Entourage & Exchange

[kserra]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel
Email Client: Exchange

I see that some people have had a similar problem to mine, which is that suddenly my Inbox stops syncing with the Exchange server. I understand the Empty Cache option, as well as database repair, and new Identities.

My problem is that this continues to happen. It's not actually MY Entourage, it is several users at work, and I'm the tech support. I do all of the above solutions, which work temporarily, and then the problem presents itself again.

The only additional information I can find is perhaps there are "too many" messages in the Inbox, and Entourage can't sync properly. What is the maximum allowed? I understand good Inbox maintenance is to keep the volume low, however I can't control that in my users. I've got one with a mailbox of about 400mb total, 13,000 messages in the Inbox. The other is 1.6gb mailbox, with about 5,000 messages in the Inbox (the rest are in subfolders).

My questions are:
- Is there a known issue?
- If so, is there a solution out already?
- Is anyone else experiencing this problem on an ongoing basis?
- what is the max number of messages per mailbox? is there a recommendation or requirement?

Thanks much for any help/advice...

-kim

 

[Corentin Cras-Méneur]

My questions are:
- Is there a known issue?

Not really

- If so, is there a solution out already?

Try rught-clicking the Exchange account in the left pane and get to the
properties. From there, delete the cache.

- Is anyone else experiencing this problem on an ongoing basis?

Not me.

- what is the max number of messages per mailbox? is there a
recommendation or requirement?

I don't think there is a limit...


Corentin

 

[Tony]

Hi Kim,
I'm an IT support for my company too, I'm good on Outlook for Windows but I
have to support Mac coz my boss uses Mac :-(
I think your user's mailboxes are pretty small compares to mine.
My boss used to have around 8GB mailbox (Inbox, Sent, Calendars, Contacts,
etc.).
At that time he has around 30,000 messages in his Inbox folder.
The Entourage database sometimes grown up to 20GB (not sure what's in it)
then I have to rebuild it down to 6-8 GB.
Sometimes like once a year it won't sync and I have to empty the cache but
it's not often at all.
Cheers,
Tony.

 

[Diane Ross]

The Entourage database sometimes grown up to 20GB (not sure what's in it)
then I have to rebuild it down to 6-8 GB.

The database will be left with 'wasted' space in it every time you delete
something. However, this is not all bad, since the wasted space is used up
with new data as it is added. This way, over a period of time (assuming that
you are deleting stuff as you go) the database will probably reach an
optimum size, after which the stuff you delete is roughly equal to the stuff
you add, and no further growth takes place.

It sounds like your boss might be adding more than he is deleting.

To test for how much wasted space there is, you can use File --> Export -->
Entourage archive (.rge) file. Compare the size of the .rge file to the size
of the database.

Rebuilding can be tricky business especially with large databases. I would
not trust my data to a rebuild because of size, but would export as
Entourage archive (.rge) file and import into a new Identity. Whatever you
do, make a copy of the Identity in the Finder BEFORE rebuilding as a safety
measure.

I also suggest that you nuke junk mail and all those joke emails with
attachments. I've seen databases so belly up from all those crap messages
that mean nothing.

Nuke Messages:

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/downloads/scripts/Nuke.zip>

Another option if you get a lot of attachments is to use a script that
removes incoming attachments. They will save, remove and link the saved
files to the message, so you can open the file directly from the message.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/script/fav_scripts.html#favscript17>

<http://scriptbuilders.net/files/saveattachments20041.0.0.html>

Also remove your outgoing attachments with a rule. This is assuming your
outgoing attachments are stored elsewhere on your computer. No need to have
them duplicated and filling up your database.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/rules/example/rule001.html>

 

[Tony]

Hi Diane,
Thanks for your information. I've copied your message to my inbox for next
time I have to manage mailbox for my boss.
Cheers,
Tony.