Difference Between Exchange EDB and STM File

Microsoft Exchange Server has two elementary components, which are Storage Group and Databases. The Storage Group is known as a container used for keeping Mailboxes and Public Folder Store. Storage Group on the other hand contains multiple data stores and each data store is somewhere associated with Exchange Server.
When a new Exchange Server is installed, the two data stores Mailboxes and Public Folder are created initially as default stores. This default Mailbox store contains two database files:

1. Priv1.edb and
2. Priv1.stm

From here, the two file formats appear into the scene.

Priv1.edb is a rich text file that includes message headers, message text, and standard attachments.

Priv1.stm is a file that contains streaming internet content, which includes audio, video and MIME data.

What are EDB Files or .edb File Extension?

Exchange Database files are known as EDB files, which were designed on single client server architecture. Moreover, .edb is the file extension of the Exchange database or EDB files. These files contain rich text data stored in Exchange Server and Exchange Server uses Extensible Storage Engine (ESE) in order to access files that are stored in .edb extension. Components that an .edb file contains are email, message, folders and attachments. EDB files have unique file signature, i.e. Hexadecimal ef cd 89. The earlier version of Exchange stores emails in two types of EDB files. One is priv1.edb, which keeps only private data of user mailboxes. Second is pub1.edb, which keeps shared folder data of user mailboxes. To access the EDB file you can use the Exchange EDB Viewer tool.

What Are STM Files or .stm File Extension?

The Streaming data file .stm were created in Exchange 2003 and previous version to save email attachments including some information so that it will be added “on the fly” before it is sent to you, typically it is used in order to include last modified date at the bottom of the page. Only certain application can launched Files that have .stm file extension. STM files can’t be viewed at all, as they are data files rather than document or media files. They store the internet MIME formatted content like, images, audio, video etc. Streamed database is saved here. In addition, in order to optimize the performance of application for the type of database it stores Microsoft provides this file format. However, unfortunately after Exchange 2003 edition STM file was excluded from the database structure.

Difference Between Exchange EDB and STM File?

1. The fundamental B-Tree structure is present in .edb file whereas it is not present in .stm file.

2. .edb file permits a top-level node and many child nodes but .stm file does not permit any node.

3. The .edb file is accessed directly by ESE whereas one cannot access .stm file directly.

4. The .stm file is used in conjunction with .edb file to comprise the exchange database.

5. Both .edb and .stm file together make up the database, therefore they are treated as a single entity.

6. If you do some changes or perform any action on the .edb file the .stm file is automatically included.

7. The main purpose of .stm file is to store the streamed internet content whereas .edb file store database information.

8. Whenever you move messages to .edb file and convert it to Exchange native form it can never be moved back to .stm.

Conclusion

This blog is aimed to bring into the user’s awareness about the EDB and STM file. The segment discusses how these files came into picture and in what scenarios are they different from each other though they are part of Exchange. Moreover, the purpose of using Priv1.edb and Pub1.edb files are used.

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ESEDB & ESE Transaction Log Files- A Prominent Strand

Introduction

ESEDB stands for “Extensible Storage Engine (ESE) Database” or EDB. It is a database file created by Exchange Server, which is used to store complete information like mail messages, attachments, etc. This database having single client-server architecture make use of ESE. The entire communication made by Exchange Server in an organization is stored in Exchange Database File (EDB).The data from these files are accessed by Extensible Storage Engine (ESE), which in turn provides the data to Exchange Server. The ESE and database file combines to form a client-server application.

The MIME Type of EDB File is unspecified and the File Signature is a hexadecimal value: ef cd ab 89(offset 4).

Structurally, an ESEDB file is made up of a data structure known as B-tree that is a data structure further divided into pages. It allows sorting of data, sequential access, deletion, and eases the data searching procedure.

Exchange Server 2010 Default ESEDB Location

1.) C:\ProgramFiles\Microsoft\ExchangeServer\V14\MailboxDatabase\Mailbox Database.edb

2.) C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V14\Public Folder Database\Public Folder Database.edb

EDB JET Technology

Microsoft uses a JET (Joint Engine Technology). There are two types of JET available:

1.) JET Red: It supports a single-user database and is not suitable for multi-purpose access. This technology is generally used in Microsoft Access.

2.) JET Blue: It supports multiple users thus, is commonly used in Exchange Server.

