Moving Store Files to a New Directory
When you install Exchange, Setup creates database files on the same drive as the Exchange program files. To obtain better performance and more storage space, you can move the Exchange databases (mailbox stores and public folder stores) out of the default drive or directory. The stores are dismounted automatically during the move, and will not be available to users.
Tip
Distribute your database drives across many SCSI channels or controllers, but configure them as a single logical drive to minimize SCSI bus saturation.
When you move a store, remember the following:
Use Exchange System Manager on the server on which the stores reside to move the .edb and .stm database files of the stores. Moving these files requires that you specify new file locations on the Database tab of the Properties dialog box (see the figure in the topic, Configuring Store Maintenance and Backup Options).
Perform a normal backup when the move is complete. This process backs up and removes existing transaction log files, and simplifies future recovery operations.
For more information about recovery operations and transaction log files, see Disaster Recovery for Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server.