I have a small exchange setup for 65 mailboxes I want to start archiving on the server. My question is should I create another data base called lets say "Archive" for the archive database of each mailbox separate from the mailbox database? Each mailbox would have two data base locations. The data base now is 42GB They would both be on the same server and the same drive. Just want to keep it as simple as possible.

Thanks in advance

John R 

There really isn't a right or wrong answer here.  One idea when it came to archiving was the ability to get older, less accessed mail, into the archives on separate mailbox databases that would in turn be on separate, slow and cheaper disk.  For 65 users it's not as pressing of a design decision, especially considering its on the same disk.  However, I'd still create a separate database.

* You get to 'segment' off that older mail

* You get the flexibility to move the database to a separate disk later on if you need the capacity.  Which will be a simpler move than moving all 65 archives.

The negatives:

You have 2 DBs, two long files, two indexes to keep track of

Either database growing will effect the other because they are on one disk.

I would recommend getting another disk in the long run though, and if it can be done sooner rather than later, hold off on archiving until you can.