PeteNetLive - KB0000091 - Using "Exmerge" to export mailbox's to pst files


	KB	0000091
	Dated	10/11/09
	Revision	0.02

Using "Exmerge" to export mailbox's to pst files

Problem
Exmerge has been around for a long time, its used (as the name implies) to merge pst files into existing mailbox's. However its also a great tool to back up users mail box's if your doing a migration, or if you have got your "Disaster Recovery" hat on. The following is a run through of how to export from a mail store to pst files - Note on a live system this can take some time, the example below was done in VMWare on a test Exchange box that had 1000 users (as it was a test server the mailbox's were tiny) If you need to do this on a production server plan in a LOT of time if your moving a large amount of data.
Solution


	1. Exmerge is NOT installed by default you will need to go to Microsoft’s Web Site and download it. HERE
	2. Save The file on the Exchange server.
	3. Run the Executable which will extract the files. You need to copy the exmerge.exe and exmerge.ini files.
	4. And Paste them into the Exchsvr/Bin Directory (A common mistake is to extract the exe into the bin directory – If you see an Exmerge DIRECTORY inside the Bin directory then you got it WRONG)
	5. So you should have the two files in the bin directory.
	6. Now the next most common mistake is the user that you use to run exmerge doesn’t have the correct rights (the domain admin doesn’t have enough rights). So either create a new user or select and existing one..
	7.Add this user to the Administrators, Domain Administrators and Enterprise Administrators groups.
	8. Now Open the Exchange Admin console and right click the Exchange organisation > Select Delegete Control.
	9. Click Next.
	10. Click Browse and select your user.
	11. Ensure that “Exchange Full administrator” is selected and click OK.
	12.Click Next.
	13. Click Finish.
	14. The warning tells you that the user should be in the local administrators group > click OK.
	15.Now navigate to the mailbox store that you will be exporting > Right Click it > Select Properties > Security.Your User should already be in the list, if not add the user in – Scroll to the bottom of the “Permissions” list you will notice that “Send as” and “Receive as” are denied EXMERGE NEEDS THESE RIGHTS > Click Advanced.
	16. Untick “allow inheritable permissions……” box
	17.Click Copy.
	18. Now you can grant the “Send as” and “Receive as” rights to your user. Click Apply > OK.
	19..Log on as your Exmerge user, Navigate to the bin directory and run exmerge.exe.
	20. Click Next.
	21. Select “Extract or Import (Two step procedure)” > Click Next.
	22. Ensure Step 1 is selected Click Next.
	23.Enter the name of the server > Click Next.
	24. NOTE If you have multiple mail stores you will see then next – if so select the one you want to use – if you only have one mail store you will see the mailbox’s straight away.
	25. Select the mailbox’s you want to export > Click Next.
	26.Click Next.
	27. Click “Change Folder”.
	28. Navigate to a folder where you want the PST files to be placed.
	29. Click Next.
	30. Click Next.
	31. The Mailbox’s will now migrate. Get the kettle on :)
	32. When its finished click Finish.
	33. Your PST files are now in the export directory.