The first step involves configuring the root directories for the databases (AutoDagDatabasesRootFolderPath) and volumes (AutoDagVolumesRootFolderPath) used by the DAG. The defaults are C:\ExchangeDatabases, and C:\ExchangeVolumes, respectively. You can omit this step if you're using the default paths.

This example illustrates how to configure the root path for the databases.

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Set-DatabaseAvailabilityGroup DAG1 -AutoDagDatabasesRootFolderPath "C:\ExchDbs"

This example illustrates how to configure the root path for the storage volumes.

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Set-DatabaseAvailabilityGroup DAG1 -AutoDagVolumesRootFolderPath "C:\ExchVols"

How do you know this step worked?

To verify that you've successfully configured the root paths for databases and volumes, run the following command.

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Get-DatabaseAvailabilityGroup DAG1 | Format-List *auto*

The output for AutoDagDatabasesRootFolderPath and AutoDagVolumesRootFolderPath should reflect the configured paths.

Next, configure the number of databases per volume (AutoDagDatabaseCopiesPerVolume) for the DAG.

This example illustrates how to configure this AutoReseed setting for a DAG configured with 4 databases per volume.

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Set-DatabaseAvailabilityGroup DAG1 -AutoDagDatabaseCopiesPerVolume 4

How do you know this step worked?

To verify that you've successfully configured the number of databases per volume, run the following command.

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Get-DatabaseAvailabilityGroup DAG1 | Format-List *auto*

The output for AutoDagDatabaseCopiesPerVolume should reflect the configured value.

Next, create the directories that correspond to the root directories you configured in Step 1. This example shows how to create the default directories using the command prompt.

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md C:\ExchangeDatabases md C:\ExchangeVolumes

How do you know this step worked?

To verify that you've successfully configured the root directories for databases and volumes, run the following command.

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Dir C:\

The created directories should appear in the output list.

For every volume that will be used for databases (including spare volumes), use the Windows Disk Management application (diskmgmt.msc) to mount each volume in a mounted folder under C:\ExchangeVolumes\. For example, if there are 2 volumes with databases and 1 spare volume, mount the volumes to the following mounted folders:

• C:\ExchangeVolumes\Volume1
  
  
• C:\ExchangeVolumes\Volume2
  
  
• C:\ExchangeVolumes\Volume3
  
  

The names of the mounted folders can be any folder name, as long as the folders are mounted under the root volume’s path.

How do you know this step worked?

To verify that you've successfully mounted the volume folders, run the following command.

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Dir C:\

The mounted volumes should appear in the output list.

Next, create the database directories under the root path C:\ExchangeDatabases. This example illustrates how to create directories for a storage configuration with 4 databases on each volume.

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md c:\ExchangeDatabases\db001

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md c:\ExchangeDatabases\db002

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md c:\ExchangeDatabases\db003

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md c:\ExchangeDatabases\db004

How do you know this step worked?

To verify that you've successfully mounted the database folders, run the following command.

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Dir C:\ExchangeDatabases

The created directories should appear in the output list.

Next, create two directories underneath the folders you created in Step 5, one for each database and one for each of the database's log stream that will be stored on the same volume. You must use the following format for your directory structure:

C:\< DatabaseFolderName>\VolumeX\<dbname>.db

C:\< DatabaseFolderName>\VolumeX\<dbname>.log

This example illustrates how to create directories for 4 databases that will be stored on Volume 1:

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md c:\ExchangeDatabases\Volume1\db001.db

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md c:\ExchangeDatabases\Volume1\db001.log

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md c:\ExchangeDatabases\Volume1\db002.db

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md c:\ExchangeDatabases\Volume1\db002.log

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md c:\ExchangeDatabases\Volume1\db003.db

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md c:\ExchangeDatabases\Volume1\db003.log

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md c:\ExchangeDatabases\Volume1\db004.db

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md c:\ExchangeDatabases\Volume1\db004.log

Repeat the preceding commands for databases on every volume.

How do you know this step worked?

To verify that you've successfully created the database directory structure, run the following command.

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Dir C:\ExchangeDatabases\Volume1

The created directories should appear in the output list.

Create the mount points for each database and link the mount point to the correct volume. For example, the mounted folder for db001 should be at C:\ExchangeDatabases\db001. You can use diskmgmt.msc or mountvol.exe to do this. This example illustrates how to mount db001 to C:\ExchangeDatabases\db001 using mountvol.exe.

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Mountvol.exe c:\ExchangeDatabases\db001 \\?\Volume (GUID)

How do you know this step worked?

To verify that you've successfully created the mount points for the database, run the following command.

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Mountvol.exe C:\ExchangeDatabases\db001 /L

The mounted volume should appear in the mount point list.

Create databases with log and database paths configured with the appropriate folders. This example illustrates how to create a database that's stored in the newly created directory and mount point structure.

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New-MailboxDatabase -Name db001 -Server MBX1 -LogFolderPath C:\ExchangeDatabases\db001\db001.log -EdbFilePath C:\ExchangeDatabases\db001\db001.db\db001.edb

How do you know this step worked?

To verify that you've successfully created databases in the appropriate folder, run the following command.

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Get-MailboxDatabase db001 | Format List *path*

Database properties that are returned should indicate that the database file and log files are being stored in the above folders.