Exchange 2010 / VMware 4 storage configuration

esquared1 — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 07:11:57 GMT

I have a 100% virtualized environment (VMware ESX 4) that I deal with, and we are ready to migrate from local disks to a new FAS2020. There is no direct FC connectivity int he FAS2020, it was built out for iSCSI and NFS.

The Exchange installation is small, 2 servers (Mailbox and CAS/Hub) for about 550 mailboxes. The plan is for this configuration to grow to 1000 users within the next 12 months, and that may be done on the single Mailbox server or with a 2nd added.

What I'm looking to find out is the recommendation on how to handle the mailbox stores (DBs/logs) on the FAS2020, some options I've come up with some scnearios:

- Databases/Logs in the same virtual disk with Mailbox role (either VMFS or NFS connected)

- Mailbox role in it's own virtual disk (VMFS or NFS connected), Database and Logs in separate virtual disks (either VMFS or NFS connected)

- Mailbox role in it's own virtual disk (VMFS or NFS connected), Database and Logs in it's own LUN's attached via iSCSI inside the VM

-Am I missing any options?

What do you folks think is best overall? If I want to try and gain deduplication benefits from the filer, does that change the best choice?

Re: Exchange 2010 / VMware 4 storage configuration

sflynn — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 21:23:53 GMT

My recommendation would be the 3rd option

- Mailbox role in it's own virtual disk (VMFS or NFS connected),  Database and Logs in it's own LUN's attached via iSCSI inside the VM

It's best to separate both the database and the logs onto their own physical LUN (passthru straight to the VM itself). Also, are you using SME/SDW at all? Or is this just an initial discussion before moving forward?

Thanks!

Shannon

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Exchange 2010 / VMware 4 storage configuration

Re: Exchange 2010 / VMware 4 storage configuration