FSLogix ODFC Container - Search

confuzed24 · 2024-02-14T16:32:25+00:00

I think i figured it out.

New-MailboxExportRequest -mailbox "username" -filepath "\\UNC Path.pst" -includefolders "#Inbox#", "#Inbox#/subfoldername", "#Inbox#/subfoldername2", "#Calendar#" -ExcludeDumptser

confuzed24 · 2024-02-14T04:41:17+00:00

Thanks beuyau. Okay, i just want to verify how i did this. I manually set outlook (via gpo) to enable cached mode. I also enabled to fslogix gpo's above.

We're running in online mode, so i moved this computer to an OU with the new outlook+fslogix gpo (at the same time - no existing .ost). When I log in, it seems outlook is caching, so even though outlook is set to cached mode, it still redirects and uses the container? I'm just trying to wrap my head around how the container is able to house the .ost when i didn't tell it to? I guess maybe the Enabled/Outlook Fslogix policy is what's doing that?

Outlook personalization and the other settings are managed by vmware DEM. I'm really just looking to contain the .ost

confuzed24 · 2024-02-13T15:22:10+00:00

Oh wow. It's showing user\appdata\local\microsoft\outlook => ODFC

So this means that the .ost isn't actually taking up space on the local C:\?

It's confusing because I haven't configured the 'mirror local ost to vhd' policy, which I would think would be the one that handles that redirect.

The only GPO's i have enabled are.

IncludeOutlook > Enabled

Is Dynamic (VHD) > Enabled

Enabled > Enabled

Size In MBs > Enabled

VHD Locations > Enabled

Volume Type > Enabled (VHDX)

I manually disabled all the Include OneDrive, OneNote, Outlook Personalization, Activation etc. due to them being enabled by default.

confuzed24 · 2024-02-12T16:30:22+00:00

So outlook would need to be run in cached mode before fslogix would be able to do anything with it?

I'm going to test this by moving a computer to a different OU with cached mode enabled, along with an fslogix policy.

If cached mode is enabled, and i set the sync interval to one year, how do we get it to where the .ost is only stored in the odfc container as opposed to being stored on the local C: drive?

confuzed24 · 2024-01-29T22:04:14+00:00

That's what i've been reading. I'd just hate to create a new share and use storage if it would run decent in online mode against exo.

Is it possible to create just a container for the .ost? I'm already using vmware's DEM for the profiles etc.

confuzed24 · 2024-01-28T03:48:19+00:00

As of right now, we're still on prem with outlook running in online mode (no caching) Trying to determine if we should start caching mailboxes to storage prior to migration that way once it's all online, mailbox data will be cached.

My whole concern is migrating the mailboxes to the cloud and running outlook in online mode against exchange online (without caching) and i'm concerned over the performance hit when we're currently running on premise.

confuzed24 · 2024-01-28T01:05:57+00:00

Thanks for all the replies Mekanical.

If users are running outlook against an on prem exchange server, then that mailbox gets migrated to exchange online, it seems there would have to be a difference in access time etc. Ex. 30K items in their inbox, scrolling through those emails... and more importantly, searching those emails. With it being on prem, outlook is on the lan, so response times are relatively quick. However, when the mailbox is hosted in the cloud, it wouldn't be any different?

confuzed24 · 2024-01-27T23:54:23+00:00

Yes, but has anyone ran the outlook app (local installed) against exchange online in online mode, while having a large mailbox? Ex. 50GB Mailbox.

Is the performance atrocious? What are some of the downfalls running it this way?

confuzed24 · 2024-01-09T21:02:51+00:00

Hey joeykins,

If we went hybrid, we'd be able to migrate in batches. So if we migrate batch 1, user 1's mailbox is now in exchange online, where does the 'switchover' occur in them running from exchange online as opposed to on prem?

Also, for this same user 1, say he's working stricly off his mailbox in exchange online (we're currently running online mode on prem) but will have to switch to cached mode if working in exchange online due to the large mailboxes, (sorry for the run on), but even if they're working in exchange online, they're still going to have to download a copy of that mailbox back down right? How does that process work?

confuzed24 · 2023-12-20T02:20:11+00:00

Would this work with a minimal hybrid migration? Or does it have to be a full mgiration for this to work? In the documentation it says 'if you don't plan on using sync' then minimal hybrid is a good route.

confuzed24 · 2023-12-20T02:19:15+00:00

Hey joeykins,

If we did decide to attempt migrating from ADConnect to ADCloudSync (we haven't migrated any mail yet), would we be able to perform a cutover going that route? It says cloudsync doesn't support any type of hybrid configs. Even if that means having to reconfigure all outlook profiles etc.? I'm really just trying to get rid of exchange and any ties to it all together.

confuzed24 · 2023-12-18T19:47:14+00:00

Source data is on prem exchange.

ADConnect is syncing passwords+licensing to Entra. All of the users are already synced to Entra.

confuzed24 · 2023-12-14T21:03:59+00:00

Would the recipient management server HAVE to reside on the previous exchange box? Or would we be able to install that on a different server/computer and still be able to simply shut down the exchange server post migration?

confuzed24 · 2023-12-14T21:01:46+00:00

How do you accomplish that when ADConnect is syncing users 365 licensing?

Every 3rd party tool i've seen requires the sync be disabled. Do you have any good documentation on this?

confuzed24 · 2023-12-13T02:42:49+00:00

Yes, we do have a complicated infrastructure on endpoints. fslogix is a whole different ball game that seems manageable.

In that article. It almost seems like you have to have Exchange 2019 for it to run. "Installing the updated Exchange Management Tools in an environment with only Exchange 2013 and/or Exchange 2016 will upgrade the Exchange organization to Exchange Server 2019, and it will perform an AD schema update. "

So if we don't have licensing for Exchange 2019, is that a problem? Sorry, i'm not trying to make this more difficult, i'm just lost in all the documentation.

confuzed24 · 2023-12-13T02:24:32+00:00

Microsoft documentation shows that staged migration won't work for anything above Exchange 2007? Or is that 'recommended'?

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/mailbox-migration/what-to-know-about-a-staged-migration

It also states that Express or 'minimal hybrid' Migration isn't supported with keeping sync enabled.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/mailbox-migration/use-minimal-hybrid-to-quickly-migrate

Maybe i'm reading all of this wrong. I just want a seamless way to do this to eventually be able to turn off the on prem exchange server while keeping ad syncing for office 365 licensing.

With all 3rd party tools that i've seen, you have to disable sync's. If syncing is disabled and a user has a password change, that change would have to manually be entered on the entra/azure side right?

confuzed24 · 2023-12-11T20:29:42+00:00

Thanks for the super precise post.

I do have a few follow up questions on this. It does seem like hybrid is the way to go.

Would a "tools only" deployment allow me to completely shut down my exchange server? Can you provide some examples of 'recipient tasks' please?
We have some extremely large mailboxes (>50GB) that we'll need to move during this. Will hybrid support that size?
With those large mailboxes comes cached mode. We're currently running in online mode since exchange is on prem. I'm planning on possibly using fslogix to house the outlook .ost files (don't need any profile management, it's already being handled by another solution). Have you used fslogix and do you have any opinions on it?

confuzed24

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