Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Do I have to install software on the client machines?
A: No. The client component runs completely in memory on the client machine. No software is installed at all.
Q: What do I need to install on the server?
A: The PST Manager installer will install a new website/webservice on the server. It will also create a shared folder (named 'PST Manager') and give everyone access to it.
Q: What is the minimum recommended hardware to run the server side software on?
A: A Pentium 4 3.0GHz CPU with 512MB RAM and at least 100MB of free disk space.
Q: What is the minimum recommended hardware to run the client side software on?
A: A Pentium 4 2.0GHz CPU with 256MB RAM and at least 10MB of free disk space.
Q: Will the client software work if the user is logged in and/or using Outlook?
A: Yes. The client component (PSTProc) runs in the background on a client machine. It can even be configured to be completely hidden from the end user so they have no knowledge it is running at all.
Q: Will it slow down the client machines?
A: Of course, any additional software running on a client machine will require more resources. However, PST Manager only runs for a short time (a few seconds) once per hour on each client machine.
Q: Will the client/user know it is running?
A: By default the PST Manager client component will display an icon in the System Tray and allow the user interface to be displayed (by right clicking the System Tray icon and choosing 'Show'). However, this icon can be hidden from the user by adding the commandline switch -no_ui
Q: How long will it take to find all the PST Files?
A: The time involved depends primarily on how long it takes for all your users to log in, and logged into Outlook. Remember that you may have users who are on leave, off sick, on client sites, working from home etc. We typically find that the longer PST Manager is left running (3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks), the more accurate the results. That said, you can get a good general idea of most of the PST files within a day or two.
Q: What is an 'associated' PST file?
A: An 'associated' PST file is a file that is loaded into a user's Outlook profile; i.e. when they have Outlook open, they can also see the folders and messages in the PST file. A user may have multiple PST files open ('associated') in their Outlook Profile.
Q: What is an 'unassociated' PST file?
A: An 'unassociated' PST file is a file that no one has open in their Outlook profile; i.e. it is simply laying dormant on a PC or server, not being used.
Q: Why do I see two 'sizes' (Size and DiskSize)?
A: A PST file is much like a database such that when you remove items, it frees up 'whitespace' but does not shrink/reduce the size of the file. The 'whitespace' is reclaimed only when you run a 'Compact' on the PST file. This means that the size of the file on disk can be much larger than the size of the data actually stored inside it. We display both to allow you full visibility and knowledge so that you can make fully informed decisions.
Q: What is a 'Retention Period'?
A: 'Retention Period' is a term frequently used in the Archiving, Legal Discovery and Compliance industries to indicate how long an item should be kept before being deleted. There is no fixed value for a 'Retention Period'. It varies on the type of data, context, owner/author and content.
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