This process describes the steps required to Import and Export data from and to .pst files using Exchange 2010. We can use these steps to export data from a user to a .pst file, import data back to the same or a different user, or even import data to one user from many different mailboxes.
1. Create and share a folder with read/write access for the ‘Exchange Trusted Subsystem’ group and the user completing these steps. (It is a very easy step that can be completed through the GUI, but just for making it a bit different I will show the steps using the command line:
In this example, I am using my ADATUM\administrator account to complete the entire process. And I will create a folder called PstData on the ‘D’ drive, which is going to be shared with the same name.
Create the directory:
MD D:\PstData
Assign NTFS permissions:
CACLS D:\PstData /E /G “Adatum\Exchange Trusted Subsystem”:F Administrators:F
Share the folder:
Net Share PstData=D:\PstData “GRANT:Adatum\Administrator,FULL” “GRANT:Adatum\Exchange Trusted Subsystem,CHANGE”
Again, you can omit the previous commands and just create a new folder and share it with the correct permissions using the GUI.
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2. In order to execute IMPORTs or EXPORTs of data we need to have assigned an Exchange role called ‘Mailbox Import Export’. By default, no group or user is a member of this group, even the Exchange administrator. This step can be performed through the Exchange Management Shell or the Exchange Control Panel (Web administrative interface).
In this example I am assigning the role to the administrator account:
New-ManagementRoleAssignment –Role “Mailbox Import Export” –User “Adatum\Administrator”
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Note: Another option is to assign the permission to an Universal group, rather than a user.
3. Close and then Open the Exchange Management Shell.
As far as the Exchange Management Console works accordingly to RBAC (Role Base Access Control), it is when the EMS starts and the connections are made that the remote section permissions are set. The purpose of closing the EMS is because it is not going to include the commands of the permissions assigned, therefore, we will need to open the window again.
4. Now we are ready to export/import or the mailboxes that we want.
In this example, I will export the mailboxes of two users: Luca and Scott to the previously created folder ‘\\VAN-EX1\PstData\’
I will use a command for each export operation:
New-MailboxExportRequest –Mailbox Luca –FilePath \\VAN-EX1\PstData\Luca.pst
New-MailboxExportRequest –Mailbox Luca –FilePath \\VAN-EX1\PstData\Scott.pst
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5. Depending on how large or complex are these mailboxes it might or might not take a long time. We can review when the process is complete using the following command:
Get-MailboxExportRequest
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6. Importing data to a mailbox:
We can import the data to the same mailbox, or to a different mailbox. In this example I will take the two mailboxes previously exported and I will export them back to a third (different) user called ‘Andreas’
New-MailboxImportRequest –Mailbox Andreas –FilePath \\Van-Ex1\PstData\scott.pst -Confirm: $False
New-MailboxImportRequest –Mailbox Andreas –FilePath \\Van-Ex1\PstData\luca.pst -Confirm: $False
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7. Monitor the process.
Similar to the Export operation, we can monitor when the import operations are completed:
Get-MailboxImportRequest
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8. Finally, all the data is merged with the user’s mailbox:
Notice that now my Andreas user contains the mailboxes from both ‘Luca’ and ‘Scott’
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