Article ID: 326472 - Last Review: October 28, 2006 - Revision: 3.2

XADM: How to Manually Set File Paths Without Using Performance Optimizer

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This article was previously published under Q326472
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
256986  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/EN-US/ ) Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

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SUMMARY

This article describes how to use Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) to set file paths and file locations directly instead of by using Performance Optimizer.

One of the functions of the Exchange Performance Optimizer (Perfwiz.exe) is to test hard drives that are attached to an Exchange Server computer. Performance Optimizer can also make recommendations about the optimal placement of Exchange Server database files, transaction log files, and message transport files. An administrator can override these recommendations.
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MORE INFORMATION

You can use Performance Optimizer to modify six file system paths. When you use Performance Optimizer to modify these paths, the existing files are automatically moved to the new locations. However, if you manually edit paths in the registry, you must manually move the files from their current locations to the new locations. You can use one of two methods to manually modify the file system paths.
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Method 1

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
  1. Stop the Exchange System Attendant service. This will stop the Directory service, the Information Store service, and the Message Transfer Agent service.
  2. Start Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
  3. To change the Private Information Store (Priv.edb) path, modify the DB Path value under the following key in the registry:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    \MSExchangeIS\ParametersPrivate
  4. To change the Public Information Store (Pub.edb file) path, modify the DB Path value under the following key in the registry:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    \MSExchangeIS\ParametersPublic
  5. To change the Information Store Logs (Edb*.log files) path, modify the DB Log Path value under the following key in the registry:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    \MSExchangeIS\ParametersSystem
  6. To change the Directory Service (Dir.edb file) path, modify the DSA Database file value under the following key in the registry:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    \MSExchangeDS\Parameters
  7. To change the Directory Service Logs (Edb*.log files) path, modify the Database log files path value under the following key in the registry:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    \MSExchangeDS\Parameters
  8. To change the Message Transfer Agent (MTA) (*.dat files) path, modify the MTA database path value under the following key in the registry:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    \MSExchangeMTA\Parameters
    IMPORTANT: MTA files are categorized as either Database or Run files. When Exchange Server is initially installed, both Database and Run files are stored in the same folder together. You can use Performance Optimizer to separate the Database files from the Run files. You may want to separate the Database files from the Run files on high traffic systems because the Database files contain all the messages that are awaiting delivery or routing through the server, and the file set can become very large.

    The Database files include all files that have the extension .dat. Move only these files after you edit the MTA database path registry value.

    If you want to move the Run files, keeping them with the Database files, you must also modify the MTA Run Directory registry value to match the MTA database path registry value.

    For additional information about the MTA Database files and MTA Run files, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    282780  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/282780/EN-US/ ) XCON: MTA Database Format and Structure
  9. Quit Registry Editor.
  10. Move the Exchange Server files from their old locations to the new locations.
  11. Restart all Exchange Server services.
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Method 2

You can copy the Registry import text in this section to a plain text file, and then use that text file to edit all of the file system paths at the same time. Name the plain text file Import.reg. After you save the file with the correct information for your system, open Windows Explorer and double-click the file to import it into the registry.

If you are importing the file to the registry of a Windows NT 4 server, replace the line Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 in the following text with Regedit4.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeIS\ParametersPrivate]
"DB Path"="d:\\exchsrvr\\mdbdata\\PRIV.EDB"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeIS\ParametersPublic]
"DB Path"="d:\\exchsrvr\\mdbdata\\PUB.EDB"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeIS\ParametersSystem]
"DB Log Path"="d:\\exchsrvr\\mdbdata"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeDS\Parameters]
"DSA Database file"="d:\\exchsrvr\\dsadata\\dir.edb"
"Database log files path"="d:\\exchsrvr\\dsadata"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeMTA\Parameters]
"MTA Run Directory"="d:\\exchsrvr\\mtadata"
"MTA database path"="d:\\exchsrvr\mtadata"
NOTE: Double backslashes (\\) are used to designate file paths in a Registry import file. For example, you must type the file path D:\Exchsrvr\Mtadata as D:\\Exchsrvr\\Mtadata. If you do not format all of the backslashes correctly, the path change does not take effect.

To verify that the path changes were effective, run Performance Optimizer in read-only mode (Perfwiz.exe -R). This displays the current file paths and other tuning settings for Exchange Server. When you use Performance Optimizer with the -R switch, Performance Optimizer cannot make any changes to your Exchange Server system, and you do not have to stop Exchange Server services to run it.

For the best results, Microsoft recommends that you change only drive letters and leave the rest of the original folder path intact, so that files are located in paths where personnel who may be unfamiliar with your file system expect those files to be.
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APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 Standard Edition
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Keywords: 
kbinfo KB326472
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Retired KB ArticleRetired KB Content Disclaimer
This article was written about products for which Microsoft no longer offers support. Therefore, this article is offered "as is" and will no longer be updated.
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