{"id":53186,"date":"2022-04-27T09:00:49","date_gmt":"2022-04-27T07:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/?p=53186"},"modified":"2026-04-29T12:26:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T10:26:08","slug":"vmware-horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/vmware-horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files\/","title":{"rendered":"VMware Horizon: manage Outlook OST files"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53193 size-full\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-01\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-01.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-01\" width=\"602\" height=\"202\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In a typical non-persistent <a href=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/vmware-horizon-secure-logins-with-azure-mfa-nps-extension\/\">Horizon environment<\/a>, to manage the Microsoft Outlook OST files can be challenging if you don't use a correct configuration for your VDI.<\/p>\n<p>Office 365 users have the issue of <strong>losing the Outlook OST files<\/strong> each time they log off because the VD is destroyed and the virtual desktop reset to default.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>To manage OST files, <strong>two additional components<\/strong> must be installed in your Horizon infrastructure:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>VMware App Volumes<\/li>\n<li>VMware DEM<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Outlook OST files<\/h2>\n<p>Generally, the Microsoft Outlook OST file is stored on the <strong>local drive C:<\/strong>\u00a0of the computer.<\/p>\n<p>In a non-persistent VDI environment, at\u00a0<strong>each logoff<\/strong>\u00a0the VD is reset to the default settings\u00a0<strong>deleting the OST file<\/strong>. To retain the Outlook cache, a specific configuration is required in your VDI environment.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Install VMware App Volumes<\/h2>\n<p>If the Outlook cache file is missing, it will be <strong>created each time<\/strong> the user opens the application making the <strong>logon process time consuming<\/strong>. To avoid that OST file is recreated each time, the system needs a <strong>persistent disk<\/strong> associated with the users where to store the OST file. This is where <strong>App Volumes come into play<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>To properly deploy App Volumes in your <a href=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/vmware-horizon-8-customize-the-login-page\/\">Horizon infrastructure<\/a>, you can follow <a href=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/vmware-app-volumes-4-installation-pt-1\/\">this guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53195 size-full\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-02\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-02.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-02\" width=\"495\" height=\"387\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When <a href=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/vmware-app-volumes-4-writable-volumes-configuration-pt-3\/\">Writable Volumes<\/a> have been configured and assigned to users, after logging in to the virtual desktop the <strong>C:\\SnapVolumesTemp\\writable folder<\/strong> will be \"attached\" to the VM. To specify where the <strong>OST file should be stored<\/strong> you need to configure the system accordingly.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Install VMware DEM<\/h2>\n<p>To <strong>manage the OST location<\/strong>, VMware DEM is the tool to use. Check out <a href=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/vmware-dynamic-environment-manager-dem-configuration\/\">this guide<\/a> to install and configure DEM.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53197 size-full\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-03\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-03.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-03\" width=\"495\" height=\"387\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When the VMware DEM tool has been installed, it <strong>must be configured<\/strong> to properly manage Outlook OST files.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Configure DEM to manage OST files<\/h2>\n<p>The OST file location can be configured in DEM in two ways:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>ADMX-based Settings<\/li>\n<li>App Volumes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>ADMX Templates<\/h4>\n<p>To manage the OST location in Outlook, you need to first download the appropriate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/download\/details.aspx?id=49030\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Office ADMX templates<\/a> from Microsoft website.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53199 size-large\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-04\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-04-600x222.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-04\" width=\"600\" height=\"222\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Open the VMware DEM console, go to <strong>User Environment<\/strong> tab and select <strong>ADMX-based Settings<\/strong>. Click <strong>Manage Templates ADMX<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53201 size-full\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-05\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-05.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-05\" width=\"600\" height=\"334\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Click <strong>Add Folder<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53203 size-large\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-06\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-06-600x474.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-06\" width=\"600\" height=\"474\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Click <strong>Browse<\/strong> and select the folder with the ADMX templates previously downloaded. Click <strong>OK<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53205 size-full\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-07\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-07.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-07\" width=\"485\" height=\"110\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The ADMX templates have been imported successfully. Click <strong>OK<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53207 size-full\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-08\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-08.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-08\" width=\"547\" height=\"347\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Click <strong>Validate<\/strong> to check if everything is fine with the imported templates.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53209 size-large\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-09\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-09-600x474.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-09\" width=\"600\" height=\"474\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Click <strong>OK<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53211 size-full\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-10\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-10.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-10\" width=\"235\" height=\"147\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Click <strong>Close<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53213 size-large\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-11\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-11-600x474.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-11\" width=\"600\" height=\"474\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Make sure <strong>ADMX-based Settings<\/strong> is still selected and click <strong>Create<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53215 size-full\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-12\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-12.