Best file location and disk configuration for Exchange 2003

[cajuntank]

I am installing a new Windows 2003 and Exchange 2003 server and have read several articles regarding hard disks, IOP's, log and database file locations. My situation will be new HP, DELL, does not matter server with 6 SCSI U320 hard drives. 2x36GB (RAID1) for the OS, 2x36GB (RAID1) for logs, and 2x146GB (RAID1) for database. Economics and the fact that I will only have about 300 users stopped anything more. I have also read about array settings (adjusting the stripe size and increasing write caching) and NTFS disk formatting tweaks. My question has to do with smtp queue, page file, temp directory, and indexing file location. Given I have those 3 arrays, what is the best placement for those files? Also, any benefit in partitioning up the arrays for these files, or because they are still on the same logical drive, it doesn't matter? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Zelandakh]

2GB of RAM and I'd say page file and temp on first array. SMTP queue on first array too.

Then it will fly.

 

[58sniper]

I would agree. I'd rather have the paging file on it's own array, but you don't have that here. RAID 5 would have been nice for the store array (talk them into another drive!).

I tend to leave the stripe size and write caching at their defaults. As long as you're using a hardware based RAID controller with a fair amount of RAM on it, you'll be fine. I've had WAY more on WAY less.

Pat Richard, MCSE(2) MCSA:Messaging, CNA(2)