Small Business Server - Default Settings for Exchange database file

Question

I don't know whether I am just venting, or looking for affirmation or what, but I just don't understand sometimes why these things aren't better thought out...   The Exchange email database file on a brand new Dell PowerEdge 830, with Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 installed, is located on the c: partition of the server.    >The c: partition is the boot partition, and it is only 12gb in size.  >The d: drive is considered the data partition, and is 700gb in size.   WHY ON EARTH, would the default location for the Exchange mail database be on the c: drive???  Who's brilliant idea was it to decide that?   (ok, I am officially venting now)   Anyhow, it seems that moving the Exchange DB to a new drive isn't a terribly bad ordeal, so if anyone else has this problem, you can find the relocation instructions here...   http://support.microsoft.com/kb/821915/en-us   If Dell or Microsoft either one are reading this post... please do something about such a simple issue.   As an experienced System Admin, this problem isn't really a big deal to me personally, but I am certain that many small business owners/operators, who purchased 'Small Business Server 2003' because it was supposed to be simple and easy to administer, have probably had to deal with this problem and ended up paying someone like me to fix it for them.  I can't say that I don't like getting paid, but then again, I don't think its good customer service to setup your customer to fail either.   OK, I'm off my soapbox now, and I hope that I have at least given someone else a link to the information they may need.  Any responses are appreciated, just so I'll have something fun to read for the next few days.   Thanks, -JCVader99

BBoysza · Answer

That's funny.

You can redirect the db destination in the installer. This is a Dell issue. However, there is no MS file structure on D: (or other drives) for Dell to follow. So, Dell would have to invent that structure, and therefore the SB owner that calls MS for support would need to know where the db is, rather than MS telling them where it is. I'm just thinking out loud. I agree with you, but... :) SBS s u c k s anyway, but the 830 is hella-fast. :)

advdata · Answer

I just signed up for this forum to vent on a related issue. I talked a client into SBS and they chose a Dell 830. They did not want Exchange at all right now but since they were spending grant money they wanted SBS anyway for the future options. The hold-my-hand Dell installer didn't give me the option of not installing Exchange. I was able to move the data files but removing Exchange broke a bunch of things ie: Performance monitoring can't be turned on or it blows up looking for the now gone Exchange server. Using the wizards and web site to join a workstation wipes out the existing Outlook profile and creates one pointed to the non-existant Exchange server.

I now have to rebuild the server and try to break out of the Dell installer. I created a ghost image of the server before I even let it boot or I would be even more mad.

Now does anyone here have any insight on the best way to skip the Dell install and get to the Microsoft SBS install wizard?

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Small Business Server - Default Settings for Exchange database file

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