If you are facing trouble finding the solution to remove whitespace from Exchange database, then you are reading the correct article. Here, in this write-up, we will provide method and guide users to remove white space in Exchange 2010 / 2013 / 2016 database.
The Microsoft Exchange Server is the most popular and used mail server around the world by numerous IT organizations and other industry verticals. Working with the server at such scale (large / medium / scale) it is very necessary to keep the Exchange data safe and secure because it contains essential information such as: mails, notes, tasks, notes, contacts, calendars, etc…
All these data items are store in the Exchange mailboxes and it is saved in the EDB file which is the main repository of Exchange Server. If users are new to the Exchange Server environment then most probably they are unaware of the issue that the other users face in the server while working on it.
Corruption is one of the most popular issues that users face but other than this storage space is also a major problem nowadays. When any Exchange administrator or user wants to reduce the space by removing the data from the Exchange database then after that they will find the size of the mailbox database not changed. So, to reclaim the left space which is also called the white space, for that they you have to perform defragmentation in the database.
Before proceeding towards the solution let’s know about the white space with the help of an example:
When any users remove the 25 GB of Exchange data from the 50 GB of Exchange database. Then it is common that after removing the 25 GB of data the remaining space should be 25 GB but when you view the size of the mailbox database then you will find that it storage space is 50 GB. The remaining 25 GB is still there & then free space is called white space. To reclaim the size you have to remove the whitespace.
Find Whitespace in Exchange Database Via PowerShell Command
Execute the command given below to find the white space:
1. The following cmdlet provides below return two properties like “DatabaseSize” and “AvailableNewMailboxSpace”
Get-MailboxDatabase | select Name,DatabaseSize,AvailableNewMailboxSpace
Note: The command does not display the information of the properties. For that, users have to execute the cmdlet given below.
2. Get-MailboxDatabase -Status | select Name,DatabaseSize,AvailableNewMailboxSpace
In this command, the -Status parameter provides the information of the Exchange database size & available new mailbox space size too.
3. Insert the PowerShell command given below to know the whitespace in volume:
Get-MailboxDatabase -Status | ft name,databasesize,availablenewmailboxspace -auto
This command lets users to know the white and available space in the Exchange database. You have to defrag the mailbox database to reclaim the unused space. By using this process, it also improves the disperformance & operation of the Exchange Server
Use Manual Solution to Remove Whitespace from Exchange Database
You can remove the white space by performing defragmentation and this can be done by using the Online or Offline defrag process.
Online Defragmentation: This process is done automatically and the MS Exchange runs this defragmentation every night. The most important part is that it does not reduce the mailbox database size. As it removes the expired messages, cleans up the Exchange database mailboxes on the mailbox stores.
Note: You have to use the Offline defragmentation process given below by using the Eseutil utility to reduce the Exchange database size.
Whenever you start the process it is important to take the backup of the Exchange database and the reason behind is that if anything happens with the file then you have a backup file from white users can access and retrieve the data back.
Pay Attention: There are times when the Exchange mailbox database are highly corrupted then in that case first user have to recover the EDB file from corruption and for that, you can use the Exchange Server Recovery Tool that helps you to recover and repair the offline / dismounted Exchange database without using any command in a simplified manner. Users can export the recovered Exchange mailboxes directly to the Live Exchange Server 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003 mailboxes, Office 365 and multiple file formats (PST, EML, MSG, MBOX, PDF, HTML)
Follow the steps given below to repair the corrupted Exchange database:
1. Download & Run the tool. Then select add file button to load corrupt EDB file
2. Click on Advance scan mode option >> Select the Add button
3. Preview the recovered Exchange database mailboxes and data items >> Select Export button
4. Click on EDB mailboxes and export to the desired export option
Now if you recovered the mailbox database from corruption lets remove the white space.
Remove Whitespace from Exchange 2016 / 2013 / 2010 Database
1. Launch the EMS (Exchange Management Shell) > Go to the folder where the Exchange database is located
cd D: \Data\MB-Ho-01
2. Then, dismount the Exchange mailbox database
dismount-database MB-Ho-01
3. Use the eseutil command to defrag the Exchange database
eseutil /d MB-Ho-01.edb /t\\testserver\defrag\temp.edb
4. Then, mount the Exchange mailbox database
mount-database MB-Ho-01
5. Now, use the cmdlet given below to view that all the white space are removed
Get-MailboxDatabase -Status | ft name,databasesize,availablenewmailboxspace, -auto
After using the Eseutil tool take the complete backup of Exchange mailbox database
Bringing It All Together
Now users have detailed information about white space and how to remove whitespace from Exchange database by using the solution mentioned here. In case your Offline / Dismounted EDB file gets corrupted then users can use the advance solution provided here and recover the Exchange database from corruption in simplified way without any hassle. Then they can easily remove the white space without any hindrance.
