Hi Mario, 

The immediate answer is that there are a number of software applications that can:
- Crawl the network, including individual PCs, looking for .pst files
- Index the contents of each .pst file
- Extract all of the messages from all of the .pst files in native .msg format 
- Provide a repository to store the messages and full-text index them
- Full-text index text-type attachments such as Word documents or searchable PDFs
- De-duplicate the messages prior to storage (not as common)
- Manage the .pst files in place (not very common at all)

You also have to decide whether you simply want to import everything, thereby going from a massive pile of .psts to a massive file of messages. The overwhelming majority of what is contained in the .pst files will either be messages of no initial business value or messages which may have had business value but have since expired. 

In terms of coming to immediate grips with the email problem, extracting and importing everything can be successful, particularly if the solution allows for deduplication, more particularly if it relies on one or both of message ID (header field) or bitstream comparisons. 

And to anticipate the response from some of you, no, it's not the ideal solution. But if you're looking to winnow the 1-5% of stuff that might need to be kept longer term from the rest of the chaff, or if you're getting buried in discovery of email, this is an excellent first step to take - exactly akin to doing a records inventory and scheduling a shred/recycle day. Usual caveats about litigation apply of course. Other issues of change management, classification, etc. are certainly important but not relevant to the immediate question asked. 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of myself and no other company, organization, association, entity, or board of directors,

jesse
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(303) 574-0749 direct
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jessewilkins 

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