Import PST to Exchange Online (Microsoft O365)

Preparing for the Import

Before you embark on the PST to Office 365 migration journey, it's essential to lay the groundwork. Here are some key steps to prepare for a successful import:

1. Identify Your PST Files: Locate the PST files that you want to transfer to Office 365. These files might be stored on your local computer, network drives, or external storage devices.

2. Check File Size and Content: Assess the size and complexity of your PST files. Large files or those containing complex structures may require specialized migration tools or additional planning.

3. Plan Your Import Strategy: Decide where you want to import the PST data within your Office 365 tenant. You can choose individual mailboxes, shared folders, or specific locations based on your organization's structure. Consider factors like user permissions, data security, and compliance requirements when making this decision.

By following these steps, you'll ensure a smooth and efficient PST to Office 365 migration process.

Network Upload Method to Import PST to Office 365

Prerequisites

• Office 365 admin access with the required permissions.

• Azure AzCopy Tool installed to facilitate PST uploads.

• PST file(s) prepared and located in a network folder.

Step 1: Assign Mailbox Import Export Role

1. Open Office 365 Admin Center.

2. Go to Exchange Admin Center (EAC).

3. Navigate to Permissions → Admin Roles.

4. Select the Mailbox Import Export role or create a new role group if needed.

5. Add your user account to the role.

Step 2: Download and Install Azure AzCopy Tool

1. Download the Azure AzCopy tool from Microsoft's official website.

2. Install the tool on your computer.

Step 3: Create the Import Job in Office 365

1. In the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, go to the Compliance Admin Center.

2. Navigate to Information Governance → Import.

3. Click +New Import Job.

4. Name the job and click Next.

Step 4: Upload PST Files to Microsoft 365 Using AzCopy

1. Download the SAS URL (Shared Access Signature URL) provided by Office 365 in the Import Job Wizard.

2. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell with admin rights.

3. Use the following command to upload your PST file:

AzCopy.exe /Source:"C:\PathToYourPSTFile" /Dest:"https://<SAS URL>" /V:"C:\logfile.log"

OR

azcopy.exe copy "\\FILESERVER1\PSTs" "https://3c3e5952a2764023ad14984.blob.core.windows.net/ingestiondata?sv=2012-02-12&amp;se=9999-12-31T23%3A59%3A59Z&amp;sr=c&amp;si=IngestionSasForAzCopy201601121920498117&amp;sig=Vt5S4hVzlzMcBkuH8bH711atBffdrOS72TlV1mNdORg%3D"

1. Monitor the upload progress, and once done, verify that the upload is successful.

Step 5: Map PST Files to User Mailboxes

1. After the upload is complete, return to the Import Job Wizard in the Compliance Admin Center.

2. Choose I have uploaded my files and click Next.

3. Download the PST Mapping Template (a CSV file) provided by Microsoft.
4. Fill in the necessary fields in the CSV file, including:

• Workload (Mailbox).

• FilePath (Location of the uploaded PST file).

• Mailbox (User's email address to map the PST).

• TargetRootFolder (Specify the folder in which to import the PST).

• IsArchive (whether to import into archive mailboxes).

# CSV FILE FORMAT

Workload,FilePath,Name,Mailbox,IsArchive,TargetRootFolder,ContentCodePage,SPFileContainer,SPManifestContainer,SPSiteUrl
Exchange,,annb.pst,[e-mail],FALSE,/,,,,
Exchange,,annb_archive.pst,[e-mail],TRUE,,,,,

Step 6: Validate the CSV File and Start the Import

1. Upload the filled-out CSV file to the Import Job.

2. Click Validate to check for any issues with the mapping.

3. Once validated successfully, click Next.

4. Choose Import data to mailboxes and review the settings.

5. Click Finish to start the import.

Step 7: Monitor the Import Job

1. You can monitor the status of the import in the Import tab of the Compliance Admin Center.

2. Once the import is completed, verify the content by accessing the users' mailboxes.

This completes the process of importing PST files to Office 365 using the Network Upload method.

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REFERENCES

• https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/import-pst-office-365-comprehensive-guide-seamless-data-jha-malnf/
• https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/exchange-online-pst-import-made-simple-pradeep-katiyar-gf5if/
• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/purview/importing-pst-files-to-office-365
• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/purview/use-network-upload-to-import-pst-files