How to Move a Storage Group and Its Database in a CCR Environment

How to Move a Storage Group and Its...

Applies to: Exchange Server 2007 SP1 Topic Last Modified: 2007-01-02

This topic explains how to use the Exchange Management Shell to move a storage group and its databases to an alternate location in a cluster continuous replication (CCR) environment. You can use these procedures to move the first storage group (log files, system files, and database file) to an alternate location before installing the passive node. During any storage group or database file moves, the database in the storage group is dismounted. When moving the database file to an alternate location, you must physically move the file and then update its location using the Move-DatabasePath cmdlet.

Before You Begin

To perform these procedures, you must log on to the active node. To determine which node is the active node, you can run the Get-ClusteredMailboxServerStatus cmdlet. Examine the OperationalMachines parameter in the output of the Get-ClusteredMailboxServerStatus cmdlet. The node name that has the word <Active> to its right is the active node.

To perform thes procedures, the account you use must be delegated the following:

Exchange Server Administrator role and local Administrators group for the target server

For more information about permissions, delegating roles, and the rights that are required to administer Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, see Permission Considerations.

Important:
This procedure can only be performed after the active clustered mailbox role is installed, and before the passive clustered mailbox role is installed. You cannot perform this procedure if the CCR environment already has a passive node configured. For detailed steps on how to move a storage group or database in a CCR environment after a passive node has been added, see How to Move a Storage Group in a CCR Environment and How to Move a Database in a CCR Environment.

Important:

This procedure can only be performed after the active clustered mailbox role is installed, and before the passive clustered mailbox role is installed. You cannot perform this procedure if the CCR environment already has a passive node configured. For detailed steps on how to move a storage group or database in a CCR environment after a passive node has been added, see How to Move a Storage Group in a CCR Environment and How to Move a Database in a CCR Environment.

Procedure

To move a storage group to an alternate location prior to installing the passive node

Open the Exchange Management Shell.

Run the following command:

Move-StorageGroupPath -Identity:<Server\StorageGroupName> -LogFolderPath:<FullPathforLogFiles> -SystemFolderPath:<FullPathforSystemFiles> -ConfigurationOnly:$true

A confirmation prompt appears that asks you to confirm that you want to perform the move action. Type Y and then press ENTER.
A second confirmation prompt appears that indicates that the database in the storage group must be dismounted in order for the move operation to occur. Type Y and then press ENTER.
After you perform this procedure, the database is in a dismounted state. If you also want to move the default location for the database file, leave the database dismounted and perform the procedure below. If you do not want to move the location of the database file, mount the database using either the Exchange Management Console or the Mount-Database cmdlet in the Exchange Management Shell.

To move a database to an alternate location prior to installing the passive node

Use Windows Explorer to move the original default database (Mailbox Database.edb) from its original location to its new location. The default location of the first storage group is a subdirectory of the Exchange installation directory, such as \Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\Mailbox\First Storage Group.
After the move is complete, open the Exchange Management Shell.

Run the following command:

Move-DatabasePath -Identity:<Server\StorageGroupName\DatabaseName> -EdbFilePath:<FullPathandFileNameforDatabaseFile> -ConfigurationOnly:$true

A confirmation prompt appears that asks you to confirm that you want to perform the move action. Type Y and then press ENTER.
Open the Exchange Management Console.
In the console tree, expand Server Configuration and then click Mailbox.
In the result pane, select the clustered mailbox server.
In the work pane, expand First Storage Group and then select the mailbox database.
In the action pane, click Mount database.

For More Information

For more information about the command syntax for the Get-ClusteredMailboxServerStatus cmdlet, see Get-ClusteredMailboxServerStatus.

For more information about mounting a database in a CCR environment, see How to Mount a Database in a CCR Environment.