reduce size of mail store 1

[jamesbird]

I've inherited a sbs2003 exchange server, it
s running well BUT with a 9Gig store on a disk with only 600meg free I'm fast running out os space. Before I move the store to a new disk, I'm trying to free up space by archiving old user accounts to pst files, and purging those user accounts - it doesn't seem to make the overall store smaller. I understand there is a MS tool for compacting th edatabase, but it needs space equivilent to 110% of the store before it starts.
What are my options?
Why wont the store reflect the reduction caused by purging old accounts?
Any help appriciated
James

 

[zbnet]

Deleted email is freeing up white space in the store, which stays in the db file, and used for new mail storgae (only when all the white space in the database is used up does the file actually get extended). So you are making a difference, even if you can't see it.

However, because of Single Instance Storage in the db, you might not be making as much difference as you hope. Only one copy of each email is stored, everyone who gets a copy of the email is sent a pointer to the item. Only when all pointers have been deleted, does the store flag the item for actual deletion. And even this doesn't happen until all the Deleted Item Retention counters have expired.

 

[jamesbird]

Thnaks zbnet - makes sense. Do you know, if I reduce the 'retain deleted items' or retain delete mailbox' times, will it work on boxes I've allready deleted?
All the best
James

 

[zbnet]

Yes, reduce those settings and it will apply to any and all deleted items, past or future.

 

[Excalibur1701]

Normally you would run a defrag of your store using eseutil.exe. This will reduce the size of your store.

Unfortunately, I think they recommend have 2 1/2 times the size of your store in free space, because it recreates the store as a new file. With less then a gig of free space left, you are out of luck. Although you can redirect it to another drive if you have one.

 

[DanMIS]

I've redirected it to another server with success, using Exchange 5.5. Drive speed is a major factor in how fast it runs.

Another thing to check is that your backups are successful. Some things won't delete if your backups fail, such as deleting deleted items and mailboxes and log files.

Good luck,
Dan

 

[bustamove]

shorten the deleted item retention may help

 

[58sniper]

Normally you would run a defrag of your store using eseutil.exe.

No - that's NOT NORMAL. Running a defrag is NOT NORMAL.

Freeing up space in the database (creating whitespace) is perfectly normal. That white space will get reused before the size of the files is increased. Look for event 1221 in your application event log to see how much whitespace is in the db.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP

 

[jamesbird]

Are you saying eseutil is likly to cause problems or just doesn't do any good?
I'm unable to use it anyway cos I've not enough free disk space to start.
As we speak I'm making sure that the relocation works on my test server before I do it for real.
All the best
James

 

[58sniper]

Either is possible. Doing a defrag isn't usually necessary.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP