mailbox size limits

[bentley45]

We are going to implement mailbox size limits. Despite our best efforts to get the users to reduce the size of their mailboxes, many are still above the limit.

What will happen when we turn this on? Will they just immediately stop receiving messages?

Thanks!

 

[Davetoo]

If they're above the limits you set, then yes.

There are three levels...warning...stop send...stop send/receive. You may want to set your stop send/receive higher than your largest mailbox so they can still receive email. Meanwhile, they'll get the warning message and they won't be able to send email until they get below the limits.

I'm Certifiable, not cert-ified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.

 

[paulha]

NDR's will inform the sender that the recipient's maibox is full when it bounces

(Assuming you have it switched on)

 

[bentley45]

Thanks Lander215! I will have to fight the urge to just cut them off completely. Many are being very uncooperative about reducing the size, they have been spoiled.

Another quick question....when running the Mailbox Manager/Recipient Policy thing to delete old messages, if you choose to move the messages to the System Cleanup folder for a period of time, is that folder considered part of the total size of a users mailbox? I am concerned about them finding that folder and just moving the messages right back into their mailboxes.

 

[Zelandakh]

Bentley - tell management how much a new RAID array will cost because the users have filled the disks. Either they will insist users behave or approve more hardware. You can't lose.

 

[58sniper]

And the RAID array is only part of it. Additional tape storage space; additional backup and restore times; additional drain on system resources, etc.

Also, watch the deleted item retention time.

Pat Richard, MCSE(2) MCSA:Messaging, CNA(2)

 

[Zelandakh]

Good point Pat. That should double the costs.

 

[captaincrunch00]

Make a written policy saying that mailbox size cannot be above X.

Send the HR hounds after anyone who is over X, then implement it when they are lacing into the offenders. No one likes a visit from HR.

 

[Zelandakh]

Print the mailbox sizes in descending order. Print it onto green paper before giving it to HR. Always puts the wind up the punters and they'll be so pleased they are not sacked they will do anything.

<evil grin>

 

[bentley45]

Thanks for all the responses!

It ended up not being quite as painful as we thought. We printed a list of the largest mailboxes and handed that out to department heads. We then gave them a generous two weeks to clean out voluntarily. After the 2 weeks, we set the limit such that anyone with an oversized box could receive, but not send. People started cleaning up at that point. Later that day, we ran the cleanup agent to move all mail older than 2 years to the system cleanup folder. We had told them previously that this would happen. A couple days later, we ran it again to delete the cleanup folder.
The main problem we experienced was people unable to archive for whatever reason, requiring a site visit. We had a few under the impression that their email belonged to them and they should be able to keep all of it and take it with them when they retired (we really had someone say that). We reminded this person that, in fact, it was NOT their property.
All in all, it went pretty well.