Applies to: Exchange Server 2007 SP3, Exchange Server 2007 SP2, Exchange Server 2007 SP1, Exchange Server 2007
Topic Last Modified: 2007-01-31

This topic explains how to use the Exchange Management Console or the Exchange Management Shell to configure mailbox storage quotas for a mailbox. Storage quotas allow administrators to control the size of mailboxes and manage the growth of mailbox databases.

Note:
Storage quotas can also be configured on a per-database basis. The quotas configured for a mailbox database apply to all mailboxes in that database, unless the mailbox is configured not to use mailbox database defaults. For detailed steps about how to configure storage quotas on a mailbox database, see How to Configure Storage Quotas for a Mailbox Database.

When a mailbox size reaches or exceeds a specified storage quota limit, Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 sends a descriptive notification to the mailbox owner. Exchange 2007 allows you to customize the content of these notification messages. To learn more about customizing quota messages, see How to Manage Quota Messages.

Before You Begin

To perform the following procedures, the account you use must be delegated the following:

  • Exchange Recipient Administrator role

For more information about permissions, delegating roles, and the rights that are required to administer Exchange 2007, see Permission Considerations.

Procedure

To use the Exchange Management Console to configure storage quotas for a mailbox

  1. Start the Exchange Management Console.

  2. In the console tree, expand Recipient Configuration, and then click Mailbox.

  3. In the result pane, select the mailbox user for whom you want to configure storage quotas.

  4. In the action pane, under the mailbox user's name, click Properties.

  5. In <Mailbox User Name> Properties, click the Mailbox Settings tab.

  6. Click Storage Quotas, and then click Properties.

  7. In Storage Quotas, clear the Use mailbox database defaults check box, and then complete the following fields:

    • Issue warning at (KB)   Select this check box and use the corresponding text box to specify the maximum storage limit in kilobytes (KB) before a warning is issued to the mailbox user. The value range is from 0 through 2,147,483,647 KB. If the mailbox size reaches or exceeds the value specified, Exchange will send a warning message to the mailbox user.

    • Prohibit send at (KB)   Select this check box and use the corresponding text box to specify a prohibit send limit in KB for the mailbox. The value range is from 0 through 2,147,483,647 KB. If the mailbox size reaches or exceeds the specified limit, Exchange will prevent the mailbox user from sending new messages and will display a descriptive error message.

    • Prohibit send and receive at (KB)   Select this check box and use the corresponding text box to specify a prohibit send and receive limit in KB for the mailbox. The value range is from 0 through 2,147,483,647 KB. If the mailbox size reaches or exceeds the specified limit, Exchange will prevent the mailbox user from sending new messages and will not deliver any new messages to the mailbox. Any messages that are sent to the mailbox will be returned to the sender with a descriptive error message.

  8. Click OK to return to the Mailbox Settings tab.

  9. Click OK.

To use the Exchange Management Shell to configure storage quotas for a mailbox

  • Run the following command to set the warning, prohibit send, and prohibit send and receive limits for John Smith's mailbox to 200 megabytes (MB), 250 MB, and 280 MB respectively.

    Note:
    To make sure that the custom settings for the mailbox are used instead of the mailbox database defaults, you must set the UseDatabaseQuotaDefaults parameter to $false.
    Copy Code 
    Set-Mailbox -Identity jsmith@contoso.com -IssueWarningQuota 209715200 -ProhibitSendQuota 262144000 -ProhibitSendReceiveQuota 293601280 -UseDatabaseQuotaDefaults $false

For detailed syntax and parameter information, see the Set-Mailbox reference topic.

For More Information

For more information about configuring storage quotas on a per-database basis, see How to Configure Storage Quotas for a Mailbox Database.

To learn more about system messages related to storage quotas, see Understanding Quota Messages.

For more information about customizing quota messages, see How to Manage Quota Messages.

To learn more about the impact of storage quotas on Unified Messaging (UM)-enabled mailboxes, see Understanding Storage Quotas and Voice Mail.