Exchange Cached mode and large OST Files

[Mark Gould]

Reposted with correct subject

Outlook 2003 SP3
Exchange Server 2003 Enterprise

I have a user who has a VERY large mailbox (9gb) and this is causing
performance issues with the OST (nearly 10gb). Exchange Server is more then
happy and is running at low use (35 users) and the network (Gb to the
desktop) is also not stressed.

Very slow to change between messages in a folder (which can also be very
large)

Whilst I am working with changes in McAfee (we already don;t scan the OST
etc!).

I would like to change the setup so only key folders are in the OSt and
other folders are pulled from the Server on a as needed basis.

How can I deselect a folder from being available offline. In the normal Send
Receive settings box, most folders are unticked by default as one would
expect.

Many thanks

Mark

 

[neo [mvp outlook]]

You can't. The idea of cached mode is to have a mirror copy of whatever the
mailbox holds. Now with that siad, you can set sync filters on each folder
to limit the amount of items that are replicated to the OST.

While http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2007/12/17/447750.aspx talks about
Outlook 2007, it applies to Outlook 2003 for the most part. (I will warn
you now that to get at the items that don't replicate will require using OWA
or a second Outlook profile that is configured for tradition (not cached)
mode.)

 

[Mark Gould]

Would Outlook 2007 SP1 be an improvment over Outlook 2003 SP3

Also, would faster hard drives help, the article seems to suggest it could?

Mark

 

[Mark Gould]

Would Outlook 2007 SP1 be an improvment over Outlook 2003 SP3

Also, would faster hard drives help, the article seems to suggest it could?

Mark

 

[Emily Lin]

Hi Mark,

The outlook 2007 SP1 update is for Outlook 2007. This update cannot be installed on the computer with Outlook 2003.

According to your situation, I would like to recommend you to reduce the OST file size to improve the outlook 2003 performance. Followign is hte
key steps about how to move the data from OST file to a PST file.
==============
1. In Outlook 2003, click File > New > Outlook Data File > click OK.
2. Save it to a folder and name it (for example: D:\OutlookPST\ExchangeMailboxBackup.pst). click OK.
3. Name the personal folder as ExchangeMailboxBackup. Click OK.
4. Right click the new created personal folder > choose New Folder to create a Inbox mail folder and Sent Items mail folder under it.
5. And then, move the messages from the mailbox-UserName\Inbox to the ExchangeMailboxBackup\Inbox. Move the messages from the
mailbox-UserName\Sent Items to the ExchangeMailboxBackup\Sent Items.
Note: You can press the Shift key to choose a lot of messages and then move them.
Thus, the OST file size will be reduced. Hope it works for you!

If anything is unclear or if you have any other concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Regards,

Emily Lin

Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
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[Mark Gould]

Alas, there is not an option to move messages from the OSt to the PST. I
appreciate this is the best solution but alas is not an option.

My two thoughts are

1. Would Outlook 2007 SP1 with the patch work faster then Outlook 2003 SP3
2. Will changing the machine from one using a SATA drive to one using a pair
of SAS 15K drives in raid0 (hardware) make any difference or is this just a
waste of money?

Many thanks

 

[neo [mvp outlook]]

Faster spinning drives (4200/5400 vs 7200/10000 rpm) and IDE vs SATA will
always show small performance gains. However we are talking about the end
user expectation of what they would like versus what is reality*. (For
example, if it is a laptop user, I always put them on a desktop with same
config to see if they can live with the experience before opting to buy
newer hardware just to find out they still aren't happy.)

As for the question is Outlook 2007 SP1 and don't take this as a negative, I
believe Outlook 2007 SP1 has made huge strides to improve performance since
its release and is a good product, but there are still some nagging things
there when it comes to huge mailboxes just like the one you are dealing
with. So I really can't say that it will be the magic bullet that solves
the issues you are asking about.

/neo

* there are just so many things that influence outlook performance we
haven't talked about it isn't funny. so it is real hard to say that
throwing money/hardware/time at the problem is going help. (for example, we
didn't talk about views/filters. Exchange/Outlook only allow so many before
it always has to rebuild a view when switching folders.)

 

[Emily Lin]

Hi Mark,

I think that Neo has answered your questions. Feel free to let us know if you have further questions.

Regards,

Emily Lin

Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
====================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
====================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

--------------------

 

[Emily Lin]

Hi Mark,

I would appreciate it if you could drop me a note to let me know the status of the issue in the thread. If you have any questions or concerns,
please feel free to let me know. I am happy to be of assistance.

Sincerely,

Emily Lin,
Microsoft Online Partner Support

Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security


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When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so that others may learn and benefit from this issue.
======================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.


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