PSTs stored on a server?

[Steve]

We have some users with rather large PSTs. Firstly, is
there a physical size limitation of 2GB?
Secondly, users have their PSTs on their local drives, in
an environment with 1000+ users. We have several hundred
users that have a total of about 110GB of pst's. We want
to move them back to a server so they are actually backed
up. Does anyone know if this is a problem?
If so - what is being done in other companies when it
comes to PST backups, in environments with 1000+ desktops?

Thanks!

Steve

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

In terms of PST backups, most environments that large don't use PST files
for message delivery. Time for Exchange server, I'd say...

See MS KB 305519 for info on why PST files are not supported on a LAN/WAN
drive...and http://www.swinc.com/resource/exch_faq_appxf.htm for some other
reasons not to use them. Exchange supports single-instance storage, so the
data (well, new data, not imported from PST) will take up a lot less space

 

[Steve]

Thanks for the response.
Our exchange servers are hosted by our parent company -
and they charge of course for storage and per mail
account - so that is why we use psts. You stated
that "single instance stores" (if you could explain that
a bit further) takes up far less space? If a user has a
1.5 gb pst - any idea of what that might take up if
stored in a "single instance store" - if I have my
terminology correct. How can we phase out pst files all
together? Can we migrate the info to these stores? Have
any info? Recommended readings?

Thanks!

Steve

-----Original Message-----
In terms of PST backups, most environments that large don't use PST files
for message delivery. Time for Exchange server, I'd say...

See MS KB 305519 for info on why PST files are not supported on a LAN/WAN
drive...and

http://www.swinc.com/resource/exch_faq_appxf.htm for some
other