Configuring Information Stores

Multiple Information Stores and Storage Groups

Exchange supports multiple databases contained within a storage group. A storage group includes one to five databases and one set of transaction log files for all databases in the storage group. You can create a maximum of four storage groups on one server. If each storage group contains the maximum of five databases, you can create a maximum of 20 databases on one server.

You can use multiple databases to increase the number of simultaneous users on a server and lessen the risk of a damaged database. Because the size of each database is decreased, data recovery is faster and does not require the server to be offline.

There are two kinds of databases: mailbox stores and public folder stores. These replace the private and public information stores of Exchange 4.0 and 5.x.


All storage groups are managed by the Information Store service. Damaged databases do not prevent the Information Store service from running. It mounts all non-damaged databases. A database can be dismounted at any time for administration.

This section contains the following topics: