I run a similar setup as Ken's using strictly VMDK's. I'm inclined to think putting the separating the logs and DB's into separate vmdk's but part of the same VMFS would be good setup and possibly less latency. Although I haven't seen a performance hit, I currently have the logs and db's as individual VMDK's but split between two different VMFS'
Level -- are you using Veam as your only backup for exchange? are you using anything for the stores exclusively? I'm curious how long your backup is taking using Veem and your method since I'm thinking about making the purchase this year. On Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 6:48 PM, Level 5 - Lists <[email protected]> wrote: > My larger client has 4 EQL boxes, and we have 2 running all VMDK and 2 > running all RAW. Performance seemed just fine we had Exchange on the RAW > and > then VMDK for the o/s. We recently upgraded them to Veeam Backups, and > wanted to take advantage of all that and migrated the Exchange into a vmdk > and performance doesn’t seem to have changed from the end user perspective. > Our backup windows shrank by days not hours :) so we are pretty happy . > > We are running @ 750 users, 1.5TB across 4 storage groups. Exchange 2007 > latest sp/hotfixes as of Dec 2010. > > -----Original Message----- > From: Jon D [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Monday, March 14, 2011 10:22 AM > To: NT System Admin Issues > Subject: Re: Exchange Database -- VMDK or RAW? > > Thanks for everyones replies so far. > > More details: > Exchange 2010(all roles). > FC to SAN > Around 300 users. > > I want to increase mailbox limits putting the total databases at around > 750MB - 1TB combined. > > > > Thanks, > Jon > > > > On Mon, Mar 14, 2011 at 10:06 AM, Paul Hutchings < > [email protected]> > wrote: > > Which version of Exchange? > > > > I'm currently planning our move from 2003 to 2010 and really you want > > to run Jetstress to ensure you get the IOPS you want within acceptable > > latency etc. > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Kim Longenbaugh [mailto:[email protected]] > > Sent: 14 March 2011 14:04 > > To: NT System Admin Issues > > Subject: RE: Exchange Database -- VMDK or RAW? > > > > Ok, if it helps, we're using iSCSI over Ethernet, on 1 Gbps > > connections, with about 900 users > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Ken Schaefer [mailto:[email protected]] > > Sent: Monday, March 14, 2011 9:00 AM > > To: NT System Admin Issues > > Subject: RE: Exchange Database -- VMDK or RAW? > > > > Without knowing the parameters of your environment, this isn't really > > that useful. E.g. if you are using iSCSI over Ethernet, then it makes > > a big difference if you are using 1gbps vs 10gbps (depending on the > > environment size). If you only have 100 users, it doesn't matter if > > you are using VMDK vs RAW and iSCSI vs FC. If you have 100,000 users, > > it does. > > > > Cheers > > Ken > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Kim Longenbaugh [mailto:[email protected]] > > Sent: Monday, 14 March 2011 9:42 PM > > To: NT System Admin Issues > > Subject: RE: Exchange Database -- VMDK or RAW? > > > > We use the MS iSCSI initiator to attach all the Exchange data and log > > drives. There have been no observable performance issues doing so in > > our environment. > > > > Use Dell's "extpart.exe" for 2003, or the W2008 native "diskpart", > > we've been able to grow the drives on the fly when we needed to add > > space for some reason. I know you can do the same with VMDK files, > > but don't have any experience with RAW drives. > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Jon D [mailto:[email protected]] > > Sent: Monday, March 14, 2011 8:31 AM > > To: NT System Admin Issues > > Subject: Exchange Database -- VMDK or RAW? > > > > For those who have your Exchange boxes inside of VMWare, did you put > > your databases inside VMDK files, or did you go RAW? > > VMDK seems like it would be easier to manage, but I'm wondering about > > size issues, performance, etc. > > > > > > > > Thanks, > > Jon > > > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ > > <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > > > --- > > To manage subscriptions click here: > > http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ > > or send an email to [email protected] > > with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin > > > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ > > <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > > > --- > > To manage subscriptions click here: > > http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ > > or send an email to [email protected] > > with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin > > > > > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ > > <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > > > --- > > To manage subscriptions click here: > > http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ > > or send an email to [email protected] > > with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin > > > > > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ > > <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > > > --- > > To manage subscriptions click here: > > http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ > > or send an email to [email protected] > > with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin > > > > > > -- > > MIRA Ltd > > > > Watling Street, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV10 0TU, England Registered > > in England and Wales No. 402570 VAT Registration GB 100 1464 84 > > > > The contents of this e-mail are confidential and are solely for the use > of > the intended recipient. 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You should not copy, > forward or otherwise disclose the content of the e-mail as this is > prohibited. > > > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ > > <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > > > --- > > To manage subscriptions click here: > > http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ > > or send an email to [email protected] > > with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin > > > > > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ > <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > --- > To manage subscriptions click here: > http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ > or send an email to [email protected] > with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin > > > > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ > ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > --- > To manage subscriptions click here: > http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ > or send an email to [email protected] > with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to [email protected] with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin
