Resize partition with SBS 2003 on it

[Guest maxime]

Hi

 

I have a question about resizing the C volume.

i took over the maintenance of a server 2003 sbs and the first thing that i

saw was de 600 mb left on the system volume

What are the possibilities to enlarge this Volume?

 

all the logfiles ( exchange , backup, systemlog etc.. ) i allready moved to

the data partition to save some space

but i'm unable to install service packs, properly defragment and install

software in the future.

 

What are my possibilities

Make an image with a Ghost app backup data partition, reconfigure

partitions and as last restore the image?

Use a tool like partition magic ?

 

Disk configuration

Raid mirroring -2 disks)

C (600 MB left of 10 GB)

E (35 GB left of 50 GB )

Total physical disksize 60 GB

 

 

thank you in advance !

 

Maxime

[Guest Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Re: Resize partition with SBS 2003 on it

 

maxime <maxime@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> Hi

>

> I have a question about resizing the C volume.

> i took over the maintenance of a server 2003 sbs and the first thing

> that i saw was de 600 mb left on the system volume

> What are the possibilities to enlarge this Volume?

>

> all the logfiles ( exchange , backup, systemlog etc.. ) i allready

> moved to the data partition to save some space

> but i'm unable to install service packs, properly defragment and

> install software in the future.

>

> What are my possibilities

> Make an image with a Ghost app backup data partition, reconfigure

> partitions and as last restore the image?

> Use a tool like partition magic ?

>

> Disk configuration

> Raid mirroring -2 disks)

> C (600 MB left of 10 GB)

> E (35 GB left of 50 GB )

> Total physical disksize 60 GB

>

>

> thank you in advance !

>

> Maxime

 

I like Acronis Disk Director for this.....but do a good full, verified

backup first.

 

Note that you really don't have enough space on this server in general to

run it properly - I think you need more storage. If you're using hardware

RAID (which you should be) see if you can add another array for data, such

as a RAID5. Even if you're not using hardware RAID, you still need more disk

space.

 

You can generally get away with a 10GB system volume if you don't have

anything besides your OS and binaries on it - no data. Check out something

like TreeSize Pro (shareware) or similar file management software to make it

easy to find out what's taking up all the space.

 

Note that SBS questions should be posted in

microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs. It's good to start there in general (or

at least crosspost to it) because the SBS suite has many peculiarities and

differences from the non-SBS versions.

[Guest Kerry Brown]

Re: Resize partition with SBS 2003 on it

 

I use a combination of Acronis True Image and Acronis Disk Director. Image

all the partitions. Verify the image. I do this offline while booted from

the True Image recovery media. Once you have a couple of good verified

images of all the partitions use Disk Director to adjust the partition

sizes. This assumes that your RAID controller is supported by Acronis. This

will also leave you in an unsupported by Microsoft position should things go

wrong. The official Microsoft supported way is to use the SBS backup wizard

to backup the server, flatten the server, re-partition as you like, restore

the backup.

 

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=487736f8-f6f5-436d-a82d-0c8d66e2a634&displaylang=en

 

http://www.acronis.com/

 

Whatever you do make sure you have several good backups before starting.

 

--

Kerry Brown

Microsoft MVP - Shell/User

http://www.vistahelp.ca

 

 

"maxime" <maxime@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:6DB1932F-2C4D-4EE8-B736-42860A304A4C@microsoft.com...

> Hi

>

> I have a question about resizing the C volume.

> i took over the maintenance of a server 2003 sbs and the first thing that

> i

> saw was de 600 mb left on the system volume

> What are the possibilities to enlarge this Volume?

>

> all the logfiles ( exchange , backup, systemlog etc.. ) i allready moved

> to

> the data partition to save some space

> but i'm unable to install service packs, properly defragment and install

> software in the future.

>

> What are my possibilities

> Make an image with a Ghost app backup data partition, reconfigure

> partitions and as last restore the image?

> Use a tool like partition magic ?

>

> Disk configuration

> Raid mirroring -2 disks)

> C (600 MB left of 10 GB)

> E (35 GB left of 50 GB )

> Total physical disksize 60 GB

>

>

> thank you in advance !

