How to Fix and Reduce Exchange EDB File Size?

Microsoft Exchange Server is an email server, that exclusively runs on Windows Server operating systems. Microsoft brought its first version in 1993 and now its latest version is Exchange Server 2016. The new version brings a new set of technologies, features, and services to Exchange Server, the messaging platform that provides email scheduling, tools for custom collaboration, and messaging service applications.

Exchange primarily saves all its data files in Priv1.edb and Pub1.edb files along with .stm files, which could email files, contacts, reminders, and every other file that is handled by the Exchange server. There can be various issues that you as an Exchange Server user can face. One of the common and most asked questions by the crowd among you is how to reduce EDB file size. Here in this article, I will try to cover the fixes to reduce oversized EDB files of Exchange Server.

Exchange Storage Limits Facts

For different Exchange versions, the storage allocation might be a bit different which we will discuss in this section.

If we talk about Exchange Server 2016, which offers you to create Storage groups with your free will in an individual mailbox. Additionally, the storage limit for the exchange 2016 edition is 16TB for a single database mailbox (max storage capacity). Exceeding beyond this capacity may disrupt the standard functionality of the Exchange server.

Similarly go with the other versions of the Exchange Server like:

2007: Maximum storage capability of 250 GB, and 50 storage groups.

2010: Maximum storage capacity of 2TB. and 100 Storage groups.

2013: Maximum storage permits 2TB, and storage groups decreased from 100 to 50.

Causes  behind Oversized Exchange EDB file

Normally these situations are encountered by Server Admin where the Exchange database limit is about to exceed the permissible limits. There are methods to stretch the database limits for some time before creating another database mailbox to avoid any form of EDB file corruption. But mainly these EDB databases stretch beyond the limit and may fall and cause a very serious of EDB file corruption, which is more complex to resolve. For in case of corrupted EDB files, you must know how to recover Exchange EDB files.

Let’s try to avoid corruption over oversized Exchange files and Reduce EDB File Size.

How can you Reduce EDB file size?

If your query is Exchange EDB file is too big, or “my Exchange server is almost out of space”, then you can try following discussed methods to regain the space back.

Deleting the unwanted data from the Exchange database

One of the clear-cut methods after you realize your server is out of space, try to empty out the unwanted Server data. Delete the stray logs from each server and make sure that both servers are consistent. have the same logs basically. Simultaneously, be sure that you are not erasing your useful files(.edb). If after lots of effort, you find that it is not reducing the size of Exchange file don’t worry space is freed. The exchange server will use those spaces to add new data files.

Offline Defrag Procedure Shrink the Database file

To defrag EDB Mailbox by using Eseutil, the database should dismount at the time of defragmentation. After the defrag process is executed by Eseutil, a new file is created. The old file and new file along with the temporary generated file will also exist on you.

Step 1. Open Exchange Management Shell to execute the following command to dismount or reduce size of EDB database

C:\ Windows\ system32>cd D:\ Mailbox\ ‘database name

D:\ Mailbox\ ‘database name’> Dismount-Database ‘database name

Step 2. Run the Eseutil utility for defragging the EDB file

 D:\ Mailbox\’database name’>eseutil /d ‘database name’.edb /t\\     testserver     \defrag\temp.edb

Step 3. Next, execute the following command to mount the database:

 D:\ Mailbox\ ‘database name’> mount- database ‘database name’”

After this, you will notice that the EDB file is packed in(Compressed) and all the white spaces are also removed. With this, the Eseutil execution is successfully done and you can now run a full backup of the database.

Note: Other users cannot access their emails when you have to defrag them. You need some space on your disk i.e. at least 110 percent the size of the database to perform defragmentation. If you don’t have any free disk space then you can also specify a different temporary location while running Eseutil.

Move Mailbox Exchange 2010 Database using EMC

Dismount Exchange Database with the help of EMC which is done by selecting the EDB Mailbox, after right-clicking on it you will get the Dismount Database option to dismount the database. Follow the procedure

1. Start on the Exchange Management Console, and Select Mailbox under the Organization Configuration.
2. Now, select the mailbox that you need to be moved by right-clicking on it and select the second option to Move Database Path
3. In the appeared new windows of Move Database Path, give the new location for the data files and the log files. Click on Move Button to continue with the course of action to reduce the EDB file size.
4. You will get an alert message saying “To perform the move operation, the database must be temporarily dismounted, which will make it inaccessible to all users. Do you want to continue?” you must click Yes to continue.

Note: It will take some time to move the EDB mailbox to another path, which totally depends on the size of the database. After completion of this task close the wizard by clicking the Finish button. After this run backup of your EDB.

Move Exchange Database file by EAC

If you are Exchange 2013 user then this method is a great help for you. EAC is a web-based Exchange Admin Center console for Exchange 2013. It migrates the Exchange mailbox, migration will help you to reduce EDB file size Exchange 2013 for the mailboxes that are too big in size.  Follow the 4 simple steps for that,

1. Open Exchange Admin Center
2. Choose Mailbox Tab& Select the desired mailbox
3. Right Click and Select the Export option
4. Choose a recipient for sending notification after the task completes.
5. Click Next >> Finish

Final words

All the above-mentioned 4 best alternates to reduce EDB file size are mainly performing the migration. The Exchange Mailbox migration procedure is quite a complex process that may also involve risks of data loss. A large transaction log file is generated during the entire process and can take several days to be accomplished. However, defrag using Eseutil can be an effective solution to reduce the EDB file size. For easy alternative Exchange migration follow this blog to convert or migrate EDB to PST and reduce EDB file size.