ESE is also termed as JET Blue and is usually used to retrieve and store data into database through sequential and indexed method, also known as Indexed Sequential Access Method (ISAM).

ESEDB Data Store and Files

Microsoft in Server 2000 version and was used to store streaming files (STM) like videos audio, images, and other multimedia messages. These are generally used in databases.

The EDB files are written in following different files:

1.) Priv.edb: These files are generally used to store the personal information of the user.

2.) Pub.edb: These files are used to store shared information in user’s mailbox.

3.) STM (Exchange Streaming Media files): These are generally used to store attachments, videos, audio, images, and other multimedia messages.

When you install the server, there exist two data stores: Mailbox Store and a Public Data Store. The former consists of the private files in priv.edb and priv.stm while the latter consists of the public files, which is stored in pub.edb and pub.stm. This file was excluded from 2003 version onwards and the following files were used as a replacement:

      1.) .edb - These are used to access the data of the mailbox.

      2.) .log - These are used to store details on the modification and operations on database. When the   transactions are committed, they are stored into .edb. They are useful during interruptions.

      3.) .chk - These check whether data is saved into database present in hard disk or not.

ESE TRANSACTION LOG Files

ESE Transactions are one of the important features of Exchange server. They are records of the background operations performed on a database. Since the client cannot directly Query the database hence, transactions are performed by the server like manipulating data, read or write data into database.

All the ESE transactions made must end with COMMIT operation. If there are any interruptions in transaction then Commit operation will not work and modifications will not be done on the database. No changes are made directly to the database but transaction logs are used by Exchange server to write changes to these logs, which are later made to the database.

ESE Transaction log is highly useful during disaster recovery or during database crash as when the database stops the exchange scans the log files to reconstruct the database. This process is known as replaying log files. When a ESE Transaction log file fills completely and reaches a limit of 5 MB, a new transaction log file is created automatically with a sequential number used as a prefix (like E00, E01, E02...)

Reasons Behind Corruption of ESEDB Files

1) If you do not shut down your system properly or in a proper procedure you can indirectly call for the corruption of EDB file
2) Improper termination of these files can also cause corruption in them and you may never be able to open the file

3) The failure of hard drive may also cause crashing of EDB file

4) Virus attacks can cause the corruption of your files

5) If the database objects are missing or due to low storage, chances of failures become high

Software to View ESEDB Files

You can approach some third-party software available in market that can easily solve your problem by providing access to your database despite corruption. One such software is Exchange Mailbox Reader, which has simplified user needs as well as challenges faced in the field of Forensics. It is highly beneficial to scan Exchange database instead of mailboxes. It may help recover just in case any part of the file is found corrupted.

One such approach to find out forensically significant data is to collect all the EDB files and make use of the following features:

1) Scan, recover & view corrupt EDB
2) Open and View EDB Files
3) Scan Corrupt file and recover EDB
4) Dual File Recovery Modes
5) Preview Items with preview pane
6) Search items within EDB files
7) Options to apply Mail Filter
8) Export Selective Items as PDF
9) Multiple File Naming Options

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Upload PST to Office 365 Without Outlook - One Click PST Migration Tool

PST to an Exchange server administrator is similar to Public Folders. However, relatively PST is more difficult to tackle with when considering its individual users that do not work under the server environment. The vulnerability of PST files to mere yet majorly affecting conditions like re-imaging of a machine or hard drive failure causes a ripple of worry amongst its users. Data security can be hard to attain in the case of PST files when considered from an eDiscovery point of view. Therefore, this scenario to upload PST to Office 365 without Outlook gives rise to the question as to what can be done with a PST file to ensure its security and maintenance.

Following is a segment that focuses on the offering from PST to Office 365 migration tool as an answer to the discussed above concerns.

Steps to Upload PST to Office 365 Without Outlook

One can choose to import their locally stored PST files into the hosted Exchange mailboxes of Office 365. Read more to know how importing PST files on Office 365 helps:

1. The upload renders to the organizational needs by enabling:

• Archive mailboxes for users to avail added storage on mailbox

• Benefits of maintaining deleted items for longer duration with retention policy

• Permanent loss of data file or its contents can be avoided with a copy online

• High availability of data file with its access provided on cloud based platform

Ways To Move Outlook Data File on Office 365

The manual method to upload PST to Office 365 without Outlook doesn't go with any of the method to import Outlook PST to Office 365. Following are the method to upload PST file to Office 365.

