I have a single server that we purchased for Exchange 2010, the question is related to server disk setup, I have 8 x 300GB 10k SAS drives. 30 - 40 mailboxesno existing mail server A coworker and are debating the best setup. I was thinking the following but maybe way offline. 2 arrays one for the OS and Exchange install and the second array for the mailbox data. Array 1 would be a 300GB RAID 1 have 3 partitions each of 100GB (1- OS), (2- Page file), (3- Exchange install)Array 2 would be a 1200GB RAID 5 with a hot spare for mailboxes. Would this set up be acceptable? Can you offer and simple suggestions? Oh his suggestion was one RAID 5 and multiple partitions.

I am not a fan of putting the Exchange installation anywhere other than the OS. It is an unnecessary complication. I also try to avoid the use of RAID 5. 1200gb for 40 mailboxes? That is 30gb for each user, is that realistic? If I had been spec-ing the server it would have had four disks only, maybe six if the client had the budget. What I would do is configure four RAID 1 arrays to go for maximum performance. RAID #1 - OS and Exhcange application. RAID #2 - Logs (transaction, message tracking, connectivity etc) RAID #3 - Databases RAID #4 - spare. I wouldn't use a single RAID 5 array. RAID 5 is slow, and will throttle Exchange. Simon. Simon Butler, Exchange MVP Blog | Exchange Resources | In the UK? Hire Me.

I am not a fan of putting the Exchange installation anywhere other than the OS. It is an unnecessary complication. I also try to avoid the use of RAID 5. 1200gb for 40 mailboxes? That is 30gb for each user, is that realistic? If I had been spec-ing the server it would have had four disks only, maybe six if the client had the budget. What I would do is configure four RAID 1 arrays to go for maximum performance. RAID #1 - OS and Exhcange application. RAID #2 - Logs (transaction, message tracking, connectivity etc) RAID #3 - Databases RAID #4 - spare. I wouldn't use a single RAID 5 array. RAID 5 is slow, and will throttle Exchange. Simon. Simon Butler, Exchange MVP Blog | Exchange Resources | In the UK? Hire Me.