| Author |
Message |
Gavin Hutchinson
Guest
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Posted:
Mon Jun 06, 2005 2:54 pm Post subject:
Exchange 2003 Standard optimum disk configuration |
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Hi,
I have at my disposal a server with 3Gb Memory, XEON processor, 2 x Dual
channel Raid cards and 9 x 15k 36Gb disks. I want to configure the disks for
maximum performance but am unsure to what would be the optimum design: It
will be servicing 250 clients.
My thoughts are as follows:
Option 1
C:\ - System Volume, OS, Exchange System files, Paging File (Raid 1,
Controller0)
D:\ - SMTP and MTA queues (Raid 1, Controller 0)
E:\ - Log Files (Raid 1, Controller 1)
F:\ - Databases
1 Spare drive
Option 2
C:\ - System Volume, OS, Exchange System files, Paging File (Raid 1,
Controller0)
D:\ - Log Files (Raid 1, Controller 0)
E:\ - SMTP, MTA queues and Databases (Raid 5, Controller 1, utilising 4
drives with 1 hot spare.
Option 3
C:\ - System Volume, OS, Exchange System files, Paging File, Log Files (Raid
1, Controller0)
D:\ - SMTP, MTA queues and Databases (Raid 0 + 1, Controller 1, utilising 6
drives)
There are obviously other designs possible and and open to all suggestions.
I am particularly unclear to whether Raid 1 for the Databases will be faster
R/W than Raid 5 or Raid 0+1.
Regards
Gavin
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Brian Desmond [MVP]
Guest
|
Posted:
Tue Jun 07, 2005 12:45 pm Post subject:
Re: Exchange 2003 Standard optimum disk configuration |
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Gavin-
This is my standard config which works really well for any database
application, Exchange inclusive. It's far larger than standard edition will
ever need, even when SP2 comes out, keep in mind.
2x36GB RAID1 - OS, Binaries, Pagefile
2x36GB RAID1 - Exchange Transaction Logs
4x36GB RAID5 - Exchange Database
1x36GB Hot Spare
--
Thanks,
Brian Desmond
Windows Server MVP
www.briandesmond.com
"Gavin Hutchinson" <GavinHutchinson@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:05C25A8A-540A-49C5-838E-EF1594541359@microsoft.com...
| Quote: | Hi,
I have at my disposal a server with 3Gb Memory, XEON processor, 2 x Dual
channel Raid cards and 9 x 15k 36Gb disks. I want to configure the disks
for
maximum performance but am unsure to what would be the optimum design: It
will be servicing 250 clients.
My thoughts are as follows:
Option 1
C:\ - System Volume, OS, Exchange System files, Paging File (Raid 1,
Controller0)
D:\ - SMTP and MTA queues (Raid 1, Controller 0)
E:\ - Log Files (Raid 1, Controller 1)
F:\ - Databases
1 Spare drive
Option 2
C:\ - System Volume, OS, Exchange System files, Paging File (Raid 1,
Controller0)
D:\ - Log Files (Raid 1, Controller 0)
E:\ - SMTP, MTA queues and Databases (Raid 5, Controller 1, utilising 4
drives with 1 hot spare.
Option 3
C:\ - System Volume, OS, Exchange System files, Paging File, Log Files
(Raid
1, Controller0)
D:\ - SMTP, MTA queues and Databases (Raid 0 + 1, Controller 1, utilising
6
drives)
There are obviously other designs possible and and open to all
suggestions.
I am particularly unclear to whether Raid 1 for the Databases will be
faster
R/W than Raid 5 or Raid 0+1.
Regards
Gavin |
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| Back to top |
|
 |
Gavin Hutchinson
Guest
|
Posted:
Tue Jun 07, 2005 1:48 pm Post subject:
Re: Exchange 2003 Standard optimum disk configuration |
|
|
Brian,
Thanks for the information: This has taken away my uncertainty.
Can you answer the question to whether RAID1 has a better R/W speed than
Raid 5?
Regards,
Gavin
"Brian Desmond [MVP]" wrote:
| Quote: | Gavin-
This is my standard config which works really well for any database
application, Exchange inclusive. It's far larger than standard edition will
ever need, even when SP2 comes out, keep in mind.
