Multiple Databases 1

[johnisotank]

Hi all,

we have a 75 user license for Exchange 2003 (SBS) and I am half way through migrating users onto this system.

I have increased the size of the database limit to 75GB because we ran out of space on the original 18GB limit fairly fast.

Our server has a 1TB RAID array but I know the 75GB limit will not accomodate all 75 users.

I know one option is to tell people to archive a lot of old stuff but my question is - can I add another database onto my exchange server to effectively give me 150GB or will this new database not interact with our original one?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

John

 

[TechyMcSe2k]

I believe it is a 75GB limit PER DB

Reference:

http://www.petri.co.il/change_store_size_limits_ex2003_sp2.htm

NOTE:
After installing Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2, the default size limit for each Exchange database is 18 GB, but can easily be configured to allow for database size limits of up to 75 GB per database (for the Standard and SBS 2003 versions), or up to 8000 GB (or 8 TB) per database (for the Enterprise version).

 

[TechyMcSe2k]

But if I remember correctly, you can only have two DB's. Public and Mailbox.

 

[Zelandakh]

On SBS, it is essentially Exchange Standard and therefore yes, it has only 1 private and 1 public store.

You can add a second Exchange Server (not SBS) to the mix or replace the SBS with Exchange Enterprise or add Exchange 2007.

 

[johnisotank]

Hi all, sorry for late replies.

From ppl here and googling the limit says 75GB is the maximum for the DATABASE. To be honest I am not sure what the database is referring to.

Inside Exchange System Manager under 'Server' I have a Storage Group ('First Storage Group') and inside that I have a Mailbox Store and a Public Folder Store.

Is the Storage Group the database or is the Mailbox Store the database and the Public Folder Store another database.

Im guessing it is the latter.

So, my plan is to simply create a new mailbox inside my current 'First Storage Group' and this will give me another 75GB for any new users I am adding.

Can anyone foresee a problem with this.

Thanks for any advice
John

 

[johnisotank]

and of course you can't have more than one mailbox in Exchange standard even if you make another storage group and try to put it in there!

bugger!

 

[58sniper]

The mailbox store is the database, as is the public folder store. In SBS/Exchange Standard Edition, you cannot add more mailbox stores. You're limited to one mailbox store with a maximum of 75GB of data.

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]

SBS = 1 mailbox store up to 75GB plus 1 public folder store up to 75GB.

User mailboxes live in the mailbox store.
Public folders live in the public folder store.

If 75 users won't fit into 75GB then your choices are to get them to delete emails or move to Exchange 2003 Enterprise or Exchange 2007.

 

[58sniper]

Which isn't supported on SBS 2003. You'd likely need to transition off of SBS to be in a supported scenario.

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]

Sorry, yes. To clarify, I meant you'd need to install ANOTHER server into the same org and migrate the users.

 

[johnisotank]

Thanks for the replies people,

Our budget isn't that big so I am going to insist users keep their mailboxes smaller and archive regularly.

Thanks again
John

 

[58sniper]

Of course, if you're referring to Outlook "archiving", that brings up a whole other set of issues. But that's probably the only thing you can do if users don't want to clean out their mailboxes. Just don't put the .pst files on a network share.

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]

Preferably don't put them ANYWHERE

 

[johnisotank]

uh oh! I have a network share on the same server as Exchange with the archive pst's.

58Sniper - What is wrong with this?
Zelandkh - Surely you must put them somewhere!?

I have them on network share to make backing them up easier. If the alternative was putting them on peoples own machines then the backups would be a nightmare.

Pls advise
Thanks
John

 

[58sniper]

Microsoft adamantly says don't put .pst files on network shares, and absolutely does not support them.

They are designed for LOCAL access by Outlook only.

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]

That's why I said "preferably"!

There's a utility that does PST syncs from local machine to network when you close Outlook. Don't recall name off the top of my head though.

 

[cckens]

Microsoft PST back up found on this page:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA010875321033.aspx

useful when you absolutely have no other way to archive...



Ken

"cckens is a nick... why the H-E- double-hockey-sticks am I using a nick for a name? Am I afraid of who I am?"
-me
"...don't know why, but I think of chickens when I see that nick...maybe even choking chickens???"
-Tony (wahnula)

 

[johnisotank]

Thanks for all your help,

John

 

[Zelandakh]

A star to Ken for posting that link.