EBD file size issue (Reduce)

I need to know what is the procedure to reduce the .edb file size for exchange 2013 and exchange 2010. I delete lots of mailbox from database but still .edb size not decrease.

Please suggest step by step.

February 11th, 2015 11:45pm

1. first check the whitespace on your database using Get-MailboxDatabase "DB Name" | select name, AvailableNewMailboxSpace

2. create a temp DB

3. If the db is part of DAG, please remove it from DAG

4. Move all the mailboxes from original db to temp

5. dismount original db

6. delete edb file and flush all log files

7. mount original db, it will create an empty edb file

8. move back all mailboxes from temp to original

9. add the DB copy

10. dismount and delete temp db

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February 12th, 2015 12:12am

Hi Parvez,

yes, you still can do procedures like that:

Offline defrag - http://blogs.technet.com/b/rmilne/archive/2013/08/23/offline-defrag-and-dag-databases_2c00_-oh-my_2100_.aspx  (running eseutil is the only way I know to reduce the size of an EDB file in use)

Usually, if your sizing is done es casculated by the sizing calculator, I expect you never want to do an offline defrag.

In a more real world-scenario from time to time (once every year or so) you can create a new mailbox database (=new EDB) and move your remaining mailboxes to the new one. After backup retention time then you can go and throw away the old database / database file. You also may use Exchange Online for the temporary store if you do not have enough space on your machine (Exchange 2010/Exchange 2013 only).

That will remove all the whitespace while you do not need to do offline defrag, but it requires some additional space. 

Let me know if it worked.

Regards,
Martin

February 12th, 2015 12:16am

If you can afford some downtime, go with offline defragment.

Otherwise, create a new DB and move mailboxes.

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February 12th, 2015 2:08am

Simply deleting mail will not free up white space as its retained depending on the deleted item retention time. You would need to purge it from the dumpsters of those mailboxes as well.
Ultimately, the best way to reclaim space is to create a new DB and move all the mailboxes to it, then delete the old DB. No downtime that way.
To determine how much true free space you have in the database:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/rmilne/archive/2013/08/20/how-to-check-database-white-space-in-exchange.aspx

Moreover, when need to move mailbox data to another server, you may use this application (http://www.edbtopstutility.org/) that will help you to manage this task without any downtime.

February 12th, 2015 4:40am

Hi Parvez ,

Please check the below mentioned link.

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/office/en-US/b8e66f44-3725-43b9-8af8-f1c9d8400ce6/exchange-2013-database-size-didnt-reduction-after-user-move-another-db?forum=exchangesvrdeploy

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February 12th, 2015 4:43am

I would opt to move the mailboxes.  In exchange 2010, we have online move mailbox, so end users would not have any impact if we move the mailboxes from one database to another database.

February 12th, 2015 5:52am

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