Friday 16 May 2014

What is OST and its Advantage

What is OST FILE?

OST stands for Offline storage table. OST files are offline storage files created in MS Outlook when users configure Exchange Server with MS Outlook. OST files are exact replica of Exchange Server mailbox data. Microsoft Outlook store Exchange Server data in a file and OST is the Extension of that file.

How OST files are created?

On configure MS Outlook with Exchange Server but during configuration user must enable cache Exchange mode for the download of Exchange server mailbox to Outlook.

How OST are useful?

Using OST files, users can access and compose new emails, save compose emails in drafts, read the previous received mails and when user connected to Exchange Server next time, all the changes are synchronized to the Exchange Server and newly received mails in Exchange server are downloaded to MS Outlook.

Advantages of OST File

  • OST file allow user to access their Emails even when user are disconnected from exchange server, or when user is in offline mode
  • It provides fast access to the user to their Emails.
  • On corruption on Exchange Server database, user can use their OST file to check emails.
  • OST files are beneficial where internet connection is limited and unreliable.



Disadvantages of OST File

  • OST files doesn’t open itself, if Mailbox account on Exchange Server get deleted, To Access OST files in Exchange server user have to use a repair software to recover corrupted OST file.
  • Users cannot move the OST files to other system, if users do, then OST files corrupt.



What are the Reasons for Corruption of OST FILE?

OST files corrupted due to the following reasons:

  • When user move OST file from one system to other system
  • Deletion of mailbox account on Exchange server can lead to the corruption of OST file
  • Deletion of Exchange Server EDB file or corruption of EDB file make OST file corrupt.
  • IF Power failure occur and Exchange server switch off suddenly then also OST file become accessible.