Hardware Recommendations for the Index Server

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.

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