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Housekeeping and Message Management - Administrator

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The keys to keeping the size of your folders manageable are to

  • Periodically empty the Deleted Items folder
  • Archive or delete from Sent Items
  • Remove attachments from sent messages, assuming that the attached files are stored elsewhere on your system
  • Use one of the third-party tools listed here to compress attachments that you want to keep in your folders
  • If you are using Personal Folders, periodically compact them to recover space left behind by deleted items.
  • This page lists tools that can help users and administrators manage Outlook items by archiving items, removing attachments, repairing .pst and .ost files, renaming special folders, calculating folder size, backing up Outlook data,

    The More Information section includes links to additional types of tools that may be useful for housekeeping.

    Outlook housekeeping utilities are now at http://www.slipstick.com/addins/housekeeping.asp.

     

    User Tools | More Information

    Tools in the Spotlight

    Advanced Exchange Recovery Advanced Exchange Recovery (AEXR) repairs and recovers corrupted Microsoft Exchange offline storage (.ost) files. AEXR can scan orphaned OST files and recover mail messages and other items, including folders, posts, appointments, meeting requests, contacts, distribution lists, tasks, journals and notes. The recovered items are saved in PST format readable by Outlook, Other important features: recover attachments and deleted items, recover oversized 2GB OST files, support to convert OST files into PST files. Fully supports Microsoft Exchange 2010 and Outlook 2010.
    Archive Attender Archive Attender is an automated email archiving tool that moves essential data out of Exchange mailboxes and into a secure, external storage device. Using Archive Attender, administrators also have the ability to control and grant access rights to users. No additional hardware or client installations are required.
    Discovery Attender An electronic discovery tool specifically designed to perform dynamic keyword searches in Exchange mailboxes, PST files and common file storage areas. Discovery Attender can automatically execute scans of message subject, body and attachments through customizable search criteria. Content searches are transparent to end-users and can be targeted to specific groups or users. Once critical information is located, it can be moved or copied to a secure location.
    GFI MailEssentials for Exchange Anti-spam, disclaimers (with variables), archiving Internet mail, Internet mail usage reports. Includes a POP downloader and personalized server-based autoreplies that can include attachments and tracking numbers. Can archive to an ODBC database. Version 14 includes Overall improved anti-spam technology, an additional anti-spam engine called SpamRazer along with improved performance and a real-time dashboard.
    Mail Attender Mail Attender provides comprehensive content management in PST files (personal storage folders) on desktops/servers, mailboxes and public folders. With MA Enterprise, administrators can distribute/enforce common policies, archive data and search content in multiple information stores from a central web interface. Also, can track statistical information such as total message/attachment count, size and type while tracking usage of individual users. Works with Exchange 5.5, 2000, 2003, 2007.
    PST Policy Administrator Automatically compacts PST files to recover deleted PST storage space and reduce the risk of corrupted PST files. PST Policy Admin keeps PST storage in check by deleting aged or large attachments and messages. Once it has cleaned up the files, it can automatically compact the data and free up additional storage to complete the storage reclamation process.
    SonaSafe for Exchange Server SonaSafe for Exchange Server is an Integrated Backup/Recovery and Replication Solution for Exchange Server. SonaSafe for Exchange Server is the only software that offers both backup/recovery and replication for Exchange Server as part of a single integrated solution. The solution provides automated one-click rapid recovery to the point of failure. Free trial available.

    More Tools

    Archive One Policy Manager Archive One Policy Manager provides control over both live data and archived email data. It enforces corporate e-policies, removes unwanted email and other data items from live Exchange Servers, reducing Exchange store size and improving backup/restore times. Also discovers all PSTs and associated information and allows you to manage them the way you want. Without any archiving and indexing, all key email properties can be analyzed and with corresponding actions, can be executed to suit the discovery need.
    asOne OnlineBackup for Exchange Automatically backs up all default mailbox folders and public folders continuously, on a schedule, or when items change.
    asOne SecurityStore for Exchange Extracts attachments and saves them separately, substituting a link for the attachment in the message. Also provides revision-safe storage for copies of email messages to meet legal admissibility standards.
    Attachment Executive Server Side Helps control the storage space needed for Exchange/Outlook messages by removing attachments from Exchange mailboxes. Rules and other tools for managing attachments. Rules can be set up to act on arrival, on reading, on sending or after so many days.
    AttachSTOR Suite for Exchange Server-based attachment compression and encryption, based on company-specific policies. Attachments are stored separately from the Exchange store, but messages include links that allow users to retrieve files using their browsers. Can identify duplicate attachments and store only a single instance. Remote users on low bandwidth connections can download only those attachments they really need. (was STORcore Suite for Exchange)
    AutoArchive Manager Symprex AutoArchive Manager allows administrators to centrally manage auto-archive settings on mailbox folders on Exchange 5.5, 2000 and 2003. The administrator can configure auto-archive settings on folders within individual mailboxes or within groups of mailboxes. Settings can be listed and changed manually or automatically for any number of mailbox folders at the click of a button.
    Backup for Workgroups Backs up Exchange and Active Directory data, along with other files. Since it has to stop key Exchange services during the backup process, it's probably suitable only for smaller Exchange databases or cases where you can be absolutely sure that no one is connected to the server.
    CA XOsoft Replication Option for Exchange CA XOsoft Replication Option for Exchange is a disaster recovery solution that uses asynchronous real-time replication to provide cost-effective disaster recovery capabilities for Microsoft Exchange on 32- and 64-bit Windows standalone and cluster servers.
    CleanSweep Microsoft BackOffice Resource Kit tool to delete permissions, forms, views and rules from an Exchange Server mailbox
    Enterprise Vault Policy-driven archiving system for Exchange Server providing automatic archiving of older content, content indexing for web-based search and PST archive migration. When mailbox and public folder items are archived, shortcuts are left in the mailbox so that users can still access the items without looking in a separate store.
    Exchange Archive Solution Archiving tool for Exchange Server combining, on-line, near-line and off-line storage. Can build central repository for archives from geographically separated servers. Supports 20 languages.
    ExchangeServerRecovery Converts data from a corrupted Exchange 5.5 or 2000 mail database into Personal Folders .pst files.
    ExMS Directory Integrity Agent Synchronizes the GAL or Active Directory with other databases. Also automatically rebuilds distribution lists according to criteria, searches mailboxes for specific content and acts on matching messages, archives messages meeting certain criteria, manages public folder permissions, and provides other Exchange management features.
    FileSurf Records management system for applying consistent retention policies to Microsoft Outlook, as well as other corporate data. FileSurf can manage the entire lifecycles of both physical and electronic records, including emails and their attachments. FileSurf is certified by the latest version of the U.S. DoD 5015.2 Standard for records management software. FileSurf is designed to be flexible, scalable and extensible to address the unique records management requirements of any organization.
    Galaxy Backup & Recovery for Exchange 2000 Backup and recovery solution for Exchange Server, including single mailbox and single item recovery. (Was: Commvault Exchange Backup)
    GFI MailArchiver for Exchange Server An email archiving solution that enables organizations to archive all internal and external mail into a single SQL database. With GFI MailArchiver, companies can easily fulfill regulatory requirements (such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act) and store mail in a standards-based, space-saving format. At the same time, MailArchiver provides users with easy, centralized access to past email via a web-based search interface. Because email is stored in a standard SQL database, it is easy to backup and restore; no special Exchange backup tools are required. Now includes auditing functionality that ensures that all archived emails have not been tampered with, as well as a PST migration tool which provides access to old PST files on client machines. Version 5.
    GOexchange Exchange housekeeping tool that checks public and private databases for consistency and integrity; checks for and resolves corrupt messages, attachments, and folders; defragments the directory and the public and private databases; deletes corrupted objects; and compacts and rebuilds information stores.
