Hi guys, I'm having a debate with my manager and I want input on two items as well as a reference from Microsoft's website if someone can provide as I could not find anything very useful. Anyways, we have a new server that I was going to migrate our Exchange 2003 server mailboxes to Exchange 2007. The new server I suggested we setup to have 2 disks mirrored for the O/S and the rest in a RAID5 array fro the Database and Logs. I know it's preferable to have the logs separated, but the server doesn't have enough hard drives to do this. He says I'm wasting to much space doing this and to just make it all a RAID5. My question is that I've already explained to him that it's a performance issue doing this and we're not gaining anything, but a small amount of disk space. Is my recommendation valid? Isn't my setup the best practice for a single server setup if I don't have enough disks to create a separate array for the logs? Can anyone provide me with a link from Microsoft which states their recommendation? How much of a performance impact would we see having a 50GB database size and running the entire thing on a RAID5 vs. the Mirror'd OS and RAID5 for Database and Logs? Thanks

It is always good to go for different storage for Log files as it increases performance also faster server recovery time. You need to convince your boss below things mentioned in article. http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=328794 Vinod |CCNA|MCSE 2003 +Messaging|MCTS|ITIL V3|

HI, recommended configuration is place logs, Database and OS in different mirror sets. Using that configuration you dont lose everything if one of set dies. But I seem you don't ability to doit. If you have less users you dont have to worry more than RAID 1.See below Basic configRAID1 OSRAID1 LogsRAID1 Databaseor Download the latest Exchange 2007 Storage Calculator and see what it recommendsResourceExchange 2007 Mailbox Server Role Storage Requirements Calculator Configuring, validating and monitoring your Exchange 2007 storageRegards Chinthaka

I would choose RAID 10 over RAID 5 for betterperformancein Exchange 2007 if possible... Similar discussion for your reference... http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/exchangesvrdeploy/thread/0dba324c-551a-4af5-81c4-e209136920b4 Amit Tank | MVP Exchange Server | MCITP: EMA | MCSA: M | http://ExchangeShare.WordPress.com

Well I have 6 73GB SAS 15k drives. If I do RAID 10 then I'll have to use all the drives and put them all on the same physical array.

Well, the posts in this thread may help for your planning

Unfortunately he's my boss and although I feel I provided a very informative and valid argument. He thinks he knows best and/or just wants to do things his own way. He created a RAID5 with 4 drives and set 2 of them as spares. Lol I wanted to cry when he set 2 as spares.

LOL... :PBest of luck on working with an angel...! :)Amit Tank | MVP Exchange Server | MCITP: EMA | MCSA: M | http://ExchangeShare.WordPress.com