Exchange 2003 / File Server Cluster – Best practice – WHAT IS your OPINION?
I have setup a 2-node Win2k3 cluster with a PowerVault 13 Disk Storage. WE are using this for:
1) Exchange and 2)File/Print services
I have a 2 140GB disk on a RAID 1 for with partitions q: for Quorum and E:
I have the rest of the 11 on a RAID 5 139 TB 1 partion d:
** This will be for 250 USERS Active/Passive Cluster
My Question:
What is your best practice in installing exchange 2003 ?
Would I have to create more partitions on RAID 5 logical drive?
Can I leave it just one big one?
Where would we put the infomation store/Transact logs?
Software/Hardware used:
Software/Hardware used:
ASKED:
August 17, 2005 2:02 PM
UPDATED:
August 28, 2008 8:43 PM
Answer Wiki:
Exchange should be built the same way you would build a SQL Server.
Separate Drives/Spindles:
1. Binary/Page files
2. Transcaction Logs
3. Databases
I would redo the drives to RAID 1 for the first 2 & RAID 5 for the third.
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Go here—> http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/downloads/2003/exbpa/default.mspx this will help you make a good decision on what will work best for your situation.
I would agree with the drive separtion for logs and databases and binaries.
It’s unclear if your doing an Active/Passive exchange and file print or doing A/P exchange plus a stand alone file print.
If you want to be creative do both on the same cluster. Make the Exchage server A/P and define node 1 as it’s primary location and make the File print primary on node 2. This is can be considered active/active clustering depending on how you look at it, but both server are doing work but not the same work.
Ok, guys this is what I have so far :
Spindles LUNS RAID Available Space
0 Quorum RAID 1 139
1
2 EDB RAID 5 279.39
3
4
5 NODE 2 x N/A
6 NODE 1 x N/A
7 LOGS RAID 1 139
8
9 FILES SVS RAID 5
10
11 558.78
12
13
14
15 Processor x n/a
Hopefully you understand that … my boss was pushing to make the EDB storage group a RAID 1 and to put the Transaction logs in the RAID 5 for file services.
What do you guys think about what he wants?? I’m not in agreement. I think is easier to expand space than Exchange…