exchange database issues and not a clue 1

[mlchris2]

okay i need some assistance...

my exch2003 server database is at 78GB. keeps going offline. Im getting the event id 1221 that says there is 81mb of free space. if i do a calculation of mb size from ESM, the total space of all mb is 81GB.

will a offline defrag clear up enough space?

if so, how do i run the defrag to a external HD...(not enough space on the server to create the temp db)?

im thinking im pretty much stuck and have to do some major archiving then try the offline degrag

Mark C.

 

[AW78]

are your logs on the same volume as the DB? if so can you try moving them elsewhere to clear enough space?

you need roughly double the space of your database to do an offline defrag.

Allen White MCSE,MCSA,MCITP,MCTS,CCA,CCSP,VCP

http://techieshelp.com

IT Problems? the fix may be here

 

[58sniper]

An offline defrag isn't going to do you any good. If you're getting database dismounts because it exceeds the 75GB mark, there are a couple of options.

1. Upgrade to Enterprise Edition
2. Drop the Deleted Item Retention time
3. Drop the Deleted Mailbox Retention time

If you do either (or both) 2 and 3, you'll need to wait for daily maintenance to take place, as well as a valid backup, before you see any tangible results.

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/

 

[ntinlin]

Additionally add the column within ESM to show the amount of stuff in the Dumpster.

If there isn't much there then make sure your users aren't hanging onto absolutely everything within their Deleted Items folder. i.e Using it as a filing system.
I've seen that many times before.

If that is the case then you will need to be ruthless, i.e. Use the mailbox management tool to purge everything in deleted items over x days old (it can also report for you as well)

or you could use a GPO to force purging of deleted items at Outlook shutdown.

If there isn't much in Dumpster or Deleted Items then you are going to have to appeal to your users better natures to do some housekeeping.

Neill

 

[mlchris2]

I didnt think a Offline defrag would help at this point either.

I have the retentions set to 7 days... about as low as I dare go.

I did ad the deleted items column in ESM and I's sickened!!! Found the problem 19GB in deleted items... Im going to have to be mean it looks like, cause I've asked users before to empty deleted items.

I have a mailbox manager policy, right now it is set to report only. This scares me a little and not sure how this policy works... I will read a little more and make some adjustments.

I came into this environment and found they had no policies in regards to the mail server. I finally after a year was able to convince management that we needed to institute some mail policy... sad that it took the Exchange server almost dying to get here.


Mark C.

 

[ntinlin]

Remember that Deleted Items in ESM = Dumpster, not how much is in the mailbox Deleted Items.

i.e. Something is deleted from Mailbox deleted items or hard deleted from Inbox etc. it then goes into the dumpster.
Will then be deleted after 7 days according to your settings.

The mailbox manager policy is handy. Your best bet is to get a report on say Deleted Items > 14 days old for all mailboxes. That would give you an idea of any hoarders.
Even if you don't use it in anger so to speak it is handy to take to managers to put pressure on users.



It is usually the way unfortunately. :-(

Also might be an idea to check last login times for all your AD accounts. If HR or managers aren't great about telling you about people that have left you might have a lot of 'dead' mailboxes hanging around.
It's often masked by mailbox backups and other apps logging into the mailbox itself but they don't use the underlying AD account.

If you really want to get into the nitty gritty of who is storing how much in individual folders and/or who has loads of unread items do a Search for Glen Scales.
He has a lof ov VERY useful scripts for this type of thing.

Neill

 

[58sniper]

I always implement a GPO that forces the emptying of the Deleted Items when Outlook is closed. Otherwise people use it as a filing method.

When you finally upgrade to a newer version of Exchange, you can just implement retention policies to automatically purge things as well.

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/

 

[mlchris2]

with my new exchange implementation, I will be putting in more policies in regards to exchange.

I did decrease the deleted items retention to one day until I get my new server in. so far cleared up enough space to get my by I believe.

thanks for all your assistance.

Mark C.