.PST file backup

[Shooks]

My friend sent me an email that asks the following:

i wanted to know if exchange server had the capability to backup files, specifically .pst for outlook, or if you need some third party software?

I have no experience with Exchange Server or Outlook really, so I ask the experts here, what should I tell him?

 

[RebateMonger]

Normally, when an Exchange Server is used, Outlook is run in Cached mode. The Exchange Server holds all emails in its database. Outlook clients maintain a cache file (.OST file) that synchronizes with their mailbox on the Server. PST files aren't used at all. Backups of email are done by backing up the Exchange Store (database), rather than by backing up individual .PST files.

 

[tranceport]

.pst files are locked and in use when outlook is opened. This prevents good backups of the .pst with file level backup software.

Exchange stores email in the exchange database on the exchange server. This can then be backed up with an exchange backup agent from various backup software vendors.

It is my opinion that pst's should be avoided.

 

[Shooks]

Thanks for the info guys, I will let him know!

 

[ITJunkie]

You can backup up your Exchange mailbox to a .PST if that's what you want to know.

With Outlook open, click on "mailbox - username", go to File, import/export, export to a file and choose .PST. When you get to your mailbox just make sure to check the "include subfolders" box.

 

[Shooks]

Well my friend wrote back

Does Exchange Server provides the capability to backup the Exchange Store? Or is a third party app needed to do that?

And to ITJunkie, is there anyway to automate that process or is some third party app needed also?

 

[Nothinman]

i wanted to know if exchange server had the capability to backup files, specifically .pst for outlook, or if you need some third party software?

Exchange doesn't do backups, it's a mail server. And PST files are local to the client so the server doing the backups wouldn't see them anyway.

Does Exchange Server provides the capability to backup the Exchange Store? Or is a third party app needed to do that?

Again, Exchange doesn't do backups. Windows comes with NTBackup but I'm not sure if it'll do an Exchange store. Backups are probably one of the worst things about dealing with computers and having to backup Exchange makes it a lot worse. I know BackupExec has an Exchange agent/plugin but I believe it's an additional cost.

And to ITJunkie, is there anyway to automate that process or is some third party app needed also?

If you want to export mailboxes to PST files you can use exmerge, but that's a terrible backup plan.

 

[yinan]

ntbackup can backup the information store but gettign a creatign a schedule using it is a PITA. A much better product for doign this is backup exec. Backing up your Exchange Store to PSTs then re merging them is a very bad idea. This kills off single instance storage which can save a ton of space on an Exchange Server.

 

[AlucardX]

might want to look into symantec enterprise vault

 

[tomt4535]

Enterprise Vault is a email archiving program, not a backup program. It is a decent product if you want to get rid of users saving emails to PST files, but its not a backup solution.