Exchange Mailbox Size

[GaryCracker]

We are running Exchange 2000 and have recently been clearing large mailboxes down to a resonably size as we are low on space on our server. One mailbox was 400mb which we got down to 20mb! So i was expecting my d: drive (Where exchange mailboxes are stored) to decrease in size but it has not!

Is there something i am missing here? Do i need to do some kind of refresh with exchange?

Thanks in advance!

 

[ACraib]

you need to run an off-line defrag of the database. try using a ESEUTIL /d command. (please make sure you have a full backup before you use this ... just in case.)

 

[GaryCracker]

Thanks for info but is there not a less risky way? How long does this take? Would you have to do it with everyone off the network?

Thanks

 

[ACraib]

the ESEUTIL program is only 'risky' when you use the repair option. I only suggested taking a backup because it's advisable before working on the databases. I've run the util half a dozen time with no problems.

The databases need to be taken off-line via System Manager before you run the util. As for how long it will take .... it depends on the size of your databases, the number and speed of your processors, the speed of your hard disks.

What the util actually does is to create a copy of the existing database but while creating the copy it removes any 'spaces' from the file. Once the copy is complete it will delete the original and the move back the new copy. So you need to make sure you have enough disk space. You should also run full backup after because the new database file will have a different GUID from what the log files believe it should have so taking a full backup will flush the log files for you.

 

[GaryCracker]

Thanks again for your help. When you say take a full backup, do you mean use our normal backup (Which is Arcserve 2000 with exchange module) or is there a backup in exchange aswell!

To dimount the store, you just right click mailbox store in exchange system manager and dismount store. Sorry just want to double check everything before i do it!

Thanks

 

[ACraib]

Your arcserve backup with Exchangem odule will be fine .... there should be an option (I use Backup Exec so it might be slightly different) to flush the exchange logs.

you're correct about using system manager to dismount the store. if it helps in your planning. the last server I did this on was a dual PIII 1Ghz, 1Gb Ram, with 15,000 rpm HD init and a 25Gb database when down to 7Gb in less than an hour.

Hope this helps.

Andrew

 

[GaryCracker]

Thanks Andrew,

That is nearly exactly same spec as our server but our exchange databases are a bit smaller.(Is there a quick way to see the total size of ur exchange database?) Seems to work to great effect!

Thanks again!

 

[ACraib]

the exchange databases are actually made up of two files .... .EDB and .STM .... by default the are stored in \exchsrvr\mdbdata

just perform a search for the mdbdata folder and have a look inside. If you have multiple storage groups on your server you dont have to take then all down. If you have multiple databases in your storage groups you can still take the databases down one at a time but you'll have to wait to perform the backup until all the databases in the storage group have been done first. I always play safe an take them all off-line at the same time. (This is because databases in the same storage group share a common set of transaction logs.)

 

[GaryCracker]

I only have one database. The edb file is 2.69gb and stm is 1.75gb. So would this suggest i have roughly a 4gb database. To perform the backup you dont have to dismount the store? or do you?

To flush the transaction logs, you say this is in Arcserve? Is this essential?

 

[ACraib]

haveing hte exchange agent for Arcserver should allow you to perform an on-line backup. (the backup exec version does anyway.)