Exchange Performance Tip - Increase of the "ESE Buffer"

Increase of the “ESE Buffer” the Database Cache for increased Exchange ESE performance:

The Store Database Cache is also known as the ESE buffer, and it provides a large caching area for database transactions before they are committed to the store. By default, Exchange Server 2003 queries the memory configuration of the local computer, and then allocates 898MB of Ram if the /3gb switch is set in the Boot.ini file or 576MB of Ram if the /3gb switch is not set.
Where a server is heavily loaded or where disk performance is not optimal, a large ESE buffer increases overall system performance. Depending on the configuration, you may have to increase or reduce the size of this buffer to obtain the best overall performance.

In a scenario where Exchange Server 2003 is used in an environment where it co-exists with other server-side programs, it may monopolize the available memory resources. The Dynamic Buffer Allocation (DBA) algorithm is responsible for returning memory to the operating system if other programs require it. However, you can manually limit the memory that Exchange Server 2003 uses by reducing the ESE buffer.

On servers that have more than 2gb of memory, it may help to increase the size of the ESE buffer.

1. Start ADSI
2. Under Configuration Container, where servername.example.com is the fully qualified domain name FQDN of the server, expand CD=Configuration, DC=Example, DC=Com
3. Expand CN=Services, expand CN=Microsoft Exchange, expand CN=Organization Name, expand CN=Administrative Groups, expand CN=First Administrative Group, expand CN=Servers, and then expand CN=server name.
4. Under CN=Server name, right-click CN=Information Store, and then click Properties.
5. In the Select which properties to view list, click Both.
6. In the Select a property to view list, click msExchESEParamCacheSizeMax
7. In the Edit Attribute box, enter the following value: 311296 (This value equates to 1.2gb for the ESE Buffer/Cache for use)
8. Click Set and then click okay
9. Quit the ADSI Editor.
10. Allow sufficient time for this value to be replicated throughout the AD forest.
11. Restart the Microsoft Exchange Information Store Service on the Exchange Server.