Our Exchange 2007 DB is pretty huge and our server is lacking space to defrag it offline. I believe its possible to recreate this database but not sure how to do this or if this is not the recommended way? I would like to decrease its size without losing any emails, could someone please advise? Many thanks

1. Do you have any extra space on another server? 2. IF so, you can create a new DB on that server and move all the mailboxes and then you can delete this old DB and then re-create it. Thiyagu | MCTS/MCITP - Exchange 2007 | MCSE 2003[Messaging] | http://www.myExchangeWorld.com. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

I dont have extra space on another server but i suppose i could move the db to another hard drive? If i was to do this how would i go about creating the db?

how much white space is there in this server? you can do a defrag itself, while you use eseutil, you have to option to create the temporary edb and stm files on another locatioin and you can use this another drive for this? eseutil /d <edb fle name> /t <temp path loc with file name> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa998863%28EXCHG.80%29.aspxThiyagu | MCTS/MCITP - Exchange 2007 | MCSE 2003[Messaging] | http://www.myExchangeWorld.com. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

There could be close to 50% whitespace. If i use your method then 1. Is the edb file name Mailbox Database? 2. The temp location file name, could this be any name or has it got to be the same name (Mailbox Database)? 3. Could i use UNC paths (part of the temp location)? 4. Would this procedure result in downtime? 5. Finally how long could this take (a rough estimate on 270GB db size)? Thank you

1. yes, the .edb file on the database. 2. the temp file name coulld be any name 3. dont use unc , use drive letters 4. yes, before you do the defrag, you have to dismount the database. 5. usually it take around average 4-5GB per hour to defrag for example eseutil /d c:\database\mailboxdb1.edb /t e:\tempdefrag.edb thanks ThiyaguThiyagu | MCTS/MCITP - Exchange 2007 | MCSE 2003[Messaging] | http://www.myExchangeWorld.com. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Consider creating a new mailbox database on a drive with more space and moving mailboxes to it. That will result in lower risk and less downtime for each user. Do remember that mailbox moves are logged, so be sure to accommodate that in the log volume and/or run frequent backups or enable circular logging (understand the risks before doing this).Ed Crowley MVP "There are seldom good technological solutions to behavioral problems."

@ Ed Thanks, i dont mind the extra time but i feel recreating the database may pose risks than defragging. Two more questions guys, Once the defrag is complete and i have to mount the db again, could i at this point delete the original db and then use the newly defragged db by copying it to the original db location? And if this task is not complete is it easy enough to 'pause' or stop it and remount the original db or once this process starts then i have to wait for it to complete? Thanks again

If you have a SAN, you could use iSCSI to mount another drive with plenty of space to create a new DB on that drive and move the users while doing maintenance on the original DB.

If you have a SAN, you could use iSCSI to mount another drive with plenty of space to create a new DB on that drive and move the users while doing maintenance on the original DB.