XADM: Hard-Disk Write Performance Is Slower with Exchange 2000 Than with Previous Versions of Exchange (329232)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Exchange 2000 Enterprise Server
This article was previously published under Q329232

SYMPTOMS

After you install Exchange 2000 Server, you may notice that hard-disk write performance is slower than it was with Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5.

This behavior may be most noticeable when you restore an Exchange information store database by using a tape drive that is connected to the network (not a local tape drive). Additionally, other data transferring programs, such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP) programs, may perform a little slower.

CAUSE

This issue occurs because Exchange Setup disables write-back caching on the hard disks when you install Exchange 2000 Server.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, re-enable write-back caching on the hard disks.

NOTE: Microsoft does not recommend that you enable write-back caching on the individual hard disks of a messaging server. Microsoft does not recommend that you enable write-back caching on the hard-disk controllers of a messaging server. Before you re-enable this feature, contact the vendor of the hard-disk controller to obtain information about its suitability in a messaging-database system. Make sure that the controller contains a reliable battery backup and other fault-tolerance measures.

For information about how to contact computer hardware manufacturers, click the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

65416 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, A-K

60781 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, L-P

60782 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, Q-Z

Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

MORE INFORMATION

Write-back caching is used to enhance the performance of hard disks or hard-disk controllers. However, for messaging systems such as Exchange 2000 Server, Microsoft recommends that you disable this feature. By doing this, you enhance the reliability of the information stores.

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

188589 XADM: Exchange DB and Caching Hard Disks and Controllers

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/13/2003
Keywords:kbbug KB329232
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