Resize Messaging servers
Hello, Here is our config: Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition x64 - R2 Version 5.2.3790 ServicePack 2 Nu 3790 Type x64 Microsoft Exchange Environnement: Exchange Server 2007 Microsoft Corporation - Version : 08.01.0263.000 - SP1 **** We have 2 Hubcas / 2 Edges / 2 Mailbox servers and we need to resize the C:\ partition on the Hubcas servers and Edges as we don´t have enough space to install the SP2 and some windows 2003 server KB. --> I would like to know what precaution should I take before resizing the C:\ partition? In fact we are going to extend the C:\ partition as the D:\ got enough space. --> What action/check should I run straight after resizing the C:\ (windows services? Health check??) If you any further information, please let me know. Thank you all in advance. Graig
May 27th, 2010 11:41pm

You are taking a risky shot. I will recommend to back up the log files directory and also if possible to take a flat file copy of the DB. If at all possible , take an image of the server, so that you can restore in case of any disaster. I have personalluy done this for couple of webserver using acronis . Also take a system state for the DCs. After resizing, make sure application and security logs are clean. All the services are up and you can mount the stores successfully. Run ExBPA after every thing is up and running.Raj
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May 27th, 2010 11:57pm

Hello, Could you provide me further information about the check I will have to do?? Remember that I will NOT resize the mailbox servers as we have enough space. Mailbox1 - C:\ space 7,50 GO used space 32,2 Go free space Mailbox2- C:\ space 8 Go free space 31 Go free space We will resize/extend the C:\ drive partition on the Hubcas 2 and then Hubcas 1. Afterward same with Edge 1 and then Edge 2. Is that risky?? how can I pass all the mailflow to the hubcas 1 to 2 to run a test?? This operation will be run over the WE. Thanks
May 28th, 2010 2:22pm

Majorly you should back up the IIS on both the CAS/HUB servers. Rest i think , will be fine. Edge, i dont think u need to worry much. If they are on NLB, so to pass the mail through HUB2 , you need to take the IP of NLB and put the HUB2 IP over your mail FW or the EDGE (from where ever ur mails are hitting the HUB servers.).Raj
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May 28th, 2010 7:18pm

The precaution I would take would be to build a new server and move everything to it. What you want to do is too risky for me. -- Ed Crowley MVP "There are seldom good technological solutions to behavioral problems." . "Graiggoriz" wrote in message news:397feb8f-8be9-47c6-b5ae-d6f4577a51eb... Hello, Here is our config: Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition x64 - R2 Version 5.2.3790 ServicePack 2 Nu 3790 Type x64 Microsoft Exchange Environnement: Exchange Server 2007 Microsoft Corporation - Version : 08.01.0263.000 - SP1 **** We have 2 Hubcas / 2 Edges / 2 Mailbox servers and we need to resize the C:\ partition on the Hubcas servers and Edges as we dont have enough space to install the SP2 and some windows 2003 server KB. --> I would like to know what precaution should I take before resizing the C:\ partition? In fact we are going to extend the C:\ partition as the D:\ got enough space. --> What action/check should I run straight after resizing the C:\ (windows services? Health check??) If you any further information, please let me know. Thank you all in advance. Graig Ed Crowley MVP "There are seldom good technological solutions to behavioral problems."
May 29th, 2010 4:45am

Agreed with above comments ! But you can proceed it as you are not going to tuch MBX servers. 1: Are you using RAID 1 in sevrer, If yes then remove one HDD till the final operation finish, and you can revert back if you have one HDD removed 2: As you are using two HUB , its very good, if one HUB goes down then second will work for mail flow in the site and you can recover second HUB. I don't think much issue about taking backup of HUB/EDGE server, I had issue of crach HUB/CAS during SP2 installation and un-installation without any issue, We don't take any backup of HUB/CAS server.Anil
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May 29th, 2010 8:31am

Hello, Thank you all for your advice. I thought as long as I will not touch anything about the configuration and just extend the C:\ drive partition I was not running such a risk.. The resize will occured server by server (Hubcas2 then hubcas1 + edge2 then edge1) and I will take an image each server to be able to do a roll back in case of disaster. According to the above comment do you really think I take a risk?? I would be willing to follow the best practice/advice. Also can you be more detailed about the check/test I should run after extending/rebooting a messaging server?? Thanks again, Graig
May 29th, 2010 10:34am

Graig, You can check below points. 1: Run EXBPA for each server and check if its give any alerts/error 2: Check mail flow for each server using queue viewer. 3: Check IIS virtual directory seetings for CAS roles 4: Of course . event log will give you more detail if any issue occure. You can post your question here if you have any issue further. Anil
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May 29th, 2010 5:00pm

Hello, Thank you all for your input. Would you agree that not resizing the MAILBOX server will represent less risk. I am not an expert,which is why I post that threat, I though that I long as I was only resizing (extending C;\ drive disk) and not touching any configuration on servers, it won't be risky. In fact Hubcas servers are in NLB and we will start in the second one. We will proceed as is: 1) Copy all data from the D:\ drive onto an external HDD 2) ghost the C:\and D:\ drive 3) boot on livecd that includ an application allowing the rezising (buldows or knoppix) 4) backup the hard disk partition table 5) Deleting the D:\ partition 6) Extending the C:\ partition 7) re-Creating the D:\partition 8) copying the backuped data fom the D drive 9) reboot the machine In case of disaster : restore the hard disk partition table and run the ghost (saved also on external HDD). Afterwards,we will proceed the same way with the HUBCAS 1 (Over the Week end still) and same with Edge2 and Edge1 -->Could you please tell me what do you think about that action plan?Is that really risky?? -->I was wondering how I could changed the mailflow fom Hubcas 1 to 2 (or also from Egde 1 to 2) in order to isolate one server.(E.g I resize only the Hubcas 2 and need to see if that one works.Should I shutdown the hubcas1 or can I configure something to force mailflow to pass by hubcas2 only?) Thanks
May 31st, 2010 10:33am

Hi Graiqqoriz, Per your description, firstly I want to say sorry for that the course is not supported by MS, and it is not recommanded, there maybe some risk. But, I would give you some suggestion, according to the produces, it seems proper, if you have NLB for hub/cas, it would auto force mailflow pass by other working hub/cas server. So you could firsly do it for one of your cas/hub server, and then test it whether it work well, if there is any issue, you could recovery it. Note, you could do all the resize the partion, and then do the update. Above all is my personally opinion, I have used the acronis for exchange server 2003, it seems work, but per my known, if the data is too large in C partion, sometimes the operation would be failed. So, please backup and have a recovery plan firstly. Regards! gavin
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June 2nd, 2010 12:04pm

Thanks to all. I will proceed soon and will get back to you. It might be useful to know the result.. Fingers crossed :-P
June 2nd, 2010 1:39pm

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