Outlook: Huge .pst file makes it slow. Workarounds?

[FOBSIDE]

Here is my setup and situation. Please let me know if you have suggestions as how how to remedy this.

There are 5 users, using Outlook as their email cilient. I know Outlook stores email as one .pst file. They are currently storing their .pst files on the server. Their .pst files are rather large because of the high volume of email they receive. Just one person accessing a .pst file that large would be slow in loading, but when 5 people are doing that, it's quite taxing.

Here are some possible solutions. I am willing to implement any of them or any combination of them:
1. Archiving. Archiving creates another .pst file, but that makes access to the archived emails slower, and even the old emails need to be accessed frequently.
2. Move the .pst files locally to each machine. This solves the load on the server, but eventually as the .pst files grow in size, it will tax the local machine.
3. Work offline. I don't know if this is true, but I heard that this will allow a copy to kept locally and connect to the server copy for updating.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Nothinman]

If the server can't handle the load of 5 people, perhap it needs upgrading? Pretty much everyone in our company has a PST file (over 1,000 employees) and almost all of them keep them on the servers, they're not all on the same server but they're only spread across 3 or 4 servers.

I believe for #3 they'd have to keep their mail on the mail server and 'sync' periodically.

 

[FOBSIDE]

Well, if you can image 500 MB .pst files being accessed constantly, it's pretty taxing. They never delete anything. A lot of small file accessing would be less painful on the server, I think.

 

[Nothinman]

I personally have a several hundred Meg PST file, sorry not at work to get an exact number, and while it's not 'fast' I wouldn't consider it slow either.

 

[ganesha]

I would move them locally to their machines. Unless they have 200Mhz 64megs ram machines, they won't be taxed. The majority of my Sales users average 1.2-1.6 gig .pst files on PIII 500Mhz 128megs Ram laptops with no ill effects(besides the occasional need to run Inbox Repair Tool)

 

[Nothinman]

would move them locally to their machines. Unless they have 200Mhz 64megs ram machines, they won't be taxed. The majority of my Sales users average 1.2-1.6 gig .pst files on PIII 500Mhz 128megs Ram laptops with no ill effects(besides the occasional need to run Inbox Repair Tool)

The main ill effect is that the PST files aren't backed up if they're local.

 

[JackBurton]

Simple solution and it is pretty standard for large companies. You put a limit on their mail that is stored on the Exchange server. Now if they run out of room, they need to create a personal folder (*.pst file) on their LOCAL drive. If they want to back it up, tell them they need to copy (not move) their local pst files to their personal drive on the server.

"2. Move the .pst files locally to each machine. This solves the load on the server, but eventually as the .pst files grow in size, it will tax the local machine."

Instead of having a HUGE pst file, break it up into smaller files. That way Outlook doesn't have to read into ONE huge file. Reading into multiple smaller files is alot faster. Also, since it is stored locally, it will be MUCH faster getting into Outlook.

 

[FOBSIDE]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Instead of having a HUGE pst file, break it up into smaller files. That way Outlook doesn't have to read into ONE huge file. Reading into multiple smaller files is alot faster. Also, since it is stored locally, it will be MUCH faster getting into Outlook.

How do you get Outlook to read multiple .pst files? I thought once you import one in, it adds it to the big .pst file.

 

[starwarsdad]

How do you get Outlook to read multiple .pst files? I thought once you import one in, it adds it to the big .pst file.

I would be interested in knowing how to do that as well.

We use Sendmail for our MTA. Is there a way that I could have my users PSTs stored on a server in Outlook 2000?

Thanks!

 

[Sunner]

Just go into services and add another personal filder.

And JackBurton, I doubt they have Exchange, wouldn't be much point in using PST's on a server at all if they do, would it

 

[Nothinman]

And JackBurton, I doubt they have Exchange, wouldn't be much point in using PST's on a server at all if they do, would it

We have to because our Exchange guys think a 100M limit on exchange mailboxes is reasonable.

 

[Nucleus111]

We have a 25MB limit for users, except for us though
You could have your users archive their mailboxes and store them in their home directory (should be a different server) or local HD. After which, you could "open" the archived file and outlook will always mount it when it opens.

 

[mboy]

Originally posted by: starwarsdad
How do you get Outlook to read multiple .pst files? I thought once you import one in, it adds it to the big .pst file.

I would be interested in knowing how to do that as well.

We use Sendmail for our MTA. Is there a way that I could have my users PSTs stored on a server in Outlook 2000?

Thanks!

When you import the .pst folder into your current outlook setup, choose not to import it into current folder.

 

[Arkaign]

17 years! Holy crap lol.