low disk space on c:\ or m:\... need help resolving (newbie)

[mlchris2]

Newb here...

on Exchange 2k on 2kserver. I have Exchange setup as follows...

(Properties of First Storage Group)
Transaction Log location=D:\MDBDATA
System path location=C:\Program Files\Exchsrvr\mdbdata

(Properties of Mailbox Store)
Exchange database=E:\MDBDATA\priv1.ebd
Exchange Streaming Database=E:\MBDATA\priv1.stm

I have setup partitions/drives as follows;

c:\ = 12GB
d:\ = 15GB
e:\ = 75GB

RAID5 config

I originally planned to have

c:\ for OS and program files
d:\ for logs
e:\ for database(mailboxes and whatever else Exchange)

However it appears that the databases are on C:\... Is this a correct assumption?

Would it be an easy fix to backup Exchange and then repoint the paths as follows?

(Properties of First Storage Group)
Transaction Log location=D:\MDBDATA
System path location=E:\Program Files\Exchsrvr\mdbdata

(Properties of Mailbox Store)
Exchange database=E:\MDBDATA\priv1.ebd
Exchange Streaming Database=E:\MBDATA\priv1.stm

I appriciate the help, I fear the worst that I'm eating drive space on C:\ when I should be using E:\ for mailbox storage...

Mark C.
Network Admin - Digital Draw Network

 

[richyd]

No you should be ok, The mailstore will be the drive which will be going up and down

Exchange database=E:\MDBDATA\priv1.ebd
Exchange Streaming Database=E:\MBDATA\priv1.stm

And your log files are not on C:\

You have a simular setup to us and we dont have a problem with the c: space issues

Hope this helps
Richard

 

[mlchris2]

okay, but I am still a bit unsure...

I know the log files arent on C:\, they are on the D:\... they get purged evernight during backup. That drive is okay.

What I'm still worried about is the space on C:\. Last night when i was checking I had only 3MB free. Now this morning I've got 5.5GB. Can you explain to me why?

Is it possible I move whatever is taking up the space on C:\ and move it to the d:\? I'd rather play it safe than be sorry down the road.

Mark C.
Network Admin - Digital Draw Network

 

[Zelandakh]

what backup product are you using? Could be catalogs filling C. Move the page file to D as well.

 

[richyd]

Check your paging file. You may want to move this off to another partition if your server has a high load.

Is there anything in your event viewer?

Hope this helps.

 

[mlchris2]

I am using a product called esureIT with their exchange plug in. I was performing a NT backup...

I checked the Event Viewer and found a Appliction log that states:

"The database "First Storage Group\Public Folder Store[Server name]" has 1mb of free space after online defragmentation has terminated"

Prior to that I have a entry with;

Information Store Online defragmentation has completed a full pass on database E:\MDBDATA\pub1.edb

I can move the paging file to another drive, but will that solve the issue or just bandaid it?

Is this type of activity normal for Exchange? THere is the M:\ drive, which shows the mailboxes, etc. It has the same free space as the C:\? Is this normal?


Mark C.
Network Admin - Digital Draw Network

 

[rliebsch]

The database message you are getting is from ESEUTIL. It does daily online defragmentation.

I would do a search for *.log on your C: drive. What are the names of the files? Your transaction logs are likely on your C: drive. Everynight, those are purged with the backup. This is how you could go from 3Mb to 5GB. I can't imagine what else would be on the C: drive that would change so drastically.

I'd also check your IIS logs in the system32\LogFiles\W3SVCx. If people are using the OWA a great deal, IIS logs all of that and those can fill a C: drive.

C: and M: will reflect the same free space. This is normal.

Whatever the problem is, this is URGENT. If C: gets to 0, your system will halt. This is very bad and likely to cause nasty corruption with a possible outcome of an unmountable database. (I had this happen Sept2002, very bad week)





Robert Liebsch
Stone Yamashita Partners

http://www.stoneyamashita.com/

 

[mlchris2]

I figured it was part of some maint that was running.

I searched the C:\ for *.log and found 2GB worth of log files. They are spread out all over here is a list;

I am pretty sure the transaction logs are on the D:\... at least that's what Exchange manager says..
(Properties of First Storage Group)
Transaction Log location=D:\MDBDATA
System path location=C:\Program Files\Exchsrvr\mdbdata

We dont have any users using webmail at the current time.

I am going to monitor it for a few days to see what I find.
thanks

Mark C.
Network Admin - Digital Draw Network