Drive allocation for exchange 2003 Enterprise 4

[Dfig]

We are currently running on Exchange 2003 Standard. We are approaching the 75GB Database limit (SP 2). We want to go to Enterprise. We currently run it on an IBM xSeries 346 Server with 3 x 73 GB 15K drives running Raid 5 and 1 x 146GB drive and 4 GB of memory and 2 Dual Core cpus. I want to run 2003 Enterprise on an IBM X3650 with 6 x 300GB 15K drives with Raid 10 capabilities, 1 quad core cpu with 4GB of memory. The current Exchange Server was pre existing. I want to make the new one more efficient. The old has 1 large volume and 1 single drive for transaction logs. I am trying to determine a good drive configuration. I will have about 700 mailboxes. I would like to spread them over 2 or 3 information stores so I can better manage mailbox size quotas and 1 for public folders. Not being an Exchange heavy I have been trying to find information on drive configurations but you get soo many hits and then you get bogged down with explanations and links within links and on and on. There is no Front End Server. Is it possible to get some suggestions on how to partition or how many volumes I shoul make? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Zelandakh]

If they want any back up on what you are proposing, just send them this way or ask us questions so we can give you ammo.

 

[Dfig]

I am looking into a DS3200 as Davetoo suggested. Now management is kicking around the idea of virtualizing the environment in preparation for a disaster recovery solution down the road. Which if it is going to happen it won't be anytime soon. Should Exchange be kept separate?

 

[TechyMcSe2k]

I would ask that last question in a new post. Virtualizing Exchange...To do or not to do.

 

[58sniper]

Also, it's been discussed here before, so a search may yield the answers.

Pat Richard MVP
Plan for performance, and capacity takes care of itself. Plan for capacity, and suffer poor performance.

http://www.ucblogs.net/blogs/exchange/

 

[Zelandakh]

Someone pass the can opener, we have some worms coming!