Upload Via Network: In this case, you are required to upload files over a network to the storage of Microsoft Azure. Import service provided by Office 365 can then be used for copying the file to mailboxes.

Physically Ship Drive: In this case, the files need to be copied to a hard drive that is encrypted for protection from unauthorized access. The drive must then be physically shipped to Microsoft Corporation where the Datacenter department will process out the copy procedure as stated in the first procedure. Later you can import the data from Azure to your Office 365 mailboxes easily.

The steps that need to be carried out for carrying out the file upload procedure:

1. Download and install the utility named ‘Office365Import Tool’

• When you try importing PST over network via uploading, Azure AzCopy tool download will be asked to perform

• NOTE: Install the file in its default path predefined during the installation. When trying to encrypt PST before upload O365ImportTool.exe looks for AzCopy tool.

2. Avail the storage key and get the PST uploaded / imported on to the Azure storage using the upload URL acquired. Ensure the protected state of your file during this procedure.

3. Get the files moved to Office 365 using AzCopy tool. As an optional step, you can also download the Storage Explorer by Azure for viewing the PST files uploaded. The tool is a complete freeware utility.

4. Generate a CSV file specifying which file has to imported to which mailbox on Office 365.

5. Now create a job for PST Import within your Office 365 account. Submit the import-mapping file for PST in this step and once the job is created Import service will begin.

This is how the procedure is carried out to upload PST to Office 365 without Outlook with the help of  Office 365 PST import service provided officially by Microsoft for importing PST file to Office 365 account. However, the procedure being a manual one requires end user efforts to be put in whereas an Office 365 Upload PST tool can be beneficial for end user’s considering the convenience provided.

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View PST Files Without MS Outlook - A Utility Which Ends Outlook Environment Dependency

Travelling without your lappy?

One of my clients has described his situation when he travels without his laptop what issue he has to face while accessing his own personal folder of emails.

Issue: View PST File without MS Outlook

This time I need to travel without my laptop in all the emails are stored in MS Outlook. You might be thinking I could access it from server also, but my mails automatically deleted after downloading from the server. I have stored my Outlook mailbox storage in a pen drive. The source file is in PST format. I need to open the PST file without MS Outlook through which I can read my Outlook mailbox with proper email formatting.

Suggested Solution: There are some viewers available for free of cost. These are the alternative solution to open your PST & read complete mailbox data like emails, attachments, contacts, calendars, journal, notes & task without MS Outlook. Following are some of the Outlook PST Reader:

• • SysTools PST Viewer
• • Freeviewer.org for PST file

I would suggest reading Outlook PST file with SysTools PST Viewer. Let me explain the steps as easy as 1,2,3 ;)

Steps to Read Outlook Mailbox without Outlook

Start the PST Viewer Software & Browse for the PST File from your Pen drive or any other storage location.



Scan your any PST File (ANSI/Unicode) of any Outlook Version 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016



Read the PST file in proper email format without MS Outlook



External attachment could also be access in its next panel



Apart from this you can view other MS Outlook items like contacts, calendars, notes, tasks & journals




Follow the above steps whenever you need to read Outlook PST file.

Note: The above tools is a Freeware.

Conclusion: I generally read my PST files without MS Outlook, therefore I have added this free utility in my toolkit. Whenever you got stuck to check your mail in the absence of MS Outlook just google SysTools PST Viewer. As it also resolves your storage problem of installing bulky mail client environment to open & read PST files.So i suggest yo keep it in your toolkit, it will definitely going to help you.


Some Queries Discussed
Q. When I purchase anything from an e-commerce site, I keep a copy of the mail. I need to print the email.
A. You can upgrade the version of the tool. And the limitation imposed by the tool to only view PST mailboxes get extend to the export facility which enable you to export your Outlook mailbox storage to Adobe PDF File. And PDF would be the better option to print your email.

Q. As I travel on regular basis so if I keep my PST file with me in my memory card. Can I search my emails in its interface same as MS Outlook?
A. Yes, In fact you get more advance search feature in its pro version as compare to MS Outlook.

Q. Would I be able to read my deleted emails from the PST file?
A. Yes, provided you have not deleted it from Deleted Folder also. It can access all the email folder thus deleted folder also, but make sure the emails are not deleted from this folder itself, otherwise it is a case of permanent deletion.

