Managing Mailboxes and Message Settings in Exchange Server 2003

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The key function of Exchange is to provide mailbox functionality to end-user accounts within Active Directory. This section assists Exchange Server 2003 administrators in enabling and managing end- user mailboxes, mailbox options, and the information stores where they reside.

Also included are the step-by-step tasks to help administrators configure user mailbox options in the Exchange System Manager and tips for managing the new Exchange Server 2003 features, such as wireless browsing and user-initiated synchronization. We also cover methods and tools to use when administering and maintaining mailboxes within the information store.

Managing Exchange Mailboxes

Administrators can manage Exchange user mailboxes using two methods. The first and most common is using the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in. Using Active Directory Users and Computers, administrators can mail-enable and manage mailboxes from an individual user account perspective as they reside in their perspective Organizational Unit.

The second option is using the Exchange System Manager to manage mailbox attributes and settings. Some user Exchange tasks can also be performed through the Exchange System Manager, but this method is most commonly used to set mailbox options such as message limits and storage limits on a global or storage container level for all mailboxes.

Mail-Enabling Active Directory Objects

When an account is mail-enabled, Exchange creates a mailbox for the Active Directory object and enables Exchange functionality based on the policies and settings on the Exchange store where the mailbox is created.

Windows Active Directory objects can be mail-enabled using two methods: doing so when the account object is originally created in Active Directory, and using the Exchange Tasks Wizard in the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in.

To create a mailbox for an object when a new Active Directory account is created, select the Create an Exchange Mailbox option during the configuration of the account.

When this option is selected, administrators must also select an alias name for the Exchange user and the Exchange server and mailbox store where the mailbox will reside. This option creates a mail-enabled Active Directory account.

When accounts exist that were not mail-enabled during creation, objects can be mail-enabled individually or in bulk by using the Exchange Tasks Wizard in the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in. To mail-enable Active Directory objects, complete these steps:

  1. Open the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in and select the account or account objects to be mail-enabled.

  2. To open the Exchange Task Wizard, click the Action menu and select the Exchange Task option.

  3. At the Welcome to Exchange Task Wizard, select Next.

  4. On the Available Task screen, select the Create Mailbox option and click Next.

  5. Choose the mail store and server where the mailbox will reside, and select Next.

  6. Review the summary and select the Finished button when the mailbox has been created.

NOTE

After a mailbox has been created, the Back button cannot be used to change the options configured when the account is mail-enabled.


Implementing Message Limits and Storage Limits

Implementing message and storage limits is often considered when planning the installation of an Exchange Server 2003 server. Capacity planning and the total number of users planned per server can directly affect the decisions regarding the implementation of information storage limits.

Each can have considerable effects on an Exchange Server 2003 server as well as the network performance that Exchange Server 2003 installed.

Using storage limits can be beneficial to help manage the total amount of data being stored within a storage group. Given the total amount of users planned per storage group and the storage limits being implemented, administrators can determine the maximum storage size that any storage container can grow. This can effectively assist Exchange administrators in managing and maintaining information stores to a size that can easily be backed up in a timely manner. Managing the database sizes through storage limits can also assist in shortening the total amount of time needed to perform maintenance on a single Exchange database.

Limits can be implemented with Exchange Server 2003 in two ways. Limits can configured globally using the Exchange System Manager or can be applied on an individual basis from the properties of a mail-enabled object.

Understanding and Implementing User Mailbox Options

With each mail-enabled Active Directory object, administrators can configure multiple Exchange options to customize the Exchange mailbox. Each mail-enabled account in Active Directory contains Exchange pages with options specific to the individual account.

The Exchange options pages in the user's properties can be used and configured to override the storage container settings created through the Exchange System Manager. These options are often used when a member of a storage container requires message limits, delivery restrictions, and alternate email addresses that differ from the default setting placed on the container.

To set these options on a specific user object, refer to the following settings to determine which best fits the needs being implemented.

Exchange General

The General Exchange tab is used to set restrictions and limits for a specific user mailbox. These options and their definitions are listed here:

  • Mailbox Store The Mailbox Store tab cannot be modified from the User Option page. It is used to identify the mailbox store of which the account is a member.

  • Alias The alias name for a mailbox is used as an alternate logon name for the user account. The option is set when the object is mail-enabled and can be changed at any time from this tab.

  • Delivery Restrictions Select this option to configure the maximum size limits for outgoing and inbound mail. This option can also be used to specify specific email accounts that the mail-enabled object can and cannot send receive messages from.

  • Delivery Options The most common use for the delivery tab is to configure accounts and enable the send on behalf privileges options for the accounts, as well as limit the total number of addresses the object can send messages to.

  • Storage Limits Enabling storage limits sets the total size that a mail-enabled user can allow the mailbox to grow. As a defined mailbox limit is reached, the account is warned that it is reaching the limit set, requiring the user to remove mail objects from within the mailbox. This option also allows an administrator to configure deleted item retention. This determines how long deleted objects will remain hidden within a mailbox for recovery purposes before objects are permanently deleted.

Email Addresses

The Email options page allows administrators to configure additional addresses for a specific user's account. This option contains addresses based on the recipient policy configured through the Exchange System Manager. If a user requires additional mail addresses, select the New tab to add any of the available Microsoft compatible addresses.

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Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Unleashed
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Unleashed (2nd Edition)
ISBN: 0672328070
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 393
Authors: Rand Morimoto

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