Moving Exchange 2003 Databases and Transaction Logs files to a SAN LUN or Virtual Disk

If you want to move log files and/or database files to a LUN, use the following procedures. 

 

1.      Attached the SAN LUN to the Exchange server. One for the Database files and one for the Transactional Logs if at all possible (let's say N: and L:)  If not possible, one LUN will suffice for the Database and Transaction Logs.  How big are the databases and how many mailboxes? Do you have Blackberry in the environment? I ask these questions because I'm thinking of performance optimization as well.

 

2.      Create a Folder Structure similar to the original "Exchsrvr\Mdbdata" file structure for consistency reasons (optional).  But, it is recommended  that you have the Folder structure with these permissions specified:

       

Administrators: Full Control

Authenticated Users: Read and Execute, List Folder Contents, Read

Creator Owner: None

Server Operators: Modify, Read and Execute, List Folder Contents, Read, Write

System: Full Control

 

Note Only assign permissions to the Server Operators group if the Exchange server is a domain controller. Otherwise, assign permissions to the Power Users group. Only domain controllers should have permissions to the built-in Server Operators group. Stand-alone and member servers should have permissions to the built-in Power Users group.

       

        You may also have to grant the following permissions to the root drive that contains the new Mdbdata folder:

 

System: Full Control

 

 

3.      Move the Log Files.  Follow this procedure:

 

        a.      Open ESM (Exchange System Manager)

        b.      Expand the Administrative Groups.  If it does not appear, you need to enable the option to show the Administrative Group.  To allow the Administrative group to be shown, right click on the Exchange Organization and click on Properties and click on select the Display Administrative Group check box.

        c.      Locate the Storage Group(s) where you want to change the path for the log files. Right-Click the Storage Group and then click on Properties.

        d.      In the General tab click the browse button next to the Transaction log location box, and then specify the new drive or folder location for the log files.

 

 

4.      Move the databases Files.  Follow this procedure:

 

1. Open ESM (Exchange System Manager)
2. Expand the Administrative Groups that contains the databases that you want to change.
3. Under Storage Group, right-click the mailbox store or the public folder store that you want to change, and then click on Properties.
4. Click the Database tab.
5. Next to the database that you want to change, click Browse, and then specify the new drive folder location for the files.

You can move the EDB and STM files for the databases.

If the databases are still mounted, you will receive a pop-up window message that informs you of the action that you are about to perform will dismount the stores.  Click YES to dismount the database automatically and move the location.

6. When you finish moving the databases, remount the databases manually.

 

One last note, moving log files or database files invalidates all existing incremental and differential backups; therefore, make a full backup after these changes.

 

Regards,

Alessandro