The index server provides the following functions:
-
stores metadata
-
provides content indexing, if it is configured
-
browsing and searching archived messages
For more information, see Configurations for the Exchange Mailbox Agent Index Server.
Index Server Size Without Content Indexing
Use these guidelines to select the appropriate hardware for the index server if you do not use content indexing. In this case, archiving and cleanup operations are considered.
Component |
Large |
Medium |
Small |
---|---|---|---|
Source application size |
50 TB |
20 TB |
5 TB |
Objects per node (estimated)* |
500 million |
200 million |
50 million |
Number of mailboxes** |
10,000 |
4000 |
1000 |
CPU, vCPU, and RAM |
CPU or vCPU: 16 cores RAM: 28 GB - 32 GB |
CPU or vCPU: 8 cores RAM: 16 GB |
CPU or vCPU: 4 cores RAM: 8 GB |
Index disk space (SSD class disk recommended) |
3 TB |
1.5 TB |
500 GB |
* Based on an average message size of 100 KB.
** Based on an average mailbox size of 5 GB, and an average of 50,000 messages per mailbox.
Index Server Sizing with Content Indexing
Use these guidelines to select the appropriate hardware for your index server if you use content indexing. In this case, archiving, cleanup, and content indexing operations are considered. The entire message is content indexed. If you are using one Index Server for both Exchange backups and Exchange data sources in Sensitive Data Governance, size up to the larger specification.
Component |
Large |
Medium |
Small |
---|---|---|---|
Source application size |
25 TB |
15 TB |
5 TB |
Objects per node (estimated)* |
250 million |
150 million |
50 million |
Number of mailboxes** |
5000 |
2000 |
400 |
CPU and RAM |
CPU or vCPU: 16 cores RAM: 48 GB - 64 GB |
CPU or vCPU: 16 cores RAM: 32 GB |
CPU or vCPU: 8 cores RAM: 16 GB |
Index disk space (SSD class disk recommended) |
10 TB |
6 TB |
2 TB |
* Based on an average message size of 100 KB.
** Based on an average mailbox size of 5 GB, and an average of 50,000 messages per mailbox.