Public Folder Local or Remote

Question

Hello,

I have a question on Exchange PF from Onprem to 365.

Is it possible to point all Users to 365 PF while they are still residing Onprem before migrating their mailboxes to 365?

Environment:

Source: Onprem Exchange 2016
Target: 365
AADC/Hybrid

Scenario:

1. Migrate all Public Folders to 365
2. Then point all users Onprem to the Public folders in 365 with the following Powershell command:
   Set-OrganizationConfig -PublicFoldersEnabled Remote -RemotePublicFolderMailboxes PFMailbox1,PFMailbox2,PFMailbox3
3. At this point all Onprem users will point to the PublicFolders in 365
4. When Users get their mailboxes migrated to 365, they will point to the PublicFolders in 365

Answer 1

I have never tested that, sorry. When I see something like that in a Microsoft Doc that tells me either it doesnt work or its not supported.

Answer 2

All the mailboxes should be migrated first:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/collaboration/public-folders/migrate-to-exchange-online?view=exchserver-2019

Answer 3

Hello Andy,

The key word there is should. My question does the following command allow Onprem users to query the PF Remotely instead of local, while still part of the Onprem Exchange Org

Set-OrganizationConfig -PublicFoldersEnabled Remote -RemotePublicFolderMailboxes PFMailbox1,PFMailbox2,PFMailbox3.

The reason is the intention is to migrate the PF first from Onprem to 365. Then migrate the users to 365

Thank you