>

> Maxime

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest Newell White]

RE: Resize partition with SBS 2003 on it

 

Do you really have to re-size?

 

We run our DC (hosting file server and App Server for database serving

entire design, manufacture, and sales functions) with 7.84 Gbyte of C: drive,

currently 1.54Gbyte is free.

 

I freed up space on the C: drive by following steps:

 

1) 1.5Gbyte - Move most of C:\pagefile.sys to D:

 

Create a new file D:\pagefile.sys, min = 1536Mbyte, max = 1536Mbyte

Modify file C:\pagefile.sys, min = 128Mbyte, max = 128Mbyte

 

Use regedit.exe to set

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Mnager\Memory Management

ClearPageFileAtShutdown DWORD 0 => 1

 

Takes effect when you re-boot.

 

2) 1Gbyte - Move all folders C:\windows\$nt*uninst* to D:\exc_windows\

 

You can't uninstall MS updates to your operating system without moving them

back, but in 2 years in this job I have never wanted to!

 

3) 0.65Gbyte - move app software

If you have install CD or download, uninstall from C:\Program Files\ and

re-install in D:\moved_programs\

 

These changes have been in place for at least 12 months with no problems.

--

Regards,

Newell White

 

 

"maxime" wrote:

> Hi

>

> I have a question about resizing the C volume.

> i took over the maintenance of a server 2003 sbs and the first thing that i

> saw was de 600 mb left on the system volume

> What are the possibilities to enlarge this Volume?

>

> all the logfiles ( exchange , backup, systemlog etc.. ) i allready moved to

> the data partition to save some space

> but i'm unable to install service packs, properly defragment and install

> software in the future.

>

> What are my possibilities

> Make an image with a Ghost app backup data partition, reconfigure

> partitions and as last restore the image?

> Use a tool like partition magic ?

>

> Disk configuration

> Raid mirroring -2 disks)

> C (600 MB left of 10 GB)

> E (35 GB left of 50 GB )

> Total physical disksize 60 GB

>

>

> thank you in advance !

>

> Maxime

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest Kerry Brown]

Re: Resize partition with SBS 2003 on it

 

SBS has special considerations and needs a lot more room for the OS than a

normal DC.

 

--

Kerry Brown

Microsoft MVP - Shell/User

http://www.vistahelp.ca

 

 

"Newell White" <NewellWhite@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:21C0F02E-9C54-4A1F-AF96-EF2D038FA61A@microsoft.com...

> Do you really have to re-size?

>

> We run our DC (hosting file server and App Server for database serving

> entire design, manufacture, and sales functions) with 7.84 Gbyte of C:

> drive,

> currently 1.54Gbyte is free.

>

> I freed up space on the C: drive by following steps:

>

> 1) 1.5Gbyte - Move most of C:\pagefile.sys to D:

>

> Create a new file D:\pagefile.sys, min = 1536Mbyte, max = 1536Mbyte

> Modify file C:\pagefile.sys, min = 128Mbyte, max = 128Mbyte

>

> Use regedit.exe to set

> HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Mnager\Memory Management

> ClearPageFileAtShutdown DWORD 0 => 1

>

> Takes effect when you re-boot.

>

> 2) 1Gbyte - Move all folders C:\windows\$nt*uninst* to D:\exc_windows\

>

> You can't uninstall MS updates to your operating system without moving

> them

> back, but in 2 years in this job I have never wanted to!

>

> 3) 0.65Gbyte - move app software

> If you have install CD or download, uninstall from C:\Program Files\ and

> re-install in D:\moved_programs\

>

> These changes have been in place for at least 12 months with no problems.

> --

> Regards,

> Newell White

>

>

> "maxime" wrote:

>

>> Hi

>>

>> I have a question about resizing the C volume.

>> i took over the maintenance of a server 2003 sbs and the first thing that

>> i

>> saw was de 600 mb left on the system volume

>> What are the possibilities to enlarge this Volume?

