RAID Controller & Configuration for Exchange 2007 Ent. Ed.

Themask · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 5

Hi,
I will migrate to E2K7 EE in a couple of months. Below is the present E2K3
DB details.

Single E2K3 behind ISA 2004 without FE.
Total Mailbox 250
DB size (edb+stm) 63GB
Single storage group

I am looking for an HP server with an appropriate Array controller that can
accomodate this many mail users with approximately 4-5 storage groups and LCR.

My main objective for this post is to get an opinion regarding the RAID
controller on HP servers.

I want 2 configure E2K7 EE as below on a single server but I am not sure
whether I am right/wrong about the concept or is it a suggested
solution/possible etc.

Total SAS Disk used will be 12x146G 15K as below with 5 RAID groups.

2x146G 15K RAID 1 OS & E2K7 binaries
2x146G 15K RAID 1 LOGS
3x146G 15K RAID 5 E2K7 DB
2x146G 15K RAID 1 LOGS (LCR)
3x146G 15K RAID 5 E2K7 DB (LCR)

If possible, what controller and HP server model will allow me to do this?.
What about the pros and cons?
Any ideas welcome.

Archived from group: microsoft>public>exchange>design

John Fullbright · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 365

As the read/write ratio decreases, the impact of the RAID 5 write penalty is
worse. Back in the Rxchange 5.5 days, whent the read/write ratio was 8:1,
RAID 5 could work. In Exchange 2003, with a 2:1 or 3:1 read/write ratio,
RAID 5 was a poor choice. In Exchange 2007 with outlook clients in cached
mode, you'll se a 1:1 or thereabouts read write ratio. You'll simply use
far more spindles with RAID 5 than you would with RAID 1 or RAID 1; it's a
bad choice. Go with RAID 1 or 10.

"Themask" wrote in message @microsoft.com...
> Hi,
> I will migrate to E2K7 EE in a couple of months. Below is the present
> E2K3
> DB details.
>
> Single E2K3 behind ISA 2004 without FE.
> Total Mailbox 250
> DB size (edb+stm) 63GB
> Single storage group
>
> I am looking for an HP server with an appropriate Array controller that
> can
> accomodate this many mail users with approximately 4-5 storage groups and
> LCR.
>
> My main objective for this post is to get an opinion regarding the RAID
> controller on HP servers.
>
> I want 2 configure E2K7 EE as below on a single server but I am not sure
> whether I am right/wrong about the concept or is it a suggested
> solution/possible etc.
>
> Total SAS Disk used will be 12x146G 15K as below with 5 RAID groups.
>
> 2x146G 15K RAID 1 OS & E2K7 binaries
> 2x146G 15K RAID 1 LOGS
> 3x146G 15K RAID 5 E2K7 DB
> 2x146G 15K RAID 1 LOGS (LCR)
> 3x146G 15K RAID 5 E2K7 DB (LCR)
>
> If possible, what controller and HP server model will allow me to do
> this?.
> What about the pros and cons?
> Any ideas welcome.
>

Oliver Moazzezi [MVP] · Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 583

Take a look at the 2007 storage calculator too, here:
http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2007/01/15/432207.aspx

It will help you design your IO requirements.

Oliver

Brian Desmond [MVP] · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 10

With that many spindles you're going to be looking at some sort of external
array - probably one of the MSA boxes. I don't know the SmartArray part
numbers anymore.

What are you looking to gain with LCR? Putting it all in one box/one
controller makes it somewhat of a moot point IMO.

--
Thanks,
Brian Desmond
Windows Server MVP - Directory Services

www.briandesmond.com

"Themask" wrote in message @microsoft.com...
> Hi,
> I will migrate to E2K7 EE in a couple of months. Below is the present
> E2K3
> DB details.
>
> Single E2K3 behind ISA 2004 without FE.
> Total Mailbox 250
> DB size (edb+stm) 63GB
> Single storage group
>
> I am looking for an HP server with an appropriate Array controller that
> can
> accomodate this many mail users with approximately 4-5 storage groups and
> LCR.
>
> My main objective for this post is to get an opinion regarding the RAID
> controller on HP servers.
>
> I want 2 configure E2K7 EE as below on a single server but I am not sure
> whether I am right/wrong about the concept or is it a suggested
> solution/possible etc.
>
> Total SAS Disk used will be 12x146G 15K as below with 5 RAID groups.
>
> 2x146G 15K RAID 1 OS & E2K7 binaries
> 2x146G 15K RAID 1 LOGS
> 3x146G 15K RAID 5 E2K7 DB
> 2x146G 15K RAID 1 LOGS (LCR)
> 3x146G 15K RAID 5 E2K7 DB (LCR)
>
> If possible, what controller and HP server model will allow me to do
> this?.
> What about the pros and cons?
> Any ideas welcome.
>

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