XADM: How to Move Exchange Server Folders

In some cases, you may want to move the Exchange Server folders that contain databases or log files to different drives or locations. This article discusses how to use either the Exchange Server Administrator program or Performance Optimizer (Perfwiz.exe) to move these folders to another location.

Before you move files and folders, back up your server.

Moving Exchange Server Folders Using the Exchange Server Administrator Program

If you use the Exchange Server Administrator program to move the database paths, make sure that the new database path exists before you attempt the move, or the following error message is displayed: To move the folder paths:

1. In the Exchange Server Administrator program, click to expand the Site container, click to expand the Configuration container, and then click to expand the Servers container.
2. Click to select the server that you want to modify.
3. On the File menu, click Properties.
4. Click the Properties tab, and then click Database Paths. On the Database Paths tab, the current folders and their locations are displayed.
5. Click to select the item that you want to move.
6. Click Modify to open Directory Database Move window.
7. In the Path box, enter the new path. After Exchange Server stops the appropriate services, move the files that you selected, and then restart the services.

NOTE: You cannot select the root of the drive.

After you create the new path, if you attempt to move logs to a drive or disk that does not have enough space, the following error message is displayed: In addition, any subsequent moves are not processed. The list is processed from the top to bottom. The change is displayed until you click Cancel.

Moving Microsoft Exchange Server Folders Using Performance Optimizer

The Exchange Server Performance Optimizer utility (Perfwiz.exe) is located in the Exchsrvr\Bin folder. To move folders by using Performance Optimizer:

1. Start Performance Optimizer. A welcome dialog box that warns that the services will be stopped is displayed. Click Next to stop the services.
2. When the System Parameters Setting dialog box is displayed, which contains the existing parameters of your Exchange Server computer, click Next. The Performance Optimizer begins analyzing your hard disk. (This can be a time consuming step.)
3. When the following message is displayed, click Next:
   Disk analysis has completed. Click Next to continue.
4. A list of the Exchange Server components, their current location, and their suggested location are displayed.
5. To move a folder, in Suggested Location, enter the location that you want to use. Make sure that no other path has been changed.
   
   IMPORTANT: You must pay close attention to the Current Location and Suggested Location boxes. Performance Optimizer moves files to drives based on specific criteria. It changes the Suggested Locations setting for folders.
   
   Click Next.
6. Microsoft recommends that you select the Move files Automatically option. If you choose the Move files Automatically option, the files are moved when you click Next. If you do not choose this option, you need to manually move the files before you start the services. Click Next.
7. The final Performance Optimizer dialog box confirms that the changes were made successfully and gives you the option to start the services:
   • If you selected the Move files Automatically option to allow Performance Optimizer to move the files, start the services.
   • If you chose to manually move the files, click to select the Do Not Start these Services check box, move the files to the folder that you specified, and then start the services (in Control Panel, double-click Services).

NOTE: If your Exchange server is clustered using Microsoft Clustering Services, please use this article instead: