That should have said "first storage group/store on a 4x146gb 10k SCSI
RAID10 on channel B" :-)

--
Paul Hutchings
Network Administrator, MIRA Ltd.
Tel: 44 (0)24 7635 5378, Fax: 44 (0)24 7635 8378
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul Hutchings 
> Sent: 10 January 2006 20:29
> To: 'Exchange Discussions'
> Subject: RE: Hardware Specs Advise
> 
> Thanks Aaron.  Latest thinking is a ML370 with OS/logs in a 
> RAID1 on channel A on 15k SCSI drives, and the first storage 
> group/store on a 4x146gb 10k SCSI RAID10.
> 
> I'll have a 146gb drive as a global hotspare, and a single 
> 300gb spindle for backups which will then be streamed to tape.
> 
> Hopefully that gives the best combination of 
> price/performance for now, and if we need to expand it should 
> just be a case of bolt on an MSAxx cabinet.
> 
> cheers,
> Paul
> --
> Paul Hutchings
> Network Administrator, MIRA Ltd.
> Tel: 44 (0)24 7635 5378, Fax: 44 (0)24 7635 8378
> mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>  
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
> > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On 
> > Behalf Of Aaron Brasslett
> > Sent: 06 January 2006 14:25
> > To: Exchange Discussions
> > Subject: RE: Hardware Specs Advise
> > 
> > I've recently spec'ed a similar hardware config.  However, I 
> > opted for 72.8
> > GB drive for the OS and Logs.  Having the extra space for 
> > logs is a good
> > idea in case you experience a couple of consecutive backup failures.
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Paul Hutchings [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] 
> > Sent: Friday, January 06, 2006 8:51 AM
> > To: Exchange Discussions
> > Subject: RE: Hardware Specs Advise
> > 
> > 
> > Thanks for the reply.
> > 
> > My thinking was hardware RAID1 on the first channel with the 
> > 2x36gb drives,
> > 12gb (or thereabouts) for the OS partition and the rest as a 
> > log partition.
> > 
> > RAID5 on the second channel for the stores.
> > 
> > A full backup would be done every night so I can't see the log
> > drive/partition filling up unless there's a *long* sustained 
> > period without
> > a backup.
> > 
> > I'm trying to think for the future as this hardware has to 
> > last, in theory,
> > for three years - the ML570 looks like it will do what we 
> > want now and also
> > allow some future expandability if we outgrow the chassis.
> > 
> > cheers,
> > Paul
> > --
> > Paul Hutchings
> > Network Administrator, MIRA Ltd.
> > Tel: 44 (0)24 7635 5378, Fax: 44 (0)24 7635 8378
> > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >  
> > 
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On 
> > > Behalf Of Evan Mann
> > > Sent: 06 January 2006 12:57
> > > To: Exchange Discussions
> > > Subject: RE: Hardware Specs Advise
> > > 
> > > If you have a backup failure, your trans logs can fill the
> > > HDD.  If they
> > > fill the boot drive with the OS, you can blue screen the server.
> > > 
> > > If the trans logs fill up a separate drive, exchange services
> > > will stop,
> > > but no server crash.  So, if you are set on single spindle 
> > for the OS
> > > and trans logs, makes ure you use separate partitions.
> > > 
> > > I think the 15k drives are overkill for you OS and trans logs, 
> > > perosnally.  I think you need more space for your trans 
> logs.  With 
> > > only 3 drives for the stores, and one as a hotspare, your talking
> > > a RAID1.  I
> > > suggest you add a 4th drive and run RAID5 + hotspare.
> > > 
> > > Get a RAID controller that supports 128mb of cache (or more).
> > >  I'd get a
> > > dual channel card and run your 2 separate arrays each on their own
> > > channel.  If you opt to add a 3rd array, I'd get a second 
> > card, again
> > > with 128mb of cache or more, so each array has it's own channel.
> > > 
> > > I think your performance will be fine with the box you 
> are talking 
> > > about.  I've got about 400gigs of stores and only 4gigs of 
> > RAM on one 
> > > of my boxes and don't have any issues.  If you run into a 
> > CPU issue, 
> > > you can add a second (assuming your getting a dual proc capable
> > > box, which I
> > > suggest you do)
> > > 
> > > You should look at it this way, Exchange is probably one of 
> > the most 
> > > important boxes in your network, because it runs your 
> > e-mail system, 
> > > and people are heavily reliant on e-mail, and continue to 
> > become more
> > > reliant every day.  If you go overkill now, it will make 
> > the box last
> > > longer down the road.
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On 
> > > Behalf Of Paul
> > > Hutchings
> > > Sent: Friday, January 06, 2006 3:48 AM
> > > To: Exchange Discussions
> > > Subject: Hardware Specs Advise
> > > 
> > > 
> > > I need to spec a replacement Exchange server.
> > > 
> > > It'll be holding approximately 600 mailboxes, usage varies 
> > wildly from 
> > > virtually zero to large attachments etc, it truly is 
> > totally varied. 
> > > We're currently running 5.5 on a Dual 2ghz Xeon with 1gb 
> > RAM and RAID5 
> > > for the store and performance isn't an issue, but because 
> > of lack of 
> > > support for 5.5 we're migrating to 2003.
> > > 
> > > I'm looking at HP hardware.  At the moment on price there 
> > is quite a 
> > > difference between going for an ML570 vs a DL360 with an MSA30 
> > > enclosure
> > > - the ML570 is significantly cheaper.
> > > 
> > > What I'm thinking right now is to go for an ML570 with 4gb 
> > of RAM, and 
> > > on the disk side of things I'm thinking:
> > > 
> > > Internal Channel 1 - 2x36gb 15k SCSI's for the OS + 
> Transaction logs
> > > 
> > > Internal Channel 2 - 3x146gb 10k SCSIs for the Information 
> > Store(s). A 
> > > 146gb drive as a global spare, and a single 300gb 10k 
> > spindle that I 
> > > can dump a backup onto each night using NT backup.
> > > 
> > > I know best practice is separate spindles for the 
> > transaction logs but 
> > > I'm not sure it's necessary for our usage levels, and in this 
> > > configuration the logs would be on a separate channel on the RAID 
> > > controller to the store so possibly we'd get better 
> > performance than 
> > > if the logs were on a separate spool on the same channel as 
> > the store
> > > drives?
> > > 
> > > Raid controller - thinking Smart Array 6402?
> > > 
> > > CPU's - my understanding has always been that Exchange is 
> > not heavily 
> > > CPU bound? I'm thinking a single Dual-Core 2.66ghz 
> > processor should be 
> > > enough?
> > > 
> > > All this box will do is run Windows 2003 Standard, Exchange 2003 
> > > Enterprise, and Trend Scanmail.
> > > 
> > > I'd be grateful for any thoughts.
> > > --
> > > Paul Hutchings
> > > Network Administrator, MIRA Ltd.
> > > Tel: 44 (0)24 7635 5378, Fax: 44 (0)24 7635 8378 
> > > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > > 
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