I need to add more hard drive space for our exchange 2003 standard server. The problem is the server is on a mirror set with no additional hard drive bays. I am fairly certain I cannot add a hard drive that is larger then the other and expect them to mirror correctly. I am looking for advice of what the best option would be. Do I need to create a backup of the database, buy 2 larger hard drives, reinstall exchange and restore the database or how do I go about doing this? The other option is place it on a virtual server, but the same steps still apply. I am looking for ideas or documentation that may help. Thanks!

Your disk controller may support dynamic drive array expansion where you replace smaller drives with larger ones one at a time. HP's do that from my experience.Ed Crowley MVP "There are seldom good technological solutions to behavioral problems."

depending on what server ypu have, if you do use bigger hard drives, some will mirror but wont use the additional space on the bigger hard drives, they will basically go to waste but the mirror can happen. also may be worth creating a daisy chain if your server has an extra RAID card, hook up a external storage such as MSA. Sukh

HP's would not use the larger space until all drives were upgraded, and then at that time it would expand the physical volume.Ed Crowley MVP "There are seldom good technological solutions to behavioral problems."

Is the best option to restore the database to a new exchange server or does that get complicated? If that is the case, can you provide some documentation?

If you're going to build a new exch server, you could move the mailboxes across to the new server in the evenings and weekend, this would minimise downtime for the users.Sukh

I gave you the best option, if your hardware supports it. The best option is to attach the drives along with the old ones, even if temporarily, move the databases, then do the physical swap. Or buy an expansion chassis. That's my opinion, anyway. Backups and restores can leave you without a working system.Ed Crowley MVP "There are seldom good technological solutions to behavioral problems."

I agree if you're going to build a new server.Ed Crowley MVP "There are seldom good technological solutions to behavioral problems."

Thanks for all of the feedback. The server is a Proliant DL360G4 and I don't know much more regarding the hardware other then it has a smart arrary 6i raid controller configured to use Raid1. Ed- I am trying to follow you. You are saying I can copy the database files to a different system and let exchange point to that location on a temp basis while I build a new server? Is it possible to add a larger hard drive and let it mirror and then convert that disk to dynamic. Add a second identical hard drive and have them both set as dynamic? I know if I add a 160GB hard drive and the other hard drive is only 36 GB, the mirror will not use the extra space, but wondering if you use a dymanic disk if you can add/convert that extra space to be used on the primary partition?

Yes it it possible to replace the drive with a larger one then let it rebuidl and then replace the other one. Then you can increase the logicil volume which will expand the current windows drive. Some info for your. http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00378986/c00378986.pdfSukh

No, using mapped drives for Exchange databases and logs is not supported. You could, however, stand up a temporary server and use it as an iSCSI target, a build-your-own-SAN alternative. StarWind makes a product I've used in my labs for this purpose. I can't guarantee that this will satisfy your server's performance requirements.Ed Crowley MVP "There are seldom good technological solutions to behavioral problems."

Hi, Do you have any update? ThanksPlease remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.