Considering Server Design and Configuration to Prevent Disasters

The following practices can help reduce the risk and impact of disasters:

• Install servers in adequate, safe, and secure environments.
• Avoid making a Microsoft Exchange Server computer a PDC.
• Maintain transaction log files for the directory and information stores on separate hard disks.
• Use hardware RAID Level 5 and mirroring.
• Protect servers with uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).
• Turn off circular logging.
• Document all server configurations and keep a record of changes.
• Equip servers with sufficient hard disk space to allow for recovery.

For more information about server design and configuration considerations, see Microsoft Exchange Server Concepts and Planning, or visit http://www.microsoft.com/exchange.