentation = 41 %
Free space fragmentation = 11 %

File fragmentation
Total files = 143,294
Average file size = 55 KB
Total fragmented files = 4,946
Total excess fragments = 52,859
Average fragments per file = 1.36

Pagefile fragmentation
Pagefile size = 200 MB
Total fragments = 1

Folder fragmentation
Total folders = 2,911
Fragmented folders = 18
Excess folder fragments = 13,373

Master File Table (MFT) fragmentation
Total MFT size = 637 MB
MFT record count = 146,550
Percent MFT in use = 22 %
Total MFT fragments = 60

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fragments File Size Most fragmented files
6,431 29 MB \Program Files\Persits Software\AspEmail\Queue
4,135 17 MB \Program Files\Persits Software\AspEmail\Queue\Incoming
1,321 5 MB \WINDOWS\AP-POOL.LOG
1,267 18 MB \WINDOWS\activePDF
601 38 MB \Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Dr Watson\drwtsn32.log
585 13 MB \RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-97573679-11646972-1822807252-500\Dc2.log
572 2 MB \Documents and Settings\rex\Local Settings\Temp
516 32 MB \Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\lib\rt.jar
410 32 MB \Program Files\activePDF\apTechTools\APLogFiles\AP-POOL.LOG
402 25 MB \Program Files\RadView\TestView\Java\JRE\1.4.2\lib\rt.jar
380 24 MB \WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0\netfx.msi
340 14 MB \RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-97573679-11646972-1822807252-500\Dc3.LOG
337 21 MB \WINDOWS\Installer\517c72cd.msi
273 13 MB \WINDOWS\assembly\NativeImages_v2.0.50727_32\System.Windows.Forms\850a9b95c983eb4893d0bd6b4354a577\System.Windows.Forms.ni.dll
263 16 MB \PerfLogs\Report\System Overview\Current\WEB_200601191656.000\system_perf.blg
238 16 MB \WINDOWS\system32\config\SecEvent.Evt
223 17 MB \Documents and Settings\rex\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{2D44B235-3E4A-4A5F-B8D8-AD623C25163C}\Microsoft\Outlook Express\Inbox.dbx
219 2 MB \Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp
206 13 MB \WINDOWS\system32\config\software.sp
203 13 MB \PerfLogs\Report\File\Current\WEB_200602281224\file_perf.blg
189 17 MB \Documents and Settings\rex\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{2D44B235-3E4A-4A5F-B8D8-AD623C25163C}\Microsoft\Outlook Express\Deleted Items.dbx
185 797 KB \WINDOWS\FaxSetup.log
181 11 MB \WINDOWS\assembly\NativeImages_v2.0.50727_32\System.Web\213903bdcbbb1a499620fee8984ef628\System.Web.ni.dll
179 12 MB \Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\client\classes.jsa
179 11 MB \Program Files\activePDF Portfolio\DocConverter\apdcconv.exe
162 10 MB \WINDOWS\assembly\NativeImages_v2.0.50727_32\System.Design\502d18837dd65146a295c367790282a6\System.Design.ni.dll
160 31 MB \WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\ErrorRep\UserDumps\wtrs.exe.20050914-182332-00.hdmp
155 8 MB \WINDOWS\assembly\NativeImages_v2.0.50727_32\System\adc59158d1cc2f4885760601bdc9e388\System.ni.dll
149 9 MB \PerfLogs\Report\File\Current\WEB_200602281224\file_kernel.etl
140 9 MB \WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386\lang\msmincho.ttc

Volume New Volume (D
Volume size = 91.53 GB
Cluster size = 4 KB
Used space = 73.38 GB
Free space = 18.15 GB
Percent free space = 19 %

Volume fragmentation
Total fragmentation = 40 %
File fragmentation = 78 %
Free space fragmentation = 2 %

File fragmentation
Total files = 344,798
Average file size = 230 KB
Total fragmented files = 2,242
Total excess fragments = 84,018
Average fragments per file = 1.24

Pagefile fragmentation
Pagefile size = 2.00 GB
Total fragments = 1

Folder fragmentation
Total folders = 6,328
Fragmented folders = 22
Excess folder fragments = 1,659

Master File Table (MFT) fragmentation
Total MFT size = 559 MB
MFT record count = 352,116
Percent MFT in use = 61 %
Total MFT fragments = 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fragments File Size Most fragmented files
4,108 227 MB \Program Files\WebTrends Reporting Center\wtm_wtx\cdt\cdt.log
1,488 12 MB \InetPub\

http://wwwroot\pwg\a_thumbs

534 2.42 GB \InetPub\

http://wwwroot\pwg\Longhorn_beta\en_longhorn_beta1_dvd.iso

472 684 MB \InetPub\

http://wwwroot\pwg\proofs_printers\PCA\baltimore_part2.sit

460 244 MB \InetPub\

http://wwwroot\pwg\proofs_printers\PCA\TampaWin06.sit

423 1.19 GB \LogFiles\W3SVC1\2004-2005LogFiles.zip
343 1.02 GB \InetPub\

http://wwwroot\pwg\proofs_printers\PCA\DallasFallWin0607.sit

331 566 MB \InetPub\

http://wwwroot\pwg\proofs_printers\PCA\ConnecticutWinSpr07.sit

296 43 MB \InetPub\

http://wwwroot\pwg\proofs\Connecticut\Connecticut_FallWin06_Pt1rev.pdf

284 251 MB \InetPub\wwwroot\programs\SAV_Corporate_Edition_10[1].0_AllWin_Netware_EN.zip
252 175 MB \LogFiles\W3SVC1\ex060724.log
251 166 MB \LogFiles\W3SVC1\ex060925.log
241 152 MB \LogFiles\W3SVC1\ex060726.log
238 148 MB \LogFiles\W3SVC1\ex060328.log
233 152 MB \LogFiles\W3SVC1\ex060130.log
233 149 MB \LogFiles\W3SVC1\ex060322.log
233 151 MB \LogFiles\W3SVC1\ex060906.log
230 152 MB \LogFiles\W3SVC1\ex061003.log
228 121 MB \LogFiles\W3SVC1\ex061211.log
223 126 MB \InetPub\

http://wwwroot\pwg\proofs\Phoenix\PhoenixSum06.pdf

221 149 MB \LogFiles\W3SVC1\ex060926.log
221 164 MB \LogFiles\W3SVC1\ex060725.log
221 135 MB \LogFiles\W3SVC1\ex060324.log
220 161 MB \LogFiles\W3SVC1\ex060918.log
219 112 MB \LogFiles\W3SVC1\ex061205.log
214 32 MB \InetPub\

http://wwwroot\pwg\proofs\Nashville\EmbassyLOBBYD1.eps

214 126 MB \LogFiles\W3SVC1\ex060619.log
213 151 MB \LogFiles\W3SVC1\ex060905.log
213 157 MB \LogFiles\W3SVC1\ex060327.log
213 149 MB \LogFiles\W3SVC1\ex061023.log