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Configure Mailbox Database Properties

  • Article

Applies to: Exchange Server 2010

In Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, each mailbox database has its own properties that you can configure. These properties include mounting, dismounting, and moving a database path.

Looking for other management tasks related to mailbox databases? Check out Managing Mailbox Databases.

What Do You Want to Do?

  • Use the EMC to configure mailbox database properties
  • Use the Shell to configure mailbox database properties

Use the EMC to configure mailbox database properties

You need to be assigned permissions before you can perform this procedure. To see what permissions you need, see the "Mailbox database" entry in the Mailbox Permissions topic.

  1. In the console tree, navigate to Organization Configuration > Mailbox.
  2. In the result pane, on the Database Management tab, select the database you want to configure.
  3. In the work pane, click Properties.
  4. Use the General tab to view status about the mailbox database path, including mailbox database copy path, last backup, and mailbox database status:
    • Database path   This field displays the full path to the Exchange database (.edb) file for the selected mailbox database. To view the entire path, you may have to click the path and use the RIGHT ARROW key. You can't use this field to change the path. To change the location of the database files, close Properties, right-click the database, and then click Move Database Path. You can also change the location by using the Move-DatabasePath cmdlet. For more information, see Move-DatabasePath.
    • Last full backup   This is a read-only field that displays the date and time of the last complete backup of the mailbox database.
    • Last incremental backup   This is a read-only field that displays the date and time of the last incremental backup of the mailbox database.
    • Status   This is a read-only field that displays whether the mailbox database is mounted or dismounted.
    • Mounted on server   This is a read-only field that displays which server the database is mounted on.
    • Master type   This is a read-only field that displays the master server.
    • Modified   This is a read-only field that displays the date and time the database was last modified.
    • Servers that have a copy of this database   This is a read-only field that displays the other servers that have a copy of this database.
  5. Use the Maintenance tab to configure mailbox database settings, including specifying a journal recipient, setting a maintenance schedule, and mounting the database at startup:
    • Journal recipient   Select this check box to enable transport journaling of e-mail.
    • Maintenance schedule   Use this list to select one of the preset maintenance schedules. You can also configure a custom schedule. To configure a custom schedule, in the Maintenance schedule list, select Use Custom Schedule, and then click Customize.
    • Don't mount this database at startup   Select this check box to prevent Exchange from mounting this mailbox database when it starts.
    • This database can be overwritten by a restore    Select this check box to allow the mailbox database to be overwritten during a restore process.
    • Enable circular logging   Select this check box to enable circular logging. For more information about circular logging see Understanding the Exchange 2010 Store.
  6. Use the Limits tab to specify the storage limits, the warning message interval, and the deletion settings for a mailbox database:
    • Issue warning at (KB)   Select this check box to automatically warn mailbox users that their mailbox is approaching its storage limit. To specify the storage limit, select the check box, and then specify in kilobytes (KB) how much content can be stored in the mailbox before a warning e-mail message is sent to the mailbox users. You can enter a value from 0 through 2,147,483,647 KB (2.1 terabytes).
    • Prohibit send at (KB)   Select this check box to prevent users from sending new e-mail messages after the size of their mailbox reaches the specified limit. To specify this limit, select the check box, and then type the size of the mailbox in KB at which you want to prohibit the sending of new e-mail messages and notify the user. You can enter a value from 0 through 2,147,483,647 KB (2.1 terabytes).
    • Prohibit send and receive at (KB)   Select this check box to prevent users from sending and receiving e-mail messages after their mailbox size reaches the specified limit. To specify this limit, select the check box, and then type the size of the mailbox in KB at which you want to prohibit the sending and receiving of e-mail messages and notify the user. You can enter a value from 0 through 2,147,483,647 KB (2.1 terabytes).
    • Warning message interval   Use this list to specify the time at which mailboxes are scanned for compliance with the storage limits that you set. To configure a custom time, in the Warning Message Interval list, select Use Custom Schedule, and then click Customize.
    • Keep deleted items for (days)   Use this box to set the number of days that deleted items are retained in a mailbox. You can enter a value from 0 through 24,855 days.
    • Keep deleted mailboxes for (days)   Use this box to set the number of days that deleted mailboxes are retained. You can enter a value from 0 through 24,855 days.
    • Don't permanently delete items until the database has been backed up   Select this check box to prevent mailboxes and e-mail messages from being deleted until after the mailbox database has been backed up.
  7. Use the Client Settings tab to view and select the default public folder database and the offline address book (OAB) for the mailbox:
    • Default public folder database   This box shows the location of the default public folder database. The public folder database stores public folder data, OAB information, and free/busy information for Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 and earlier versions. To change the location of the default public folder database, click Browse, and select a new location.
    • Offline address book   This box shows the location of the OAB. To change the location of the OAB, click Browse, and then select a new location.

Use the Shell to configure mailbox database properties

You need to be assigned permissions before you can perform this procedure. To see what permissions you need, see the "Mailbox database" entry in the Mailbox Permissions topic.

This example sets the length of time that deleted items are retained. If a particular mailbox has its own item retention set, that value is used instead of this value, which is set on the mailbox database.

Set-MailboxDatabase "Mailbox Database01" -DeletedItemRetention 7.00:00:00

For detailed syntax and parameter information, see Set-MailboxDatabase.

For More Information

Managing Mailbox Database Copies