Thanks to everyone for their input on this matter.

Here is the solution that I have settled on for the moment.  I've only done limited testing but it looks very hopeful.

We are going to use the Outlook Addin that Erik so kindly recommended below.  Since we are all still using a 32 bit version of Office the addin does work after applying the reg hack for Office 2010.  (I still have to test on Office 2007).  The Addin will prompt the user to save their archive to the NAS when outlook is shutdown.  Then the NAS will back up the copy of the archive files as normal.

I'll have to see how this works in production with some users with several GB of archive files but thus far I don't see any show stoppers that would prevent this from happening.  Also this has the added benefit of showing the user that the archive is being backed up and bringing awareness to an otherwise forgotten process.

I think this is as safe as I can make the archive.pst files given the tools I have to work with and the MS constraints they have outlined.

Special thanks to Erik Finlayson

T

-----Original Message-----
From: Support for Support Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Finlayson, Erik
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 12:14 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Archive Files in Outlook

There is this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/238782  for outlook 2007 and 2003. Then a fix to get it to work with 2010 32 bit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2030523#appliesto (it is a registry fix to change the way outlook shuts down).

I am still looking for something for 64 bit outlook 2010. The add in is for 32 bit only it seems.

Why not keep the archive file local and write a robocopy script (or xcopy for xp) to copy the archive file to the NAS?  That way outlook has a local copy and a backup is on the NAS. You could have the script be run by the task scheduler to the user doesn't have to click on the script file. The biggest issue would be getting people to exit outlook before the backup runs.





-----Original Message-----
From: Support for Support Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Whitehurst, Stephen
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 10:30 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Archive Files in Outlook

Thanks guys I understand the problem better now.   I knew there was a performance hit but was willing to take that for the safety of backup.  But if it's just backing up a corrupted file then it's not a viable solution.

That may explain the majority of my problems.  However I'm still seeing some corruption even when the archives are not network stored.   I realize there might not be much of a solution for this.  As Jeremy says we are kind of stuck.

However more importantly I've now got myself in a pickle with backing up the Archive files.  I've got everyone using the NAS (thank heaven) for their work files so I only need to back up the Outlook Archives.  I think it might be a little pricey to have TSM do it for $20 a GB per month besides the archives are often open when the back up starts.

What is everyone else doing to backup their outlook archive files?

-----Original Message-----
From: Support for Support Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Cox, Steven
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 9:51 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Archive Files in Outlook

Microsoft has never recommended accessing PSTs over the network, the files tend towards corruption when network-related read/write delays are introduced.  Not a new problem but the increasing frequency you're seeing is likely from increasingly large PSTs that multiply the corruption likelihood.

Looking for a reference.... aha:

http://blogs.technet.com/b/askperf/archive/2007/01/21/network-stored-pst-files-don-t-do-it.aspx

-s-

-----Original Message-----
From: Support for Support Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Whitehurst, Stephen
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 9:42 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Archive Files in Outlook

I’m been noticing more and more corrupted outlook archive files on our computers.  
Was wondering if anyone else is noticing this behavior too?  

Scanpst.exe is the tool I’m using to check the files.  Almost everyone I come across has something to repair.  In several instances the archive has been so messed up we had to restore from a snapshot.

I save our Archive on the NAS in most cases.  Not sure if that makes them more vulnerable to corruption or not. 

I am noticing the behavior in outlook 2010 and 2007.

T