Data architecture

  • Article

Windows EBS components generate and store data in a variety of formats to support the network users and the server roles and services. These primarily include log files and database entries that use two database engines: SQL Express and Jet.

SQL Express

SQL Express Edition with Advanced Services (SQL Express) includes data management tools and data protection. It stores database entries for several Windows EBS roles. These include:

  • System Center Essentials monitoring and management data

  • System Center Essentials update and software deployment data

  • Forefront TMG logs

  • Windows EBS Administration Console data

If Windows SharePoint Server is installed, SQL Express also contains the databases for the configuration and intranet content associated with this application.

Jet

Microsoft Jet Database Engine is used to manage data that is associated with Exchange Server 2007 and Active Directory Domain Services. The primary data stored using the Jet database engine includes:

  • User mailboxes

  • Active Directory Domain Services data store

  • Exchange Server 2007 Edge Transport configuration data

Flat files

Some of the data that is stored in Windows EBS is maintained as flat files in their native format. These include the following:

  • Windows EBS installation logs

  • The Internet Information Services (IIS) metabase

  • Exchange Server 2007 log files

  • User data stored on the Management Server in the Redirected Documents or My Documents folders

  • User data stored in shared folders