How often should server be rebooted?

[MJNSBF]

I have an Exchange 2003 server on Windows 2003 Server, with about 125 users. (No fancy config, just the one server) Being a newbie to Exchange, I attended a class where the instructor suggested rebooting the Exchange server weekly. Then I read something that said it was a good idea to reboot every 2 months or so. How often do you reboot your server? I tried finding something from Microsoft, but got pulled to another task before finding anything significant from them.

Thanks!
MJ

 

[xmsre]

In windows 2003 there are very few scenarios that require a reboot, and these tpyically recolve around replacing or updating kernel mode components. After applying a service pack or update a reboot is often required. Aside from this, don't reboot unless you have a specific problem that requires it.

The most common problem scenario that would create a need for a reboot is a memory leak. Some applications are notorious for leaking; Lotus Domino - aka leaky app, and Wquinn Storage Central to name a couple. In this case a reboot is a workaround to free resources stranded by the buggy application. The solution is to make the vendor fix their product. If they can't or won't, find a new product/vendor.

 

[MJNSBF]

Thank you very much xmsre!

 

[fs483]

Also, if you decide or need to reboot a server that runs exchange, you should shutdown the Information Store service before clicking on restart. I always kick myself when I forget because it's the difference of waiting 2 minutes and 25 minutes for the server to reboot ! BTW, I only reboot when a windows update requires it. It's pretty difficult to reboot my servers because there are users online almost 24hrs a day (we have remote offices across multiple time zones).

 

[Digitalcandy]

Akwong:

25 minutes if you dont manually shutdown the IS before a reboot? Something is foul with your setup. I've got ~90 users, and a reboot takes ~1-2 minutes without manually stopping any services.

Dell PowerEdge 2650
Dual Xeon 3.4GHz
4GB RAM


Hell, I've setup lab scenarios where Exchange is on a P4 2.8 with 512MB RAM and it reboots in less than 2 minutes.

 

[zbnet]

akwong, see

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;555025

 

[Koonan]

Exchange 2000 was very slow to shutdown if you didn't stop the Exchange services first. That problem has been fixed in Exchange 2003. Our Exchange 2003 servers shutdown and reboot within a couple minutes. We have about 1500 users on our Exchange servers.

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[Marcs41]

Also see:

http://www.msexchange.org/articles/Speed-up-Exchange-2000-2003-DC-reboot.html

Marc
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