hi everyone, we use exchange 2007 at my organization and we have no storage limits defined for users. We would like to enable mandatory archiving, and set limits on mailboxes, and send/receive attachments. Also I need to come up with a policy based on average users mailbox size. What is the best practice for mailbox size and attachment limits and what is the fastest way to implement this change? thanks in advance

No such thing as a best practise and most of your question is actually not technical at all. You have to decide based on the business needs. I have clients with 100mb mailbox limits and 5mb message limits. I have other clients with no limits on either (against my advice). First question you have to ask your lawyers is do you have to keep content. If you do, then you will need a server side archiving solution. Using PST files will not satisfy the law. If you do not need to retain content then there is an argument to not retain the content, so it cannot be used against you. Again ask your lawyer. You then need to look at what you are sending in email. If you have no need to send large attachments, then you can set lower limits. However remember to restrict down, not open up. If you want to vary limits, use transport rules, with the global rules in Hub Transport considered the highest. As for implementation - get buy in from the boss, draft him an email and get him to send it. Anything else and you will have the policy destroyed within weeks by people whining to the boss for an exception. Give them a week's notice or something to clear up. Then implement the limits with a restriction on sending only. Quickest way is to set it, then restart the information store. And stand back for the complaints. This is never implemented quietly. Send the whiners to the boss to make a business case. I wouldn't normally recommend a receive restriction on the mailbox size as that can have bad side effects and look bad to customers. Stopping users replying to email is usually enough. Just in case that isn't clear - BUSINESS NEEDS, LEGAL NEEDS, MANAGEMENT SUPPORT. If you can't get all three, then don't bother, you will be wasting your time. The users who need to be restricted will whine and carry on, those who don't will be unaffected. Simon.Simon Butler, Exchange MVP Blog | Exchange Resources | In the UK? Hire Me.

No such thing as a best practise and most of your question is actually not technical at all. You have to decide based on the business needs. I have clients with 100mb mailbox limits and 5mb message limits. I have other clients with no limits on either (against my advice). First question you have to ask your lawyers is do you have to keep content. If you do, then you will need a server side archiving solution. Using PST files will not satisfy the law. If you do not need to retain content then there is an argument to not retain the content, so it cannot be used against you. Again ask your lawyer. You then need to look at what you are sending in email. If you have no need to send large attachments, then you can set lower limits. However remember to restrict down, not open up. If you want to vary limits, use transport rules, with the global rules in Hub Transport considered the highest. As for implementation - get buy in from the boss, draft him an email and get him to send it. Anything else and you will have the policy destroyed within weeks by people whining to the boss for an exception. Give them a week's notice or something to clear up. Then implement the limits with a restriction on sending only. Quickest way is to set it, then restart the information store. And stand back for the complaints. This is never implemented quietly. Send the whiners to the boss to make a business case. I wouldn't normally recommend a receive restriction on the mailbox size as that can have bad side effects and look bad to customers. Stopping users replying to email is usually enough. Just in case that isn't clear - BUSINESS NEEDS, LEGAL NEEDS, MANAGEMENT SUPPORT. If you can't get all three, then don't bother, you will be wasting your time. The users who need to be restricted will whine and carry on, those who don't will be unaffected. Simon.Simon Butler, Exchange MVP Blog | Exchange Resources | In the UK? Hire Me.