Migrate "White spaced" Exchange data with SME

[vexperts]

Hi,

What happens with the "White spaces" during initial migration with SME?

Given a disk with approx 500 GB size and 400 GB occupied by Exchange databases. A check with Get-MailboxDatabase -Status tells that there is approx 50% "White Space" amount due to an archive operation with a 3rd party tool.

Will the LUN after a migration with SME (from local harddisk to FC attached LUN) only consume approx 200 GB?

thanks

Erich

[spence · Accepted solution]

No.  It simply copies the Exchange database as is.  In order to remove your free space you would need to make a new mailbox database and then use move mailbox cmdlets to remove the white space. 

Note that the white space does not impact NetApp SnapManager backup times as a traditional tape backup would.