Compact actually exacerbates disk fragmentation of databases that have a lot activity adding and deleting data. This is due to the repeated expansion and contraction of the file as it grows when data is added and then contracted by compact.

Good point. Another thing I found interesting recently. I'm running a Domino server in a cloud and therefore using SAN storage (1g/s iSCSI in this case). Despite proper routine of compact with dominodefrag and defrag, I noticed a significant degredation (high disk thrashing vs throughput). I decided to put DiskKeeper on the job, which is very much SAN aware these days. Low and behold, it was MASSIVELY fragmented. A bit of intimacy with SAN was long overdue in my bag of tricks, so I've been learning more about it. The pertinent understanding has been that the OS (and therefore anything on top of it) can't see below the lower abstraction layers of a SAN. I suspect Disk Keeper is getting intimate with the iSCSI driver to really see whats going on underneath, maybe.

@0 NSF fragmentation is really only an issue on Windows servers and their attached storage. For example, UNIX/Linux servers running Domino will avoid fragmentation with more than 10% free disk space. Both OS permutations do not offer a native defrag tool as they do not use one natively. Thus, adding defrag to the common code install for Domino would seem to introduce complexity as this is presumably a server task you seek that would only be available on one Domino flavor. Running defrag on a Linux server could cause a lot of problems. Uncertain how introducing OS specific server tools would fly internally with IBM's design approach. Not saying either way, just posing the query.

A great tool for Windows servers I concur. But it would be faster to switch to Linux and avoid this maintenance task all together. <jk> :)

Seriously though, what is the SAN utilized in question...just curious.

Demoting as I like consistent install sets. Nothing personal here, I assure you Mark

Finally, a reason to switch to Linux :) Actually I didn't know about the UNIX/Linux preallocation, lets throw a party...

Since posting this Idea I've had a good look at the latest Diskeeper release. It has a new technology (since I last played with it) which defragments files as they're being written. Which ofcourse would do the work in real time (and slow the disk!!?). Jury is out on this tool.

DominoDefrag has a setting to pre-allocate space at the end of each database as a percentage of the database size (or rather put the file in a contiguous sector with a % of contiguous space infront of it). The OS will still happily stick files in these gaps but I suppose it could help significantly.

:| Thinking of switching to Linux.

@4 If you have questions on Domino for Linux, fire-away. Happy to help. I speak on this topic frequently at LUGs. The DominoDefrag enhancement you mentioned should provide short-term gains with minimizing fragmentation. This topic along with the monthly MS patch night, are two main sticking points with Domino on Windows admins: both disappear when running Lotus on Linux. Good luck with it.

Thanks Bill I'll hit you up on that. It's basically just a confidence problem in being able to deal with the OS.

This issue resolves a specific issue relating to windows OS, agree Linux/Unix is a much better OS but not everyone has the option to switch to these OS's. Would lovel to know what the OS split is for Domino servers across the world