PST files over the network

[Guest]

We have been configuring our LAN users to store their .PST files on local
file servers to provide a means of backing up their archived mail. One of
our technicians brought up KB article 297019 which describes that PST files
are not supported across a WAN/LAN link. If our users are just using the PST
files to store old messages because their Exchange mailbox limits are 300 mb,
would this be a problem? We've been doing this for the past 3 years with
minimal PST file corruption and have found PST files corrupt on local drives
as well as on network connected drives so it seems that it doesn't matter
where the PST files are stored, they still can get corrupted.

 

[Guest]

There is a difference between archiving mail and using a PST for mail daily.
The corruption would occur because the PST requires constant read/write from
Outlook whereas if you archive mail periodically to a PST, there isn't such a
risk. That's strictly my opinion however. I have used the same practice as
you in the past and only had one PST corrupt on a regular basis (user
procedural issue - he was using Outlook 2000 and kept adding to his PST until
it was 900 gb, he refused to create different PST's). If you can recover from
backup and the PST's are used strictly for archiving, to me it's not such an
issue but that is personal opinion only.
The MVP's will likely have a different opinion and very valid reasons why
you may not want to continue this practice.