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11 Dell EMC SC Series: Microsoft Exchange Server Best Practices | CML1037
SC Series customers who experience large snapshots (75 percent or greater of database size) can consider
the 512 KB page option (not available on SCv2xxx arrays) for their Exchange volumes on the SC Series array
if they are running hybrid or spinning drive systems. This will reduce the number of blocks written to a page,
thus reducing the snapshot sizes. The tradeoff with this smaller page size is reduced storage capacity.
2.3 Storage profiles and Data Progression
Storage profiles were introduced in Storage Center OS (SCOS) 4.2. For SC Series models, the
Recommended storage profile will provide the best Data Progression configuration for most implementations.
Essentially, this storage profile will write new data to RAID10 with snapshot data being placed on RAID5–9.
For SCv2xxx models, either the Balanced or Maximize Efficiency storage profiles are recommended.
Maximize Efficiency provides the most available storage capacity using RAID5/6, while Balanced provides
RAID10 performance on all writes and RAID5/6 for Replays. SCv2xxx models only provide Data Progression
between RAID levels when using Balanced.
2.3.1 Microsoft recommends ReFS for Exchange 2016 database volumes (JBOD)
This recommendation is for JBOD and not SAN volumes and should not be used for Exchange 2016
database and log volumes on SC Series arrays. According to Microsoft guidance in The Exchange 2016
Preferred Architecture, each disk that houses an Exchange database is formatted with ReFS (with the
integrity feature disabled) and the DAG is configured such that AutoReseed formats the disks with ReFS.
2.3.2 Default allocation unit size
Exchange reads and writes to the database in 32 KB chunks. Formatting volumes with the correct default
allocation unit size is also an important best practice. The default allocation unit size of 64 KB is
recommended.
2.3.3 Partition type
GUID Partition Table (GPT) is recommended for Exchange 2016/2019 volumes. Volumes larger than 2 TB
require that GPT is used to access the entire size of the volume. Master Boot Record (MBR), the default
partition type, is also supported but the partition size is limited to less than 2 TB.
2.4 Mailbox server sizing considerations
Understanding user patterns is an important part of determining sizing parameters for any Exchange Server.
Specifically, tools like Jetstress, Profile Analyzer, and LoadGen (described below) can help determine the
best settings for the type of mailbox user, mailbox sizes, and server configuration. By having information such
as mailbox count, required mailbox size, send/receive statistics, and average message size, Jetstress can
use these parameters to run a performance test to simulate how the specific configuration would perform.
Servers should be sized before they are moved into production. This process should include a Jetstress test
to determine if the hardware and disk configurations are suitable for the type and amount of traffic to be
expected. Once a successful Jetstress test is completed, Exchange Server can be installed and client testing
can be performed using LoadGen. LoadGen simulates actual client traffic operations such as sending and
receiving mail, creating calendar appointments, and accessing public folder data. Several other tests are
available as part of the profile configuration and can be customized as necessary.