Exchange 2010 Public Folders
A Public Folder in Exchange Server is a repository in which various information types can be stored. E-mail messages, documents and other files can be stored. Public folders are primarily used for centralizing contacts and calendars, discussion groups, messages that concern a group of people such as a support department, etc. Public Folders also support previous outlook versions for custom forms and OABs. Public Folder content replicates across Public Folder Databases every 15 min by default. This value cannot be less than one min. The public folder configuration objects are stored in AD. This means that AD replication must be working correctly for Public Folders to replicate. Every time there is a modification in a Public Folder Database, it notifies the other Public Folder Databases by sending e-mail that contains information about the changes. Multiple replicas provide the benefit of placing a folder to a server where users are located for easy and quick access. Communication is reduced across the WAN links to replication changes only. Replication provides also fault tolerance. Because Exchange is site-aware, always directs the client to connect to its local database replica first, then on another database at the same site and subsequently on distant databases with the lowest site cost and so on.
