Windows server 2000 to server 2003

[Guest]

In training for server 2000, I was told that active directory needed 3
physical drives. I have checked the sizes, over the course of 1 year, of the
ntds.dit, ntds and sysvol and none of them are over 200 mbs. With going to
server 2003 on a different server can I use 1 drive with 3 separate
partitions for ntds.dit, ntds and sysvol instead of 3 physical drives?

 

[ptwilliams]

Three physical drives is recommended for massive directories, where
performance is needed. You don't *have* to have more than one drive. If
you only have one partition however, it'll have to be NTFS -SYSVOL has to be
installed on NTFS.

I wouldn't use three separate partitions - that'll degrade performance as
the disk will be reading and writing all over the place.

My advice, use one or two partitions, and store \NTDS\, \SYSVOL\, and all
program files on the C drive. Keep D for data, storage, etc.


--

Paul Williams

http://www.msresource.net
http://forums.msresource.net


In training for server 2000, I was told that active directory needed 3
physical drives. I have checked the sizes, over the course of 1 year, of the
ntds.dit, ntds and sysvol and none of them are over 200 mbs. With going to
server 2003 on a different server can I use 1 drive with 3 separate
partitions for ntds.dit, ntds and sysvol instead of 3 physical drives?

 

[Guest]

Thanks - that answers my question. I have two drives for my new server and
the was hoping I could keep the c: for the os and then the other drive split
into 3 partitions for active directory. But in this case I can create just 2
partitions on the second drive and put ntds and sysvol on one and then the
logs on the second partition. Thanks again!

 

[ptwilliams]

That's still not a good idea. You only separate log files and databases
with different *physical* disks. Performance will decrease if you put the
database on one partition and the logs on another.


--

Paul Williams

http://www.msresource.net
http://forums.msresource.net


Thanks - that answers my question. I have two drives for my new server and
the was hoping I could keep the c: for the os and then the other drive split
into 3 partitions for active directory. But in this case I can create just
2
partitions on the second drive and put ntds and sysvol on one and then the
logs on the second partition. Thanks again!

 

[Andrei Ungureanu]

multiple disks are required only for very big domains .... maybe in your
case one disk is enough if you have the right backup strategy.

For example ... if you have only a few hundred users ... it will make no
difference if you'll put the database & logs on the same partion ... or on
different disks. (based on my experience)