2x36GB RAID1 - OS, Binaries, Pagefile
2x36GB RAID1 - Exchange Transaction Logs
4x36GB RAID5 - Exchange Database
1x36GB Hot Spare
--
Thanks,
Brian Desmond
Windows Server MVP
www.briandesmond.com
"Gavin Hutchinson" <GavinHutchinson@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:05C25A8A-540A-49C5-838E-EF1594541359@microsoft.com...
Hi,
I have at my disposal a server with 3Gb Memory, XEON processor, 2 x Dual
channel Raid cards and 9 x 15k 36Gb disks. I want to configure the disks
for
maximum performance but am unsure to what would be the optimum design: It
will be servicing 250 clients.
My thoughts are as follows:
Option 1
C:\ - System Volume, OS, Exchange System files, Paging File (Raid 1,
Controller0)
D:\ - SMTP and MTA queues (Raid 1, Controller 0)
E:\ - Log Files (Raid 1, Controller 1)
F:\ - Databases
1 Spare drive
Option 2
C:\ - System Volume, OS, Exchange System files, Paging File (Raid 1,
Controller0)
D:\ - Log Files (Raid 1, Controller 0)
E:\ - SMTP, MTA queues and Databases (Raid 5, Controller 1, utilising 4
drives with 1 hot spare.
Option 3
C:\ - System Volume, OS, Exchange System files, Paging File, Log Files
(Raid
1, Controller0)
D:\ - SMTP, MTA queues and Databases (Raid 0 + 1, Controller 1, utilising
6
drives)
There are obviously other designs possible and and open to all
suggestions.
I am particularly unclear to whether Raid 1 for the Databases will be
faster
R/W than Raid 5 or Raid 0+1.
Regards
Gavin
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| Back to top |
|
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Brian Desmond [MVP]
Guest
|
Posted:
Wed Jun 08, 2005 6:41 am Post subject:
Re: Exchange 2003 Standard optimum disk configuration |
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In general RAID1 is a better write intensive medium, and RAID5 is a better
read intensive medium.
--
Thanks,
Brian Desmond
Windows Server MVP
www.briandesmond.com
"Gavin Hutchinson" <GavinHutchinson@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:8BDCD77C-BE38-4A0E-B91B-280F41AF8F18@microsoft.com...
| Quote: | Brian,
Thanks for the information: This has taken away my uncertainty.
Can you answer the question to whether RAID1 has a better R/W speed than
Raid 5?
Regards,
Gavin
"Brian Desmond [MVP]" wrote:
Gavin-
This is my standard config which works really well for any database
application, Exchange inclusive. It's far larger than standard edition
will
ever need, even when SP2 comes out, keep in mind.
2x36GB RAID1 - OS, Binaries, Pagefile
2x36GB RAID1 - Exchange Transaction Logs
4x36GB RAID5 - Exchange Database
1x36GB Hot Spare
--
Thanks,
Brian Desmond
Windows Server MVP
www.briandesmond.com
"Gavin Hutchinson" <GavinHutchinson@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:05C25A8A-540A-49C5-838E-EF1594541359@microsoft.com...
Hi,
I have at my disposal a server with 3Gb Memory, XEON processor, 2 x
Dual
channel Raid cards and 9 x 15k 36Gb disks. I want to configure the
disks
for
maximum performance but am unsure to what would be the optimum design:
It
will be servicing 250 clients.
My thoughts are as follows:
Option 1
C:\ - System Volume, OS, Exchange System files, Paging File (Raid 1,
Controller0)
D:\ - SMTP and MTA queues (Raid 1, Controller 0)
E:\ - Log Files (Raid 1, Controller 1)
F:\ - Databases
1 Spare drive
Option 2
C:\ - System Volume, OS, Exchange System files, Paging File (Raid 1,
Controller0)
D:\ - Log Files (Raid 1, Controller 0)
E:\ - SMTP, MTA queues and Databases (Raid 5, Controller 1, utilising 4
drives with 1 hot spare.
Option 3
C:\ - System Volume, OS, Exchange System files, Paging File, Log Files
(Raid
1, Controller0)
D:\ - SMTP, MTA queues and Databases (Raid 0 + 1, Controller 1,
utilising
6
drives)
There are obviously other designs possible and and open to all
suggestions.
I am particularly unclear to whether Raid 1 for the Databases will be
faster
R/W than Raid 5 or Raid 0+1.
Regards
Gavin
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