Hello all, I have a question about manually moving the database files in Exchange 2003 (Enterprise, SP2, active/passive 2-node cluster). I know the documented procedure is to stop the Information Store, copy over the database files, change the msExchEDBFile and msExchSLVFile attributes for each store to the new database path, then restart the Information Store. I have a large amount of data - 1800 mailboxes totaling 1.6 TB, spread over 4 storage groups and 15 databases. My question is this - rather than stopping the Information Store, which will affect all 1800 mailboxes in the Organization for the entire duration of the database moves, can I leave the Information Store running and just dismount one database, copy over its files, modify its database path attributes, remount the database, then do the same for the next database, and repeat for all databases, one at a time? Or it is absolutely necessary that the Information Store be stopped during this process? If I can do this with just dismounting the databases (Information Store running), then I can perform the database moves in phases, one Storage Group at a time. I can announce an Exchange outage for the SG1 users on one weekend, dismount SG1's databases, move the files; then announce an outage for the SG2 users the next weekend, etc. I'd prefer to break up the moves in this fashion, rather than taking an Exchange outage for the whole company. PS: I need to do this manually because I'm getting the "insufficient system resources exist to complete the requested service" error when I try to move the databases with ESM. Rebooting both cluster nodes did not resolve this, and I'd rather not get rid of the /3GB switch in the boot.ini file, since this is a very busy Exchange server. Thanks in advance....

Lisa,There is not issues with this by dismounting the mailbox store and moving .edb and .stm file to different location. The only issue you mayface while moving the .chk and other temp logfiles in the logfile location for that specific storage group.Arun Kumar | MCSE - 2K3 + Messaging | ITIL-F V3

Arun, Thanks for the quick response! Just to double check - you're saying that stopping the Information Store will not be necessary if I'm going to be dismounting the affected stores? Also, you mentioned potential issues with moving the storage group's checkfile and log files. After moving all database files within a storage group, and before remounting the databases (to prevent new transaction logs from getting generated), I was just going to change the 'Transaction Log Location' and 'System Path Location' settings for the storage group from ESM. Is there something else I need to do in order to completely move over a storage group to new disks? Please let me know if I'm missing something here. Thanks again.....

Hello,If you're trying to change the system path location and transaction log path location of SG then it will automatically dismount the mailbox stores associated with this.So at the time of performing this step you will get a Warning Exchange Dialogue box."You are about to perform the following operation(s)- change Exchange transaction log path location- change Exchange system path locationTo perform the requested oepration(s), all the stores associated with this storage group must be temporarily dismounted which will make them inaccessible to any user.and if you say yes, it will dismount the mailbox store and start moving the logfiles, and if you chagne the same from ADSIEDIT then the changes will only effect by restarting the MSExchangeIS service.But if you move the mailbox/public folder store then you don't have to restart the MSExchangeIS to take effect. Arun Kumar | MCSE - 2K3 + Messaging | ITIL-F V3

I'd also take a look at this KB. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/821915Mark Morowczynski|MCSE 2003:Messaging, Security|MCITP:ES, SA|MCTS:Windows Mobile Admin|Security+|http://almostdailytech.com

Hello,You dont need to stop Information Store service. You could change the settings according to KB 821915. Here is a similar thread for your reference: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/exchangesvradmin/thread/25d6cc7d-92a1-4dc4-b2bc-217f116db78b Thanks, Elvis