Dismounting Exchange Stores

Hi All,

I want to run a batch file that will take the exhange "priv1.edb" store
offline, defrag it and then remount it.
I will do the same with the public store but less frequently.

My first thought was to just stop the "Microsoft Exchange Information Store"
service, run the offline defrag, and then restart the service.
Any problems with this method?

Alternativeley, I would prefer to dismount each individual store, do a
defrag and then remount that specific store without affecting the other
stores.

Any ideas would be appreciated?
At first glance, the first method seems a bit rough to me.

Regards
Steve

 

Steve, are you aware that SBS/Exchange already schedules and runs an
automatic online defrag every night? IMO, the oinly time you need to do an
offline defrag is if you have moved or deleted a lot of mail from many
users. Frankly, I've only done offline defrags maybe once at each of my
sites, and that was in preparation for moving the data over to new hardware.

 

Thanks Kevin.

I was aware that exchange does an online defrag each night but I really need
to do an offline defrag at least once every 10 days, ideally once a week.
The reason for this is that we use a couple of apps that use exchange
mailboxes quite heavily. Large amount of deletion and moving of emails in and
out of stores.
To give you an idea, our Physical Store size doesn't change that much(5-6
Gig) but by the end of each week the Logical size of our store is up around
the 16 - 18 Gig mark (SP2).

Like I said it gets a real workout. Any further help would be appreciated.

Regards
Steve

 

In

Every 10 days? Youch. Be aware that eseutil is *not* meant to be run
regularly like this. Your online maintenance will take care of the
whitespace, which Exchange will then happily re-use.

What you're doing is not recommended at all and I'd avoid it. Do regular
online backups, and only do offline backups & eseutil when absolutely,
positively necessary.

 

Are you doing daily backups? Your log files otherwise would be numerous, as
well.

Are you sending large attachments via email (like graphics or CAD drawings)?
If so, I'm not sure that email/Exchange is the best venue for that. But if
this is the setup you need or want, then if it were me, I would want to talk
to an Exchange expert to get some idea as to what is the best way of
handling this.

--
Kevin Weilbacher [SBS-MVP]
"The days pass by so quickly now, the nights are seldom long"

 

Thanks Lanwrench,

Any ideas as to what my other options are other than increasing the database
size when I get this Warning..

"Exchange store 'First Storage Group\Mailbox Store (SERVER1)': The logical
size of this database (the logical size equals the physical size of the .edb
file and the .stm file minus the logical free space in each) is 18 GB. This
database size has exceeded the size limit of 18 GB.

If the logical size of this database is not reduced to less than the maximum
size limit, this database will be dismounted the next time a database size
check is performed. "

Subsequently our store is dismounted if I don't do anything.

Any ideas appreciated.

Steve

 

Kevin,

we are doing daily backups as well as snapshotting the system using Symantec
Livestate Recover Advanced Server every 2 hours.
Your right, our log files are plentiful.

I will look into both yours and Lanwrenches knowledgable comments and see
where I go from here.

Although I will not be implementing my original strategy until I have had
more time to look into it, I am still interested in knowing if there is a way
to dismount a store from the command line though......Infact is there are way
to perform common exchange tasks from the command line in place of "System
Manager".
The reason for my question on this subject is that I am interested to know
what command line utils other than ESEUTIL are available. I tried Googling it
without any luck.


Thanks for your help.

Steve

 

In

Lanwench, please. ;-)

Yep: see http://hellomate.typepad.com/exchange/2005/11/exchange_2003_s.html

Regardless of your available store size, you need to implement mailbox
quotas (for *all* mailboxes, even if some require exceptions set from the
store defaults you set). Also, you may wish to install more disks & move the
Exchange logs & databases there.

 

Lanwrench,

I just had a couple of questions regarding the use of ESEUTIL due to the
fact that one of my colleagues regulary defrags his site (weekly) using
ESEUTIL.
I have mentioned your caution to him and he has come back with "Why".
Not a question I have an answer for so I was hoping you might be able to
point me in the right direction.

Best Regards
Steve

 

Thanks LanWrench,

I will have a good look into it.

Regards
Steve

 

In

Ahem. There's no "r" in there.

You're welcome, and good luck.

 

In

I think I gave you a pretty good answer - but to elaborate, it is not
something to be undertaken lightly, necessitates that an offline backup be
taken first (unless you work on a temp copy) for safety's sake, results in
downtime, can result in data loss, and most importantly, *is not necessary*
because, like any database, Exchange reuses its own whitespace. There's a
reason there's no pretty GUI or wizard for eseutil or isinteg - it's because
they are not mean to be run on a regular basis as part of daily admin, nor
by those who aren't fully cognizent of the damage they can do. ;-)



Hope this helps.

 

Steve:

How to mount/dismpount storesa via command line:
http://exchange.mvps.org/E2K3/mount a store via cmd.htm

Automating Exchange 2000 Management with Windows Script Host"
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/2000/maintain/ex2kwsh.mspx

--
Kevin Weilbacher [SBS-MVP]
"The days pass by so quickly now, the nights are seldom long"

 

He He....Sorry about that.
Once again thanks for your help.

Steve:-}

 

Hi Steve

You keep calling the Wench a GM mechanic :>) Please note she is NOT Ms Good
Wrench!!

--
Frank McCallister SBS MVP
COMPUMAC

 

Once again...Thanks.

 

In

No worries. You're neither the first, nor, I suspect, the last, to misread
it.

You're most welcome!

 

Frank,

I actually thought LanWrench sound cool as well as a logical name for
someone on this NG. ie Lan Wrench. or should I say that my brain
did!!Hmmmm.......Brain thingy!!

The Wench (if I may call her so) Sounds pretty good to me and was very
helpful as well, all hail the LanWench!!!!

Steve:-}

 

In

 

Kevin,

once again...Thankyou.

Regards
Steve