Storing Documents on the File System

Can anyone tell me how to store the documents on the files system?

Probably, I need some kind of pointer records on the SharePoint content DB that point to the document locations on that file system.

I need the detailed info on how to implement this approach to reduce the size of the contentDB on SQL.

The goal is to reduce the size of the content DB and we know the option of splitting it into the multiple site collections/content DBs but wanted to know the different options.

March 20th, 2015 3:17pm

if you're storing the files on the SQL servers' file system, you're not reducing the disk capacity requirements, just moving them from the MDF's to standalone files.

Additionally, backups become more complicated since you need to grab not just the database, but the files.

what you're talking about is remote blob storage. There are also lots of settings that control when RBS is used and when it is not, which, combined with SP2013's file sharding, can be confusing to configure for the results you desire.

Given what you've stated, I would strongly recommend looking at alternatives.

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March 20th, 2015 3:41pm

I have created a network file server to store all exported files and installed the 3rd party tool called IBM Aspera to do the file replication between the environments/servers.

Because of the content DB size (more than 1 TB for one single content DB now - 4 times more than what MS recommended), we have to either split the site collection/content DB using something like Metalogix or working with the MCS but the cost/time for it is too high.

So we have started discussing the possibility of completely getting rid of the SharePoint but if it is possible to do this with the pointer records while keeping the SharePoint then I think that solution makes sense the most.

Please let me know if anyone have done it and have info on how to.

March 20th, 2015 4:05pm

many companies use remote blob storage... often using the SAN manufacturers' implementation... but I would STRONGLY encourage you to talk with IBM about use of Aspera with RBS.

I would argue that splitting the site collections is *probably* a good thing... there are plenty of tools to provide assistance, but realistically the majority of effort will involve communicating with the users to determine and plan for the implications.

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March 20th, 2015 4:28pm

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