Exchange Server database files

Exchange databases have three types of files:

• Database file (.edb)

  Contains message headers, message text, and standard attachments.

  An Exchange 2003/2007 database uses two files: .edb for text data and .stm for MIME data.

• Transaction log files (.log)

  Contains the history of changes made to the database. Only after a change has been securely logged, it is then written to the database file. This approach guarantees a reliable recovery of the database in a consistent state in case of a sudden database interruption.

  Each log file is 1024 KB in size (or 5120 KB in Exchange 2003). When an active log file is full, Exchange closes it and creates a new log file.

• Checkpoint file (.chk)

  Tracks how far Exchange has progressed in writing logged information to the database file.

To find out the database file and log file paths, proceed as follows.

Exchange 2010

Execute the following commands by using Exchange Management Shell:

Get-MailboxDatabase | Format-List -Property Name, EdbFilePath, LogFolderPath

Exchange 2007

Execute the following commands by using Exchange Management Shell:

• To obtain database file paths:

  Get-MailboxDatabase | Format-List -Property Name, EdbFilePath, StorageGroup

• To obtain log file paths:

  Get-MailboxDatabase | ForEach { Get-StorageGroup $_.StorageGroupName | Format-List -Property Name, LogFolderPath }

Exchange 2003

1. Start Exchange System Manager.
2. Click Administrative Groups.

   Note: If Administrative Groups does not appear, it may not be turned on. To turn on Administrative Groups, right-click Exchange Organization, and then click Properties. Click to select the Display Administrative Groups check box.

3. To find out transaction log location, do the following:
   1. Right-click the storage group, and then click Properties.
   2. On the General tab you will see transaction log location.
4. To find out database file location (*.edb) do the following:
   1. Expand the required storage group.
   2. Right-click the database, and then click Properties.
   3. On the Database tab you will see database file location and database streaming file location.