Our company uses resource mailboxes for a variety of purposes other than rooms and equipment. How do we choose between these two mailbox types if, for example, we are creating a shared mailbox for a specific group to use for different purposes?

Hello, for this purpose you probably want to use the "Shared Mailbox" which is also an option.

Thanks, Neil, but my version of the EM Console doesn't offer Shared Mailbox as an option. I do see how to convert the mailbox to Shared after creation - but I'm not at all sure what this extra step would do, other than change the way the mailbox is displayed in the console.

The fundamental difference between a shared mailbox and a normal mailbox is that the shared mailbox is associated with a disabled account, whereas the normal mailbox is not. Creating shared mailboxes isn't available via the EMC, it is only available via the Shell. When creating the mailbox via the new-mailbox command, you just add the parameter -Shared. If you convert after you create a normal mailbox, then it just disables the account. Shared mailboxes allow you to have multiple individuals share a mailbox without the mailbox being associated with an active account. You would grant access to the shared mailbox with the add-mailboxpermission command. So for example, if you have a sales team that wants to share a mailbox called sales@mycompany.com, you would just do as follows: Create the mailbox via the shell (or create a normal mailbox in EMC and convert later) - new-mailbox -Name sales -OrganizationalUnit "mycompany.com/some OU" -MailboxDatabase "database" -UserPrincipalName sales@mycompany.com -Shared Grant permissions on the mailbox for your sales team: add-mailboxpermission sales -User "mycompany\Sales Team" -AccessRights FullAccess They can then add this shared account via Outlook or access it via OWA.

Hi Neil, whilst your answers did clear up some things, it still didn't answer the original question, which is still the answer I'm looking for :). What is the *actual difference* between a room, equipment and a shared (which you added now :)) mailbox? As an unknowing, mainly guessing, user, there is no difference for me. All 3 have a disabled user account associated with them and are used by other users thus by assigning rights to the mailbox. Where do they differ? Reading the help didn't clarify much. As I understand it now, the difference is not with the mailbox, but with the scripts attached to them (if that's technical correct, I'm still guessing how the low technical stuff handles). A room mailbox can 'automatically process incoming requests'. Is the assumption right that exchange just attaches a 'script' to accept incoming invites? That would mean there is no differences in the mailboxes itself, just in the scripts that get attached to the mailbox. TIA

I agree with FreakyNL, the original question was not answered. Can anyone specifically identify the difference(s) between a "Room Mailbox" and an "Equipment Mailbox"? Thanks in advance for the help. Regards, Rob

Equipment mailbox: A resource mailbox that's assigned to a non-location specific resource, such as a portable computer projector, microphone, or a company car. Equipment mailboxes can be included as resources in meeting requests, providing a simple and efficient way of utilizing resources for your users. Room-mailbox: A resource mailbox that's assigned to a meeting location, such as a conference room, auditorium, or training room. Room mailboxes can be included as resources in meeting requests, providing a simple and efficient way of organizing meetings for your users. Don't think there are any other complicated differences between the two types of mailboxes.

Neil, So what are the default calendar permission for -shared and -room mailboxes ? Are they the same? After creating the resource mailbox do we need to go in and tweak the calendar permissions as in Exchange 2003/2007 Z-Hire -- Automate IT Account creation process Z-Term -- Automate IT account termination process

Still not quite clear to me either. Basically the only difference you describe between a room and an equipment mailbox is, well nothing to a computer. It seems to be only that one resource is mobile (microphones, cars, etc) whilst the other is not. Does it take into account then the location of the resource or something? So it can say well, the car is in London at 9:00 so there's now way you can have it in New York at 12:25? Other than that, both are mailboxes that can be included as resources in meeting requests, providing a simple and efficient way of utilizing resources for your users. I'm looking for the low technical differences between these things :).