>>

>> all the logfiles ( exchange , backup, systemlog etc.. ) i allready moved

>> to

>> the data partition to save some space

>> but i'm unable to install service packs, properly defragment and install

>> software in the future.

>>

>> What are my possibilities

>> Make an image with a Ghost app backup data partition, reconfigure

>> partitions and as last restore the image?

>> Use a tool like partition magic ?

>>

>> Disk configuration

>> Raid mirroring -2 disks)

>> C (600 MB left of 10 GB)

>> E (35 GB left of 50 GB )

>> Total physical disksize 60 GB

>>

>>

>> thank you in advance !

>>

>> Maxime

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

[Guest Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Re: Resize partition with SBS 2003 on it

 

Kerry Brown <kerry@kdbNOSPAMsys-tems.c*a*m> wrote:

> SBS has special considerations and needs a lot more room for the OS

> than a normal DC.

 

Hmmm. Why's that? The SBS files themselves are quite small, and I don't find

this to be so. During setup, I don't put anything on the system volume when

I have the choice to put it elsewhere.

>

>

> "Newell White" <NewellWhite@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in

> message news:21C0F02E-9C54-4A1F-AF96-EF2D038FA61A@microsoft.com...

>> Do you really have to re-size?

>>

>> We run our DC (hosting file server and App Server for database

>> serving entire design, manufacture, and sales functions) with 7.84

>> Gbyte of C: drive,

>> currently 1.54Gbyte is free.

>>

>> I freed up space on the C: drive by following steps:

>>

>> 1) 1.5Gbyte - Move most of C:\pagefile.sys to D:

>>

>> Create a new file D:\pagefile.sys, min = 1536Mbyte, max = 1536Mbyte

>> Modify file C:\pagefile.sys, min = 128Mbyte, max = 128Mbyte

>>

>> Use regedit.exe to set

>> HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Mnager\Memory

>> Management ClearPageFileAtShutdown DWORD 0 => 1

>>

>> Takes effect when you re-boot.

>>

>> 2) 1Gbyte - Move all folders C:\windows\$nt*uninst* to

>> D:\exc_windows\ You can't uninstall MS updates to your operating system

>> without

>> moving them

>> back, but in 2 years in this job I have never wanted to!

>>

>> 3) 0.65Gbyte - move app software

>> If you have install CD or download, uninstall from C:\Program Files\

>> and re-install in D:\moved_programs\

>>

>> These changes have been in place for at least 12 months with no

>> problems. --

>> Regards,

>> Newell White

>>

>>

>> "maxime" wrote:

>>

>>> Hi

>>>

>>> I have a question about resizing the C volume.

>>> i took over the maintenance of a server 2003 sbs and the first

>>> thing that i

>>> saw was de 600 mb left on the system volume

>>> What are the possibilities to enlarge this Volume?

>>>

>>> all the logfiles ( exchange , backup, systemlog etc.. ) i allready

>>> moved to

>>> the data partition to save some space

>>> but i'm unable to install service packs, properly defragment and

>>> install software in the future.

>>>

>>> What are my possibilities

>>> Make an image with a Ghost app backup data partition, reconfigure

>>> partitions and as last restore the image?

>>> Use a tool like partition magic ?

>>>

>>> Disk configuration

>>> Raid mirroring -2 disks)

>>> C (600 MB left of 10 GB)

>>> E (35 GB left of 50 GB )

>>> Total physical disksize 60 GB

>>>

>>>

>>> thank you in advance !

>>>

>>> Maxime

[Guest Kerry Brown]

Re: Resize partition with SBS 2003 on it

 

If you pick the right options during the install then move a bunch of stuff

afterwards then of course you're right. I've seen too many SBS installs

where this wasn't done though. How many DC's other than SBS are running SQL,

Exchange, SharePoint, WSUS, ISA, and probably a LOB app or two? Even if all

the data files are relocated during the install there's still a lot of stuff

in Program Files by default. By the time you start adding updates and

service packs it's not unusual to see 15 - 20 GB on a SBS 2003 R2 premium

install. That said I've seen SBS 2003 SP1 Standard run fine on a 12 GB

System/Boot partition but it does take more time to manage installing

service packs. I still haven't figured out how I'm going to get Server 2003

SP2 on there. The customer doesn't want to pay for bigger drives at this

point :-(

 

