Possible, yes... Recommended, no. In the event of a total system failure such as you describe, you would only be able to recover mailbox contents. No public folders, no distribution lists, no directory information (smtp addresses, etc.)
Procedure might run something like this... Bring up client offline. Do NOT attempt to synch. Export data to PST (if you've had to rebuild the server, the pointers in the OST will be broken. I don't believe you'll be able to rebuild directory information from the OSTs alone). Import data to rebuilt Exchange server, via either client or EXMERGE. You would be MUCH better off with actual Disaster Recovery procedures. For the size of your IS, you could get by with an IDE based TR-4 solution (if you're only worried about restoring Exchange). About US$500 or so for the drive, plus $30 or so per 10/20GB media. Actually, re-reading the below, it might be best to also do a CSV directory export, so you can at least get your recipients up to match the OST-PST procedure quickly. And, yes, PSTs can be opened by any configuration of Outlook. -----Original Message----- From: Karl Burbage [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2002 5:25 PM To: MS-Exchange Admin Issues Subject: Using OSTs for backup We have a modest Exch 5.5 server with around 3.2GB of IS data and 40 odd users. We've had a system failure recently. I had the idea that, space permitting on the client machines, if everyone had sync'd OSTs that if we were to have a total outage/failure, we have the option of 'starting' again - a kind of belt and braces idea in the event backups fail, and so on. Would there be any major down sides with this idea? Can ordinary (no password protection) PSTs be opened by any Outlook install? Regards Karl List Charter and FAQ at: http://www.sunbelt-software.com/exchange_list_charter.htm List Charter and FAQ at: http://www.sunbelt-software.com/exchange_list_charter.htm
