Hi, I have recently came across to reduce dabatase size using "eseutil /d" utility. Before running this util, the retention period was0 days for mailbox deletion& we deleted mailboxes of 10gb size. The on-line maintenace was forced & completed with following message. But it cleanedonly 501mb free space, instaed of 10gb. We tried restarting exchange services & rerunning online maintenance toget 9.5gb free,; but couldn't. Event Source:MSExchangeIS Mailbox StoreEvent Category:General Event ID:1221Date:7/15/2007Time:5:50:29 PMUser:N/AComputer:Mailserver1Description:The database "First Storage Group\Mailbox Store (Mailserver1)" has 501 megabytes of free space after online defragmentation has terminated. Our questions is: Is there any procedure or method is available to get free space in on-line defrag immedialy e.g.registry change.. Before we run off-line defrag (eseutil /d) Thanks., Techsupport123

Unfortunately as you have correctly pointed out, an online defrag cannot reduce the size of your stores significantly. Instead you must run an ofline defrag. Run the eseutil first, then dont forget to run isinteg as well. As always make a backup (just a file copy if you want) of the database to anouther location in case users complain of lost mail (can happen in large stores not defrag'ed for ages).Pete

Hi, Some of the deletions are not actually performed till a full backup of the information store has been performed. Leif

And, depending on the amount of information that must be reorganized, an online defrag may take several cycles to complete.