--

Kerry Brown

Microsoft MVP - Shell/User

http://www.vistahelp.ca

 

 

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

<lanwench@heybuddy.donotsendme.unsolicitedmailatyahoo.com> wrote in message

news:uvC8m6HKIHA.5160@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> Kerry Brown <kerry@kdbNOSPAMsys-tems.c*a*m> wrote:

>> SBS has special considerations and needs a lot more room for the OS

>> than a normal DC.

>

> Hmmm. Why's that? The SBS files themselves are quite small, and I don't

> find this to be so. During setup, I don't put anything on the system

> volume when I have the choice to put it elsewhere.

>

>>

>>

>> "Newell White" <NewellWhite@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in

>> message news:21C0F02E-9C54-4A1F-AF96-EF2D038FA61A@microsoft.com...

>>> Do you really have to re-size?

>>>

>>> We run our DC (hosting file server and App Server for database

>>> serving entire design, manufacture, and sales functions) with 7.84

>>> Gbyte of C: drive,

>>> currently 1.54Gbyte is free.

>>>

>>> I freed up space on the C: drive by following steps:

>>>

>>> 1) 1.5Gbyte - Move most of C:\pagefile.sys to D:

>>>

>>> Create a new file D:\pagefile.sys, min = 1536Mbyte, max = 1536Mbyte

>>> Modify file C:\pagefile.sys, min = 128Mbyte, max = 128Mbyte

>>>

>>> Use regedit.exe to set

>>> HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Mnager\Memory

>>> Management ClearPageFileAtShutdown DWORD 0 => 1

>>>

>>> Takes effect when you re-boot.

>>>

>>> 2) 1Gbyte - Move all folders C:\windows\$nt*uninst* to

>>> D:\exc_windows\ You can't uninstall MS updates to your operating system

>>> without

>>> moving them

>>> back, but in 2 years in this job I have never wanted to!

>>>

>>> 3) 0.65Gbyte - move app software

>>> If you have install CD or download, uninstall from C:\Program Files\

>>> and re-install in D:\moved_programs\

>>>

>>> These changes have been in place for at least 12 months with no

>>> problems. --

>>> Regards,

>>> Newell White

>>>

>>>

>>> "maxime" wrote:

>>>

>>>> Hi

>>>>

>>>> I have a question about resizing the C volume.

>>>> i took over the maintenance of a server 2003 sbs and the first

>>>> thing that i

>>>> saw was de 600 mb left on the system volume

>>>> What are the possibilities to enlarge this Volume?

>>>>

>>>> all the logfiles ( exchange , backup, systemlog etc.. ) i allready

>>>> moved to

>>>> the data partition to save some space

>>>> but i'm unable to install service packs, properly defragment and

>>>> install software in the future.

>>>>

>>>> What are my possibilities

>>>> Make an image with a Ghost app backup data partition, reconfigure

>>>> partitions and as last restore the image?

>>>> Use a tool like partition magic ?

>>>>

>>>> Disk configuration

>>>> Raid mirroring -2 disks)

>>>> C (600 MB left of 10 GB)

>>>> E (35 GB left of 50 GB )

>>>> Total physical disksize 60 GB

>>>>

>>>>

>>>> thank you in advance !

>>>>

>>>> Maxime

>

>

>

[Guest Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Re: Resize partition with SBS 2003 on it

 

Kerry Brown <kerry@kdbNOSPAMsys-tems.c*a*m> wrote:

> If you pick the right options during the install then move a bunch of

> stuff afterwards then of course you're right. I've seen too many SBS

> installs where this wasn't done though.

 

Yep - which is why I always install my servers from scratch myself. OF

course, sometimes you're fixing up a server you didn't install. However, you

can move stuff afterwards, no harm done.

> How many DC's other than SBS

> are running SQL, Exchange, SharePoint, WSUS, ISA, and probably a LOB

> app or two?

