Re: RAID Config for New Exchange 2003 Box

hi Dave.

I wouldn't recommend RAID 0+1 for your implementation. A simple RAID5 setup
will do just fine. The performance increase in using RAID 0+1 will be
negligible. The fault tolerance is not an improvement over RAID5. It's far
more expensive to implement.

I implement Exchange servers in environments similar to yours as:

mirror OS (controller 0)
seperate mirror Logs (controller 0)
RAID5 stores (controller 1) minimum four drives, preferably 5 or 6 just to
spread the operations across more spindles.
either a global hot spare and/or a good support contract (I use Gold support
4x7x24 with Dell)

That's my ideal config anyways. If money is short, combine the OS and logs,
but still keep the stores on their own RAID5. A PE4600 with a split
backplane and drive cage will allow that config. You might have to go to a
PE2600 with a PV220 to do the config above.




"Dave Leonardi" <Cyberaccount72@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:OJUjtC%23YFHA.1868@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Good Afternoon,
>
> I had a question regarding what type of Raid Configuration is most
> likely the best to use with an exchange 2003 Server.
> I was told a Raid 0+1 is the most practical, but I am unaware how to
> layout the disk design. I was wondering if someone can assist with a
> solution and how would I set up the array. I know I'm going to use
> smaller, faster 15K SCSI drives possibly 36Gb. I want to setup the disk
> storage to the best configuration for performance.Thank you.
>
> Brand New DELL PE Server Specs:
>
> Exchange Server 2003
> Win3K Server Enterprise Box
> 4GB Ram
> Unknown Hard Drives, Possibly Six 36GB Drives
>
>
> OS will be mirrored
> Transaction logs will be on their own disks
> Information store will be on their own disks
>
> Information Store is currently about 2-3 GB with minimal growth in future
> 200-250 End Users
>
>


.

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