Topic Last Modified: 2012-11-27

Linked mailboxes are mailboxes located in an Exchange forest (called a resource forest) that are accessed by users in a separate, trusted forest (called an account forest). This two-forest scenario allows organizations to centralize Exchange in a single resource forest, while allowing access to the Exchange organization by users with accounts in one or more account forests. So before you can create linked mailboxes, you must set up a trust between the Exchange forest and at least one account forest. Specifically, you have to create a one-way, outgoing trust so that the Exchange forest trusts the account forest.

The following figure illustrates the Exchange resource forest topology and the trust relationship between the two forests.

Resource forest topology and trust relationship

Complex Exchange organization with resource forest
Note:
If you create a one-way outgoing trust where the Exchange forest trusts the account forest, you will be prompted for administrator credentials in the account forest whenever you create a linked mailbox. To create a linked mailbox without being prompted for administrator credentials in the account forest, you have to create a two-way trust, or create another one-way outgoing trust where the account forest also trusts the Exchange forest. This step requires administrator credentials in the account forest.

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