Exchange STM file not shrinking

[johnisotank]

Hi all,

I've touched on this subject before but felt it differs from my last post so thought id raise a new thread.

I am concerned that our STM file is going to keep increasing to the point where the databases are full and there doesn't look like there is anyway to stop it.

Setup (75GB Max on SBS 2003). Currently edb file is 50.53gb (Has been for weeks and weeks now) and the STM file is 10.21gb (increasing at 0.1gb per day).

I tried an offline defrag on Sat night but the temp STM file went straight up to 9GB before something caused it to crash.

I was told that the STM file would *eventually* get smaller (or stop increasing) but Im worried that I will leave it too late if i wait for that.

Any advice at all is really appreciated.

Thanks
John

 

[markdmac]

If your users use OWA then it will continue to increase. When a message arrives it comes in to the STM. It should then move to the EDB, however if the email is read via a non mapi client it will stay in the STM forever.

The offline defrag is your best bet for recovering white space. You should find out why it failed.

No matter how you look at it, you have users keeping their mail and the database will grow whether in the EDB or STM. Don't focus on that, focus on getting people to clean out their email or enforce retention policies.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

Work SMARTER not HARDER. The Spider's Parlor's Admin Script Pack is a collection of Administrative scripts designed to make IT Administration easier! Save time, get more work done, get the Admin Script Pack.

 

[johnisotank]

thanks for that reply. very informative.

If there was one user who only ever used OWA and I told him to delete ALL of his e-mails, after the offline defrag would the STM shrink considerably?

Thanks
John

 

[58sniper]

I don't think that's a viable approach. You should look at all users across the board. The STM files is part of the database, just like the EDB file. Getting ALL users to do some house cleaning is a better approach. Mailbox limits were designed to prevent problems caused by excessive mailbox growth.

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/

 

[markdmac]

I agree with Pat that you should attack this across the board, but to answer your question, yes, the STM should then shrink.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

Work SMARTER not HARDER. The Spider's Parlor's Admin Script Pack is a collection of Administrative scripts designed to make IT Administration easier! Save time, get more work done, get the Admin Script Pack.

 

[johnisotank]

Hi again,

thanks for that.

It was just a hypothetical question, I don't actually have a user who only uses OWA, was just looking to get a better understanding of how it works.

I am getting round people now to do some housecleaning.

Thanks again
John