    iQ.Suite for Exchange Tool suite for Exchange 2000 and 2003 provides anti-virus protection, disclaimers, spam and junk mail filtering, content-based filtering, PGP and S/MIME encryption, encrypted archival storage and mail forwarding.
    Language Stamper Tool to rename "special" Outlook folders, such as the Calendar, Tasks, Inbox, and Contacts, either for all mailboxes on a server or for a single mailbox . Requires CDO. Available in both administrator and end user versions.
    MailBasketMD Anti-spam, disclaimers (with variables), archiving Internet mail, Internet mail usage reports. Includes a POP downloader and personalized server-based autoreplies that can include attachments and tracking numbers. Can archive to an ODBC database. For Exchange 2000, but can also work with Exchange 5.5 via SMTP.
    Mailscape ENow Releases Mailscape Feature Pack 2 for simplified Exchange and Mobile Device Management. The award-winning Mailscape is a total systems management tool that provides Exchange monitoring and reporting, plus BlackBerry and ActiveSync management, in a single solution. The new version helps companies ensure a smooth migration to Exchange 2010, streamlines daily IT tasks associated with e-mail system administration, and offers over 40 new reports, including mobile device usage. Over 200 built-in reports and a sleek dashboard view of your entire system. Supports Exchange 2003, 2007 and 2010.
    NetVault Backup and restore software with support for Exchange 2000, as well as many other mail and database servers.
    OnTrack PowerControls Retrieve any data directly from any unmounted Exchange .edb or log file -- in other words, directly from your backup file -- and restore it to an Exchange mailbox or Personal Folders .pst file. Can also restore an online backup from different backup tools to an alternate location.
    Outlook AutoArchive Settings Viewer Sample Visual Basic 6.0 project to display (but not set) the AutoArchive settings of a particular folder.
    Personality Tranxport Professional Administrative tool for migrating all of a user's system settings -- including those for Outlook -- to a new computer.
    Policy Patrol Enterprise All the disclaimer and signature features of Policy Patrol Disclaimer, plus rules-based message and attachment filtering, spam blocking with real-time black lists, white lists, and other methods, anti-virus using the Kaspersky anti-virus engine, off-peak delivery of large messages, reports on sent and received messages and other management features, automatic printing, customized NDRs and DSNs, automatic conversion of messages to plain text, automatic compression and decompression, archiving to SQL, XML, or CSV.
    Praetor Message filtering tool for Exchange Server to block spam, proprietary information leaks and unacceptable language. Also can create automatic replies and perform rule-based archiving.
    R2 Revolutionary Recovery Backup and recovery solution for Exchange that combines software with solid-state disk technology. Policies keep the most recent 10% of data on solid-state storage and the rest typically on lower-cost storage. Performs full continuous backups of Exchange message stores.
    RBMergeToPst Free utility to copy data from multiple Exchange mailboxes and public folders into Personal Folders .pst files for backup or archiving.
    Recovery Manager for Exchange Perform brick-level restores from regular Exchange backups. You can search for what you want to restore by mailbox, message content, and types of items.
    Scheduled Mailbox Report Script Sample Exchange Server Event Service script to create a size report in CSV format on all mailboxes on a server and mail it to an administrator.
    SharePointUpload Sharepoint Upload is a command line freeware tool (with .NET source) that can extract e-mails from PST, Public Folders, and Exchange Mailboxes and place on a file system in MSG format (using Redemption). The extracted files are compatible to SharePoint naming conventions.
    VERITAS NetBackup Storage Migrator for Exchange Migrates infrequently used message attachments to near-line or offline storage, giving users transparent access while reducing the online storage requirements.
    Back to Top

     

    More Information

  • Compression Tools -- By compressing attachments, these can reduce the storage space used by Outlook items.
  • Search Tools -- These tools provide faster, indexed searching.
  • Configuration and Maintenance Issues
  • To repair a damaged Outlook PST file
  • Overview of Archive and of AutoArchive in Outlook 2003
  • OL98: How to Remove or Replace Folder Size Button in Folder Properties
  • OL2002 How to Remove or Replace Folder Size Button in Folder Properties
  • OL2000 An Overview of Archive and AutoArchive
  • XADM Understanding Offline and Snapshot Backups -- for Exchange Server
  • Incorporating Archiving into Your Exchange 2000 Migration Strategy -- vendor white paper on using archiving as part of a migration strategy
  • Microsoft Backup and Storage Management Partners
  • Change Outlook Folder AutoArchive settings -- CDO script for changing AutoArchive settings on individual folders
  • Attachment Archiving to a File Server Script -- Script to run on Exchange 2000 Server to archive mailbox item attachments as system files and replace them in the original items with a text link to the archived file
  • Backing up Exchange 2000 using Windows 2000 Backup
  • Outlook Mailbox Maintenance Plan
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    Last modified on Monday, April 05, 2010
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