Exchange Public Folder Database Size

Hi,

One of our clients use their Public folders quite rigorously. They reached the 16GB database limit and Exchange un-mounted everything.

We put the Temporary 1GB fix in place and got them to archive a bunch of data. They got it down to 6GB. I took it offline and ran an offline defragment on the database via:

eseutil /d path-to-pub1.edb

It ran but the pub1.edb is still 15.5GB? Then I read it has to do an online defrag before running an offline defrag? So I left it overnight and ran an offline defrag the next day, still 15.5GB?

This seems wrong to me because supposedly the defrag is supposed to compact if you run it offline isn't it?

The problem is they are trying to backup their Exchange Private database, Public database and all the PST's they archived to but now it doesn't fit on the tape.

They are running Windows 2000 Server with Exchange 2003.

Regards,
Jason

 

Just a shot in the dark but check your bad mail folder.

Ushally Root:\Program Files\Exchsrvr\Mailroot\vsi 1\BadMail

If it has gigs of garbage in it reply back and I have the documents for automatic bad mail empty and how to enable circular logging.

Oh yea check the log files too.

 

Unfortunately that wasn't the case.

The badmail folder only had 3 files of under 50KB each.

Any other suggestions? We aren't using Circular logging but they use Veritas and we backup the whole store and purge logs each night.

Regards,
Jason

 

Hi Jason,

after running the eseutil /d with the path to the pub.edb file, that <should> do an offline defragmentation of that pub database. But, as in your case, it doesn't appear to have worked, so here is how I would troubleshoot it.

I would suggest a couple of things:

1. check the event viewer for the results after an online defragmentation takes place - Application log, event 1221. Check to see how much of "white space" is available after running the online defragmentation. It very well could be that all 15.5 GB is in use.

2. If all 15.5 GB is not in use as indicated by Step 1, then look at why your eseutil /d did not work.

2a. is the .stm file in the same location as the .edb file?
2b. did you point to the correct pub1.edb file?
2c. did you run out of disk space when running the eseutil, and therefore, it didnt complete? (as indicated by the message that pops up in the command windows)
2d. check the event viewer for successful completion of the eseutil /d


Here is some basic info:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=254132

Best Regards,

Desiree

 

Well the offline defrag did work because it went below the 16GB mark and they have 30GB of free space on the hard-disk. The stm and edb files are in the same location.

I'll have to check the event logs for the white space but I am wondering now if it will be something to do with deleted items not being purged. I know there is deleted item options, also I saw something about Zero'ing all deleted page files, or something along those lines. Could it be one of those?

I am at a course all this week and so I will most likely check it next week.

Regards,
Jason