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-12\" width=\"600\" height=\"335\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Enter a <strong>Name<\/strong> and optionally a <strong>Label<\/strong>\u00a0then click <strong>Select Categories<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53217 size-full\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-13\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-13.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-13\" width=\"472\" height=\"659\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Expand <strong>Microsoft Outlook 2016<\/strong> and select <strong>PST Settings<\/strong> under <strong>Miscellaneous<\/strong>. Click <strong>OK<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53219 size-full\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-14\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-14.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-14\" width=\"563\" height=\"349\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Click <strong>Edit Policies<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53221 size-full\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-15\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-15.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-15\" width=\"472\" height=\"659\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Select <strong>PST Settings<\/strong> and double click in the right side the <strong>Default location for OST files<\/strong> item to edit.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53223 size-large\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-16\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-16-600x328.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-16\" width=\"600\" height=\"328\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Check <strong>Enable<\/strong> to enable the policy and enter <em>C:\\SnapVolumesTemp\\writable<\/em> in the <strong>Default location for OST files<\/strong> field. Click <strong>OK<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53225 size-large\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-17\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-17-600x426.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-17\" width=\"600\" height=\"426\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The <em>Default location for OST files<\/em> policy <strong>is now enabled<\/strong>. Click the <strong>X<\/strong> in the upper right corner to close the window.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53227 size-large\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-18\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-18-600x328.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-18\" width=\"600\" height=\"328\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Click <strong>Save<\/strong> to save the configuration.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53229 size-full\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-19\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-19.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-19\" width=\"472\" height=\"659\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/vmware-dem-configure-default-applications\/\">VMware DEM<\/a> is now configured to manage Outlook OST files.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53231 size-full\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-20\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-20.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-20\" width=\"600\" height=\"335\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>App Volumes<\/h4>\n<p>Open the VMware DEM console, go to <strong>User Environment<\/strong> tab and select <strong>App Volumes<\/strong>. Click <strong>Create<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53247 size-large\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-21\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-21-600x282.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-21\" width=\"600\" height=\"282\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Enter a <strong>Name<\/strong> for the policy. Check the <strong>Store Offline Outlook Data File (.ost) on writable volume<\/strong> option and click <strong>Advanced<\/strong>. By default the <strong>Root folder<\/strong> points to the standard <em>Writable Volume<\/em> path. Leave default <strong>Sub folder<\/strong> path and click <strong>OK<\/strong> then <strong>Save<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53249 size-full\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-22\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-22.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-22\" width=\"471\" height=\"658\" \/><\/p>\n<p>La policy has been created.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53251 size-large\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-23\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-23-600x268.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-23\" width=\"600\" height=\"268\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Test the configuration<\/h2>\n<p>Login to a Horizon virtual desktop and open <strong>Microsoft Outlook<\/strong>. The OST cache file is created by the application.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53253 size-full\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-24\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-24.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-24\" width=\"400\" height=\"248\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Checking the Outlook configuration, the <strong>OST data location<\/strong> is stored in the configured Writable Volume.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53255 size-large\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-25\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-25-600x491.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-25\" width=\"600\" height=\"491\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Using the <strong>Windows Explorer<\/strong> check the <em>C:\\SnapVolumesTemp\\writable<\/em> folder content. You should now <strong>find the OST file<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53257 size-full\" title=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-26\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-26.jpg\" alt=\"horizon-manage-outlook-ost-files-26\" width=\"600\" height=\"242\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This configuration allows to <strong>retain the OST files<\/strong> in a non-persistent VDI environment <strong>speeding up the login process<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"signature\" src=\"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/images\/firma.jpg\" alt=\"signature\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a typical non-persistent Horizon environment, to manage the Microsoft Outlook OST files can be challenging if you don't use a correct configuration for your VDI. Office 365 users have the issue of losing the Outlook OST files each time they log off because the VD is destroyed and the virtual desktop reset to default.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":53193,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"linkedin_93tdZWzMZc_93tdZWzMZc":"","facebook_2879994398731222_17841400390232720":"","twitter_113568041_113568041":"","mastodon_115463926174894442_115463926174894442":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[1025,2905],"tags":[2316,2256,2453,2452],"class_list":["post-53186","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-horizon-en","category-omnissa-en","tag-app-volumes","tag-dem","tag-ost","tag-outlook","has_thumb"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53186","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53186"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53186\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53193"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53186"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53186"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53186"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}