 

Not many, and even in SBS I prefer to keep things simple - no ISA, and

rarely SQL. If SQL is very badly needed, I usually recommend another server.

But yes, it can get very crowded in there.

> Even if all the data files are relocated during the

> install there's still a lot of stuff in Program Files by default. By

> the time you start adding updates and service packs it's not unusual

> to see 15 - 20 GB on a SBS 2003 R2 premium install. That said I've

> seen SBS 2003 SP1 Standard run fine on a 12 GB System/Boot partition

> but it does take more time to manage installing service packs. I

> still haven't figured out how I'm going to get Server 2003 SP2 on

> there. The customer doesn't want to pay for bigger drives at this

> point :-(

 

They'd rather pay for labor, hmmm? :-)

 

>

>

> "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

> <lanwench@heybuddy.donotsendme.unsolicitedmailatyahoo.com> wrote in

> message news:uvC8m6HKIHA.5160@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

>> Kerry Brown <kerry@kdbNOSPAMsys-tems.c*a*m> wrote:

>>> SBS has special considerations and needs a lot more room for the OS

>>> than a normal DC.

>>

>> Hmmm. Why's that? The SBS files themselves are quite small, and I

>> don't find this to be so. During setup, I don't put anything on the

>> system volume when I have the choice to put it elsewhere.

>>

>>>

>>>

>>> "Newell White" <NewellWhite@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in

>>> message news:21C0F02E-9C54-4A1F-AF96-EF2D038FA61A@microsoft.com...

>>>> Do you really have to re-size?

>>>>

>>>> We run our DC (hosting file server and App Server for database

>>>> serving entire design, manufacture, and sales functions) with 7.84

>>>> Gbyte of C: drive,

>>>> currently 1.54Gbyte is free.

>>>>

>>>> I freed up space on the C: drive by following steps:

>>>>

>>>> 1) 1.5Gbyte - Move most of C:\pagefile.sys to D:

>>>>

>>>> Create a new file D:\pagefile.sys, min = 1536Mbyte, max = 1536Mbyte

>>>> Modify file C:\pagefile.sys, min = 128Mbyte, max = 128Mbyte

>>>>

>>>> Use regedit.exe to set

>>>> HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Mnager\Memory

>>>> Management ClearPageFileAtShutdown DWORD 0 => 1

>>>>

>>>> Takes effect when you re-boot.

>>>>

>>>> 2) 1Gbyte - Move all folders C:\windows\$nt*uninst* to

>>>> D:\exc_windows\ You can't uninstall MS updates to your operating

>>>> system without

>>>> moving them

>>>> back, but in 2 years in this job I have never wanted to!

>>>>

>>>> 3) 0.65Gbyte - move app software

>>>> If you have install CD or download, uninstall from C:\Program

>>>> Files\ and re-install in D:\moved_programs\

>>>>

>>>> These changes have been in place for at least 12 months with no

>>>> problems. --

>>>> Regards,

>>>> Newell White

>>>>

>>>>

>>>> "maxime" wrote:

>>>>

>>>>> Hi

>>>>>

>>>>> I have a question about resizing the C volume.

>>>>> i took over the maintenance of a server 2003 sbs and the first

>>>>> thing that i

>>>>> saw was de 600 mb left on the system volume

>>>>> What are the possibilities to enlarge this Volume?

>>>>>

>>>>> all the logfiles ( exchange , backup, systemlog etc.. ) i allready

>>>>> moved to

>>>>> the data partition to save some space

>>>>> but i'm unable to install service packs, properly defragment and

>>>>> install software in the future.

>>>>>

>>>>> What are my possibilities

>>>>> Make an image with a Ghost app backup data partition, reconfigure

>>>>> partitions and as last restore the image?

>>>>> Use a tool like partition magic ?

>>>>>

>>>>> Disk configuration

>>>>> Raid mirroring -2 disks)

>>>>> C (600 MB left of 10 GB)

>>>>> E (35 GB left of 50 GB )

>>>>> Total physical disksize 60 GB

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>> thank you in advance !

>>>>>

>>>>> Maxime