Exchange Server 2007 SP1 Resurrects Public Folder Management

Executive Summary: If you've noticed that Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 RTM gives short shrift to public folders, you aren't alone. But in SP1, Microsoft has addressed your concerns by providing a new Public Folder Management Console. Learn how it works and how it can prevent a too-quick move to SharePoint.

Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 RTM debuted amidst a swirl of rumors involving public folders. First, customers began to notice that whereas previous versions of Microsoft Outlook required a public folder structure to function, Outlook 2007 clients don’t require them at all. Then, a post on the “You Had Me at EHLO” Exchange Team blog site suggested that Microsoft would offer prolonged public folder support, but it also said that the company was “de-emphasizing” public folders—leading some customers to start buzzing about alternative solutions, such as SharePoint Server. (See the Learning Path.) But the greatest indication that Microsoft was pushing public folders aside was the fact that users could administer the public folder structure only from the Exchange Management Shell (EMS). Suddenly, a GUI-supported technology in Exchange 2003 (and earlier) was gone. That development really stirred the community. To put people at ease, the Exchange Team explained that public folders weren’t dead but would have a concluding point in terms of support—10 years from now. (See the Learning Path.)

So, you don't need to get too worried and rush into the arms of SharePoint just yet. You have time to consider your decisions. In fact, the recent release of Exchange 2007 SP1 will probably significantly ease your mind. If the lack of a GUI tool for managing the public folder structure is a concern for you, you'll be happy to know that Microsoft has corrected the problem in SP1 by including a new tool called the Public Folder Management Console. Let’s take a look at the control SP1 gives you over public folders from both the Server Configuration work center and the Public Folder Management Console.

Create a New Public Folder Database






The Server Configuration Work Center
Creating a new public folder database isn't difficult. You can do it during the installation of your first Exchange server: Simply specify that you have pre-Outlook 2007 or Eudora clients (which require a public folder database to function), and Exchange will install the database for you. However, if you have to create a new public folder database after the initial installation process, you'd use the Exchange Management Console (EMC) by expanding the Server Configuration work center and selecting or creating the storage group where you want to put the public folder database. From the Action pane, you can choose New Public Folder Database to begin the wizard. You can specify a name and location for the Exchange database (.edb) file, and you can leave the Mount this database option selected or clear it if you want to hold off on the mounting process. After you click New, the system will create the database. Note that you can perform the same task through the EMS by typing

New-PublicFolderDatabase
  –Name "<Name of Database>"
  –StorageGroup "<Name of Storage Group>"