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Exchange 2007 - Stores and Storage Groups

Exchange 2007 Stores and Storage Groups

Instead of having one huge mail store, I advise you to divide, and so rule your Exchange Organization.  Management really is the keyword.  Creating multiple storage groups will greatly improve your control over the Exchange 2007 server mailboxes. 

Topics for Exchange 2007 Storage Groups

• Benefits of Exchange Multiple Stores
• Storage Groups - New Limits
• Managing Your Storage Group and Stores
• Troubleshooting Exchange 2007 Storage Problems
• PowerShell Commands for Storage Groups and Stores
• Summary of Stores and Storage Groups

Benefits of Exchange's Multiple Stores

1. Smaller stores mean that backup completes faster, and that restores are easier to manage.
2. Fewer users will be affected should you need to take one store offline.
3. Each store can have its own policy for mailbox limits.
4. If you have multiple disks, dividing a single store into storage groups will improve performance.  Note that all stores in one storage group share the same log file.
5. Instead of having lots of small Exchange 2007 servers, buy one powerful machine and configure multiple Storage Groups.

Storage Groups - New Limits

The big news for Exchange 2007 storage groups is that the standard edition now has no database limit.  If you remember, in Exchange 2003 it only grow to a maximum of 75 GB.  However, even better news is the increase in storage groups for the Enterprise versions, you can now have up to 50 mailbox stores per server.

Creating More Exchange Storage Groups

Begin by launching the Exchange Management Console. You can actually do this from any server.

1. Expand the Server Configuration container.
2. Select the Mailbox server where you want to create the new storage group.
3. Look in the 'Action pane', choose New Storage Group.
4. All the wizard really needs to know is the name of the new storage group.
5. Take the opportunity to check the options.

Managing Your Storage Group and Stores

Exchange Server 2007 has a new feature called Local Continuous Replication (LCR) for your mailbox storage group.  One consequence of enabling LCR is that you can only have one database in each store.  The idea is to reduce the recovery time for data-level disasters.  LCR works by enabling a quick switch to a second online copy of the data.

Exchange Mailbox Store

One option you may wish to implement is the Journal Recipient.  Exchange 2007 Server can automatically copy every message, what you do is create a special account, and then 'wire up' the mailbox store to this Journal Recipient.

Move a Mailbox

It could not be easier to move a mailbox store, just right click the store and the wizard will guide you through the process to re-house the database.

Mailbox Limits

When you configure mailbox limits, they never seem to work.  This is because they take at least two hours to take effect.  You can enforce a limit immediately by restarting Microsoft Exchange Information Store service.  Rebooting the Exchange 2007 server would have the same effect, but restarting the service is a more intelligent and satisfying solution.

Errors when you mount a database

If you get error messages when you mount a database store, the simple solution is to apply Exchange 2007 Server SP1.  In the event logs you may see evidence such as ID 7011, 7034, 9518, or 9519.  It is possible that these are false positives, and in fact, Exchange 2007 mounted the database without any loss of data.

Troubleshooting Exchange 2007 Storage Problems

Server Stops Responding to a MAPI Client

Exchange Server 2007 sets limits on the number of server objects that MAPI clients can open.  This is a classic trade-off, if you allow Microsoft Outlook client to open unlimited numbers of objects on the server, then a few thoughtless uses can hog the server.  If you choke down the number of objects any one client can open, then you will get lots of Event 9646, indicating that a MAPI client has opened too many objects on the Exchange 2007 server.

As so often these cases, there is a registry setting where you can change the defaults:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeIS\ParametersSystem

You need to create a sub-key called: MaxObjsPerMapiSession

Next, right-click the MaxObjsPerMapiSession that you just created, click New, and then click DWORD Value objtMessage.  In the 'Value' data box, type the new maximum number of objects, say 500.

If you are interested, you could research then add more values, for example: objtStream, objtACLView, objtRulesView, objtFXSrcStrm,  objtFXDstStrm, or objtCStream.

'Windows could not start the Microsoft Exchange Information Store on Local Computer.'

Check the application event log for Event ID messages 1121 and 5000. The root cause is most likely caused by 'Mr Nobody' deleting the default E-mail Address policy, and then creating a new default policy.

The solution to this error 'Windows could not start the Microsoft Information Store', lies with ADSI Edit (not Regedit).  What you need to do is set the attribute msExchPolicyOrder = 2147483647.  This how to navigate to the correct property:

1. CN= Configuration\CN=Services\CN=Microsoft Exchange. Then:
   
   CN=<Organization>\CN=Recipient Policies\CN=E-mail Address Policies
2. Right-click the E-mail Address Policies name, and then select Properties.
3. Find the msExchPolicyOrder attribute, and then click Edit.
4. Set the value of the msExchPolicyOrder attribute to 2147483647.

General Solution to Store Problems

Restart the underlying Exchange 2007 service:

In Services snap-in, in the details pane, locate the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service.

Alternatively, use a PowerShell command:
restart-Service "Microsoft Exchange Information Store"

Exchange Server 2007 is a complex topic, do you need practical hands on training?  As an MCT trainer, I can thoroughly recommend TrainSignal.  In particular, I like the way that TrainSignal cover all learning methods, instructor lead, video and of course text material.  You can either take one module, for example Exchange 2007 or go for a combination of modules.  Learn more about Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 here

PowerShell Commands for Storage Groups and Stores

After launching the Exchange Management Console and looking around, you may find it quicker and easier to type a few PowerShell commands rather than keep drilling down via the GUI.  Here are a few of the many PowerShell commands to configure your Exchange 2007 stores and storage groups.

mount-Database  

Example: Mount-Database -Identity ExchSrv\MgrDatabase  There is also a sister command: dismount-Database.

remove-MailboxDatabase

Example: remove-MailboxDatabase -Identity "OldMgrs"

set-MailboxDatabase  This is the command to set mailbox limits.

Example: Set-MailboxDatabase "MgrDatabase" –IssueWarningQuota 512000000 –ProhibitSendQuota 563200000 –ProhibitSendReceiveQuota 614400000

set-MailboxDatabase has more parameters, for example, you can 'wire up' email journaling.  There is also a family of MailboxPermission commands, which use the verbs add, get or remove. 

Statistics

Two more interesting cmdlets are: get-MailboxFolderStatistics and also get-MailboxStatistics. 

move-DatabasePath  This command requires more parameters, I would favour the GUI unless you are for ever moving mailstore databases.

Summary - Exchange 2007 Storage Groups

Just like its predecessor, each Exchange 2007 store is associated with its own database file, but shares the storage group's log files.  When you install Exchange Server 2007, it creates a storage group named First Storage Group as well as a mailbox store.  Thereafter, you can create additional stores, and modify the parameters associated with a store.

See more Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 topics:

• Exchange 2007 Home   • SP1   • Migration Advice   • Transition Checklist   •Compatibility   • ExBPA

• Install   • Server Roles   • CAS Role   • Hub Transport  • SMTP Connector   • NDRs  • Exchange CCR

• Mailbox Role   • Create Mailbox   • Mailbox Stores   • Recipients   • OWA   • GAL   • Eseutil   • Edge

Please write in if you see errors of any kind.  Please report any factual mistakes, grammatical errors or broken links, I will be happy to not only to correct the fault, but also to give you credit.

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