If you’re running Exchange Server, Microsoft recommends you store the database and log files on separate drives, and both of those drives should NOT be your OS drive.

To move the transaction logs in Exchange 2000 or 2003:

1. In Exchange System Manager, expand the appropriate Exchange server object, right-click the storage group you want, and then click Properties.
2. On the General tab, specify a new location for the files. For example, if the E:\ drive will contain only log files for this storage group, in Transaction log location, click Browse, and then choose the E:\ drive.

To move the database file for a mailbox store in Exchange 2000 or 2003:

1. In Exchange System Manager, expand the Exchange server object on which the store resides, expand the appropriate storage group container, right-click the mailbox store object you want, and then click Properties.
2. Specify new file locations on the Database tab of the Properties dialog box.

To move the transaction logs in in Exchange 2007:

1. Start the Exchange Management Console on the server on which the storage group is located.
2. In the console tree, expand Server Configuration, and then click Mailbox.
3. In the result pane, click the Mailbox server that contains the storage group for which you want to change the log file location.
4. In the work pane, click the storage group for which you want to change the log file location.
5. In the action pane, click Move Storage Group Path. The Move Storage Group Path wizard appears.
6. On the Introduction page, the Log files path box displays the location where your log files are currently stored. Click Browse to specify a location to which to move these files..
7. Click Move. A warning appears that all databases in the storage group must be temporarily dismounted, which will make them inaccessible to any user. To continue, click Yes.
8. On the Completion page, confirm whether the log file path was changed successfully. A status of Completed indicates that the wizard completed the task successfully. A status of Failed indicates that the task was not completed. If the task fails, review the summary for an explanation, and then click Back to make any configuration changes. Click Finish to complete the Move Storage Group Path wizard.

To move the database file for a mailbox store in Exchange 2007:

1. Start the Exchange Management Console on the server on which the storage group is located.
2. In the console tree, expand Server Configuration, and then click Mailbox.
3. In the results pane, expand the appropriate storage group container, right-click the mailbox database object you want, and then click Move Database Path. The Move Database Path wizard appears.
4. On the Introduction page, the Database files path box displays the location where your database files are currently stored. Click Browse to specify a location to which to move these files.
5. Click Move.
6. On the Completion page, confirm whether the database file path was changed successfully. A status of Completed indicates that the wizard completed the task successfully. A status of Failed indicates that the task was not completed. If the task fails, review the summary for an explanation, and then click Back to make any configuration changes. Click Finish to complete the Move Database Path wizard.

Please note that moving the database or log file will temporarily unmount the information store, making mail inaccessible for users with mailboxes in the store.

Tags: advanced, database files, log files, mail, microsoft exchange