When you install Exchange 2000 the default location for your databases and transaction log files will be exchsrvr\MDBDATA. One of the main problems with this is the fact that the log files and databases are located on the same physical drive. For disaster recovery purposes it is strongly recommended that the databases be placed on a completely separate physical drive from the transaction log files.

IMPORTANT: It is strongly recommended that you perform a FULL backup of your Information Store before attempting to alter the location of the transaction logs or databases. When altering the location of these files, the Store(s) will be dismounted making them inaccessible to users.
If the databases are still mounted, you receive the following message:

You are about to perform the following operation(s):

-change Exchange database location

To perform the requested operation(s), the store must be temporarily dismounted which will make it inaccessible to any user.
Do you want to continue?

Whether dealing with the Storage Group or Mailbox and Public Folder stores, the operation will not proceed if files of the types referenced in the Properties dialog already exist.

The move process can also take a considerable amount of time so you may what to schedule this during non-business hours.

The Microsoft Exchange 2000 transaction Log files and System Path are per Storage Group, so it is important to remember that altering the location of these files will dismount all the Stores in that Storage Group during the move process. Once the move is completed, the Stores will be remounted.
In the Exchange System Manager, locate the Storage Group that you would like to modify - in my example (below) the server has only one Storage Group, this is the First Storage Group.

Right click over the Storage Group and select Properties. The Properties dialogue box will now be displayed.

Each Store within your Exchange 2000 server has an EDB file and an STM file. We can alter the location of these files on a Store by Store basis. In Exchange System Manager locate the Store whose files you would like to move.
Right click over the Store and select Properties.
The Properties dialogue box for the Store will now be displayed.

Select the Database tab. You will now notice that we have the ability to alter the location for the Exchange Database which is the EDB file, and the Exchange Streaming Database which is the STM file. It is recommended that when you move these, you move both of them to the same location for the same reason recommended above. For this example, both databases are moved to h:\exchDB.

You can then repeat the operation for the Public Folder Store.

You must grant the following default permissions to the new Mdbdata directory that contains the log files and database files:

• Administrators: Full Control
• Authenticated Users: Read and Execute, List Folder Contents, Read
• Creator Owner: None
• Server Operators: Modify, Read and Execute, List Folder Contents, Read, Write
• System: Full Control

• System: Full Control

Once again it is important to remember that during the move process the Store will be dismounted and users who have mailboxes in that Store will be unable to access their email until the Store has been remounted.

Moving log files or database files invalidates all existing incremental and differential backups, so it is recommended that you make a full backup after these changes.

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Enterprise Edition
• Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, Premium Edition
• Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, Standard Edition
• Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server