How to Use the Db5cfg File to Load Balance System Files for Improved Performance (250826)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Metadirectory Services 2.1
  • Microsoft Metadirectory Services 2.2
  • Zoomit VIA 1.0
  • Zoomit VIA 2.1
This article was previously published under Q250826

SUMMARY

The Db5cfg file is located in the Config folder. This file defines the locations of the main database files in a server that is running Microsoft Metadirectory Services (MMS). If you change some of the values in this file, you can move different portions of the MMS database from their default locations, which may help to alleviate either performance or file size-related problems. This is the only method by which you can reconfigure an MMS database.

MORE INFORMATION

By default, the complete database is installed in the Zoomserv\data\db folder. In the Db5cfg file, the locations of the re-locatable parts of the database are initially commented out, which you can see in the following example of an unmodified Db5cfg file.

Note: The number sign (#) is used to comment out the remainder of the line. 

######################################################################
#FILE:  db5cfg                                                       #
# DATABASE CONFIGURATION FILE                                        #
######################################################################
#
context_prefix                  dc=Microsoft,dc=Com
db5_local_dsa_name              DsaName=testsrv,ou=Applications,dc=Microsoft,dc=Com
db5_local_mta_name              MtaName=MtaName,ou=Applications,dc=Microsoft,dc=Com
db5_local_x400_domain_name	    p=yourPRMD/a=yourADMD/c=yourCo
db5_local_x400_msg_id_sig	    uniqueID
#db5_rel_db_dir 	        path_to_directory
#db5_asn_db_dir                 path_to_directory
#db5_hash_db_dir                path_to_directory
#db5_tran_db_dir                path_to_directory
#db5_fileattr_dir   	        path_to_directory
db5_max_tran_file_size   64000000
maximum_adminpoints_cached      360
maximum_adminlinks_cached       4096
hostname                        testsrv.dns.microsoft.com
Installed                       2.1 Build 0804.000 10/26/1999 14:45:38
Upgraded                        12/20/1999 08:30:07 to 2.1 Build 0804.000

To improve server performance, you can only configure the following list of options:
  • db5_rel_db_dir refers to the location of the Db500.* files.
  • db5_asn_db_dir refers to the location of the ASN1 database file, X500.db.
  • db5_hash_db_dir refers to the location of the hash files: Hash.db, and Hashwild.db.
  • db5_tran_db_dir refers to the location of the transaction files, Viatran.*.
  • db5_max_tran_file_size specifies the total number of bytes that are held within the transaction data files Viatran.000 through Viatran.255. The size of an individual transaction file is fixed at 4 megabytes (MB). The transaction file size default is set to 64000000 bytes (64 MB), which allows for a maximum of sixteen files. You can increase the limit to a maximum of 1 gigabyte (GB), a limit which is set by the following equation:

    256 x 4 MB = 1 GB

WARNING: Db5_fileattr_dir refers to the file-based attributes that are associated with the server. The file-based attributes are located in the Zoomserv\data\db\fileattr folder. You must not relocate this branch of the file system. There are multiple pointers in the MMS database to this location and moving it causes severe database corruption.

For more information, refer to the article, "Concepts and Architecture," at the following Web site:

http://wwd/windows2000/library/howitworks/activedirectory/MMSintro.asp

To move the database files to different drive locations:
  1. Stop MMS.
  2. Edit the Db5cfg file by uncommenting the database type and specifying a path.

    For example: 

    ######################################################################
#FILE:  db5cfg                                                       #
# DATABASE CONFIGURATION FILE                                        #
######################################################################
#
context_prefix                  dc=Microsoft,dc=Com
db5_local_dsa_name              DsaName=testsrv,ou=Applications,dc=Microsoft,dc=Com
db5_local_mta_name              MtaName=MtaName,ou=Applications,dc=Microsoft,dc=Com
db5_local_x400_domain_name	    p=yourPRMD/a=yourADMD/c=yourCo
db5_local_x400_msg_id_sig	    uniqueID
db5_rel_db_dir 	        D:\zoomserv\data\db
#db5_asn_db_dir                 path_to_directory
db5_hash_db_dir         E:\zoomserv\data\db
db5_tran_db_dir         F:\zoomserv\data\db
#db5_fileattr_dir   	        path_to_directory
db5_max_tran_file_size   64000000
maximum_adminpoints_cached      360
maximum_adminlinks_cached       4096
hostname                        testsrv.dns.microsoft.com
Installed                       2.1 Build 0804.000 10/26/1999 14:45:38
Upgraded                        12/20/1999 08:30:07 to 2.1 Build 0804.000

    Note: Some of the files can remain in the default location.
  3. Manually move the database files to the new location that is specified in the Db5cfg file.
  4. Restart the MMS service.
  5. Check the Zoomserv\data\logs\genlogs folder to ensure that the database move was successful and that no errors were logged.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/25/2006
Keywords:kbenv kbinfo KB250826
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