Configure the Managed Folder Assistant

Applies to: Exchange Server 2010 SP3, Exchange Server 2010 SP2

The Managed Folder Assistant is a Microsoft Exchange Mailbox Assistant that applies message retention settings configured in retention policies or managed folder mailbox policies. If a mailbox uses a managed folder mailbox policy, it also creates any managed folders and applies managed content settings to them.

Looking for other management tasks related to messaging records management (MRM)? Check out Deploying Messaging Records Management.

Differences Between Exchange 2010 SP1 and Exchange 2010 RTM

Before performing the procedures in this topic, it's important that you understand how the Managed Folder Assistant works in Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack 1 (SP1) and in the release to manufacturing (RTM) version of Exchange 2010:

• Exchange 2010 SP1 In Exchange 2010 SP1, the Managed Folder Assistant is a throttle-based assistant. Throttle-based assistants are always running and don't need to be scheduled. The system resources they can consume are throttled. You can configure the Managed Folder Assistant to process all mailboxes on a Mailbox server within a certain period (known as a work cycle).

• Exchange 2010 RTM   In Exchange 2010 RTM, the Managed Folder Assistant is a schedule-based assistant. Schedule-based assistants run based on the schedule specified for the assistant.

When the Managed Folder Assistant is running, it processes all the mailboxes on a server. If the Managed Folder Assistant doesn't finish processing the mailboxes on the server during the time that you've scheduled, it automatically resumes processing where it left off the next time it runs. There is one Managed Folder Assistant for each server.

Running the Managed Folder Assistant is a resource-intensive process, especially when it's run for the first time. The first time the Managed Folder Assistant runs, it typically processes a large number of items. This can be a resource-intensive process for the Mailbox server and the network. It can also result in Microsoft Outlook clients consuming large amounts of time and network resources while synchronizing with the server. Be sure to plan carefully to avoid overloading resources.

You should run the Managed Folder Assistant only when your server can tolerate the extra load. This is usually during off-peak hours. You should also run the Managed Folder Assistant often enough to meet your organization's message retention requirements.

Use the Shell to configure the Managed Folder Assistant in Exchange 2010 SP1

You need to be assigned permissions before you can perform this procedure. To see what permissions you need, see the "Messaging records management" entry in the Messaging Policy and Compliance Permissions topic.

This example configures the Managed Folder Assistant to process all mailboxes within one day.

Set-MailboxServer MyMailboxServer -ManagedFolderWorkCycle 1

For detailed syntax and parameter information, see Set-MailboxServer.

Use the EMC to schedule the Managed Folder Assistant in Exchange 2010 RTM

You need to be assigned permissions before you can perform this procedure. To see what permissions you need, see the "Messaging records management" entry in the Messaging Policy and Compliance Permissions topic.

1. In the console tree, navigate to Server Configuration > Mailbox.

2. In the result pane, right-click the Mailbox server for which you want to schedule the Managed Folder Assistant, and then click Properties.

3. Click the Messaging Records Management tab.

4. In the Schedule the Managed Folder Assistant box, select Use Custom Schedule, and then click Customize.

5. In Schedule, select the times and days during which you want the Managed Folder Assistant to run.

6. Click OK.

Use the Shell to schedule the Managed Folder Assistant in Exchange 2010 RTM

You need to be assigned permissions before you can perform this procedure. To see what permissions you need, see the "Messaging records management" entry in the Messaging Policy and Compliance Permissions topic.

In Exchange 2010 RTM, the Managed Folder Assistant is a schedule-based assistant. This example sets the Managed Folder Assistant schedule to start running at 14:00 (2:00 P.M.) Sunday and continue running until all mailboxes are processed or until 13:00 (1:00 P.M.) the following Sunday, whichever comes first.

Set-MailboxServer -Identity MyMailboxServer -ManagedFolderAssistantSchedule "Sun.14:00-Sun.13:00"

For detailed syntax and parameter information, see Set-MailboxServer.

Use the Shell to start the Managed Folder Assistant in Exchange 2010 SP1

You need to be assigned permissions before you can perform this procedure. To see what permissions you need, see the "Messaging records management" entry in the Messaging Policy and Compliance Permissions topic.

In Exchange 2010 SP1, you can use the Start-ManagedFolderAssistant cmdlet to have the Managed Folder Assistant process the specified mailbox.

This example triggers the Managed Folder Assistant to immediately process Bharat Suneja's mailbox.

Start-ManagedFolderAssistant -Identity [email protected]

Use the Shell to start the Managed Folder Assistant in Exchange 2010 RTM

You need to be assigned permissions before you can perform this procedure. To see what permissions you need, see the "Messaging records management" entry in the Messaging Policy and Compliance Permissions topic.

In Exchange 2010 RTM, you can use the Start-ManagedFolderAssistant cmdlet to manually start the Managed Folder Assistant. You may need to manually start the assistant during testing, troubleshooting, or to process mailboxes immediately during a period when the assistant isn't scheduled to run. Every time the Start-ManagedFolderAssistant cmdlet is run, processing of mailboxes stops and then restarts, reprocessing all the mailboxes on the server from the beginning.

This example manually starts the Managed Folder Assistant. When you manually start the Managed Folder Assistant, it continues running until all mailboxes on the Mailbox server are processed or until the assistant is stopped manually.

Start-ManagedFolderAssistant

This example triggers the Managed Folder Assistant to immediately process Bharat Suneja's mailbox.

Start-ManagedFolderAssistant -Mailbox [email protected]

For detailed syntax and parameter information, see Start-ManagedFolderAssistant.

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