We run a Terminal Server farm, so local pst files are not an option. We 
have never had this occur until moving to the Sans box. I will look into 
  your recommended settings.




Andrew S. Zbikowski wrote:
> Officially Microsoft doesn't support PST files via a network share:
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/297019/
> 
> Samba's documentation suggests turning off oplocks on PST files:
> http://www.samba.org/samba/docs/man/Samba-Guide/happy.html#id2582162
> 
> An alternative to keeping the PST files on the network share would be
> to keep the PST files on the client drive and back it up to the
> network using Outlook Personal Folders Backup Tool:
> http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA010875321033.aspx
> 
> Outlook Personal Folders Backup Tool requires some additional user
> training and user patience when dealing with multiple gigs of PST
> files, so it only works so well. I'm planning on replacing it with
> Backup Exec Desktop and Laptop Option to suck user data off user's
> laptops and into our backup system. We're using Windows servers for
> file sharing and we haven't run issues having the desktops keep their
> PST files on the network for the past 6 years or so.
> 
> If you want to use backup software to deal with the PSTs, keep in mind
> that you first need to deal with the issue of the PST file being in
> use as long as Outlook is open. You could force log-off at night using
> a Group Policy (Local or in Active Directory) or a scheduled task that
> calls shutdown.exe with the appropriate switches, or you could go with
> a backup product that is able to deal with open files.
> 
> As far as I know, Backula, BackupPC, Amanda, and other OSS backup
> solutions are not able to deal with open files on Windows systems.
> Most commercial backup products are able to deal with open files (add
> on license may be required) on Windows clients/servers via the Shadow
> Copy/Volume Snap Shot functionality built into the operating system.
> 
> If you are looking for a commercial product for the purpose of sucking
> PSTs off of desktops and laptops, I'd look at EMC Retrospect first.
> From memory it was much cheaper than Backup Exec's Desktop and Laptop
> offering, just make sure you get the Open File add-on for the backup
> server.
>