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Convert Entourage Mailboxes to Outlook PST - Quick Steps to Migrate

Entourage mail is developed by Microsoft for Mac OS. It is an email client for desktop includes emails, notes, contacts, calendars & journals. Entourage mail client has MBOX mail format for storing all its mail documents locally.

Now as Outlook has ruling the market, user usually migrate from Entourage to Outlook because of many add on features provided by Outlook. In such case, user’s Entourage mail files become inaccessible in Outlook and user started searching for utilities to convert Entourage to Outlook data file.

Issues with Entourage mail

Entourage mail client is basically for Mac and doesn’t supported by Windows. Because of its lacking support for business environment user often migrate from Mac to Windows.

Here the issue arrived when user want to access Entourage mail file in Windows Outlook mail client and they can’t access it at all.

So concluding the scenario, if you have Entourage mail files in your Windows system, then to access the mail files you have to convert Entourage to Outlook. This process of conversion Entourage Outlook makes user to access their Entourage mail files into PST.

Convert Entourage to Outlook with One Click Tool

User can perform a simple conversion with the help of an Entourage to Outlook converter. Let me explain you the simple steps of how to convert Entourage mail to PST.

Step-1: - Open the conversion utility, and proceed for adding Entourage from the saved location.

 Step-2: - As you can see, Entourage is listed on third number in the UI, it means you can convert your Entourage file in Windows PC. You can select file or folder of Entourage in bulk in order to convert them into Outlook.

Note: Entourage store its files in archive file “.rge” on Mac machine, so before converting the file you need to extract Entourage file from the .rge file

How to extract Entourage data from the .rge file?

• • Launch your Microsoft Entourage on your Mac. Click on Export and add the .rge file .

• • Select Option > Items to an Entourage Archive > select All Items.

• • Save the files & wait for the process to be done.

• • You can now easily access your Entourage mails. Copy the mails in some portable device.

• • Remember Entourage saves single files in .emlx format and a folder in .mbox format. 

• • Now connect the portable device in your Windows system. Remember in Windows the             archive will appear as a folder. 

• • Now you can easily follow the under mentioned steps to convert Entourage to Outlook PST

Step-3: - A pop-up screen asking for source destination of Entourage mail files allows you to browse your Entourage mail file from any location in your system. Give the location where you copied the Entourage archive     

 Step-4: - Process action will convert Entourage to Outlook within seconds.

Now you can see all your converted Entourage mail to PST in a folder structure. Not only emails you can also preview the attachments along with.

Convert Entourage to Outlook – verdict

The tool to convert Entourage to Outlook is a standalone tool which means you can still export your Entourage data when you have not installed the email client environment. This feature makes it more usable and user friendly. Adding on the features, exporting Entourage mails to other formats is also available in the Pro version of tool convert Entourage to Outlook.

Try the free version of MBOX converter & open Entourage email in Outlook.

Note: - User must have import their Entourage .rge archive in order to get entourage mail file, for entourage to outlook conversion.

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Extract Data From VMDK File

Learn to Extract Data From VMDK File In Corrupt State

VMDK is the virtual disk file type generated by VMware application. The application creates this file for the machines having different servers. There are many other applications similar to VMware that are employed to generate a virtual environment. This segment shares details on how to extract data from VMDK file in varying conditions.

More about VMDK Files

VMware VMDK file is the exact virtual emulation of a real computer on Guest OS connected to it. IT sector is progressing more and more towards the consolidation of servers. Therefore, the awareness of being able to manage and administer virtual machines has become a necessity. The system requirement to have the right virtual environment includes; hard disk space, usable memory, and CPU. Either storage location of these virtual disk files can be the local machine or any host reachable remote location. The remote storage of virtual disks can be any of the following: ISCSI, Network Attached Storage, or a Storage Area Network that is attached to the host machine. There are two types of virtual disk files, which are Preallocated and Growable disk type.

In the former disk type, storage space of the virtual data is preallocated i.e., previously allocated. On the other hand, a growable disk keeps on increasing the storage according to the necessity. Size factor of a VMDK file is being discussed because it affects the state of the file.

Mount & Extract Data from an Oversized VMDK

Configuration of VMware disk is customizable thus; it is possible to setup the VMDK as an independent. Doing this adds up a layer of complexity and control to the VMware disk files. in addition to that, once the files are independent disk files they can be configured as Persistent disk or a Non-persistent one.

The changes made to the disk is simultaneously recorded and saved permanently in case of a Persistent disk. However, changes are meant to be lost in the case of Non-Persistent type of configuration, as soon as the host machine is turned off.

However, even in the case of a Persistent Disk the data stored can become unusable due to the ample reasons of corruption capable of affect the state of a VMDK file. These are:

• Snapshot files gone missing
• Log files deleted (accidently/purposely)
• Malware intrusion directly into the VMDK or associated files responsible for its working
• Deletion of OS files from a Guest Operating System

Mounting a VMDK file is easier and can be performed using a number of methods but only in cases where the file may be raw but is in a healthy state. However, in any of the above listed conditions, it is not possible to mount and extract data from VMDK file. The only possible method is to get a third party application involved and reuse the extracted data on the virtual environment.

VMware Recovery to Extract Data from VMDK File

This VMDK file recovery solution is capable of thoroughly scanning virtual machine disk files and recovering them from a corrupt state. This enables the tool to be able to extract data from VMDK file regardless of how badly it may be corrupted.

Some of the key features are:

• Corrupt, Formatted, Deleted VMDK file recovery served

• Preview of contents from the recovered VMDK file rendered
• The software imposes no limitation on the size of VMDK file
• Extraction of recovered data done at the original location

You can extract the contents of a VMDK file in just three steps :

  1. Scan and load the VMware disk files by manually browsing the file or scanning the machine 

      via a selected drive or all at once.

  2. Filter out the desired set of data as per your requirement.

3. Extract contents to machine by selecting the desired ones or performing a bulk extract.

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How to Access NSF Files with Outlook in Few Clicks

Lotus Notes & MS Outlook

Lotus Notes is a desktop-based mail application comes along with Lotus Domino server, is developed by IBM Lotus Development Corporation. Lotus notes also offers features like calendars, contact information, discussion forums, file sharing, instant messaging, user directories & blogs along with mails. Lotus notes supports NSF mail format. This  .nsf file is locally accessible only when you have Domino server installed & configured with your Lotus Notes client. Count this as its major drawback because if only you are connected with Domino server you can access your mails, calendars, archives etc.

Instead I will inform you that Outlook never make it sure that you are connected to server for retrieving your locally saved mails, contacts, tasks & archive etc. hence this fact of Lotus Notes marks it a little behind of Outlook.

Now the question rises what to do to access NSF files without Lotus Domino? Well I will give you a way to access NSF file in Outlook even without connected to Lotus Domino. Providing you a tool to access NSF files with Outlook in simple steps.

How to Access NSF file with Outlook?

You need to follow simple procedure to access Lotus Notes in Outlook. Take a look

Step-1: - Double Click on the setup & open the UI of software.

Step-2: - Click Browse to add your NSF database file.

Step-3: - Browse your names.nsf file separately for accessing your Lotus contacts in Outlook.

Note: Your contacts in Lotus Notes are stored in a single names.nsf file, you need to export it distinctly for accessing into Outlook.

Step-4: - You are provided with the feature to Select criteria. Here you can select only what you want to access along with applying filtration also.

You can apply filters like -

1. Mails you want to access from any specific date.

2. The duplicated contacts you do not want to access.

3. You can access specific tasks, journals, by applying Set option from a specific date.

Step-5: - Additionally there are more options for applying filters on your .nsf files for conversion.

1. You can split PST file if it is larger than the specified size (It will be helpful for accessing NSF emails in Outlook easily). Size can be defined by User.

2. Change location to manage the PST file, from where you can easily import the PST file in your Outlook.

Step-6: - Advance setting permits various other options like HTML formatting, remove encryption, set smtp manually, map customized folders etc. Click Apply to save changes.

Step-7: - You will pass on to the previous page after applying the changes. When you hit the Export option for starting conversion process to make NSF accessible in Outlook.

Step-8: - You can also view the export report generated in .csv format. It will display you file count of the process.

Step-9: - After exporting, now open your predestined file location to access the NSF file in Outlook.

Upshot: - Access Lotus Notes NSF File with Outlook

The Tool to Access NSF file in Outlook is an all-rounder utility. It can export your .nsf file to single PST and also split large PST files. Moreover, you can view your saved files in maintained folder structure, auto generated export report, maintains HTML formatting and many more. Hence to access Lotus Notes NSF File in Outlook, try for Free - Click Here.

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