can’t export pst file from exchange 2016 with this error: server or share name specified in the path may be invalid

The error you’re encountering, “server or share name specified in the path may be invalid,” typically occurs when the Exchange server is unable to access the network share where you’re trying to save the PST file. This could be due to a number of reasons, such as incorrect permissions, an inaccessible network path, or incorrect formatting of the file path.

Here are some steps to troubleshoot and resolve the issue:

1. Verify the Network Share Path:

• Make sure that the path you’re using is correct and accessible from the Exchange server.
• The path should be in UNC format (e.g., \\ServerName\ShareName\filename.pst).
• Test the Path:
  • From the Exchange server, open File Explorer and try to manually navigate to the path.
  • Ensure that the server name and share name are correct and that you can create a file in that location.

2. Check Permissions:

• Ensure that the “Exchange Trusted Subsystem” group has Read/Write permissions on the network share.
• To set permissions:
  • On the file server, navigate to the shared folder.
  • Right-click the folder, choose Properties, and go to the Sharing tab.
  • Click Advanced Sharing and then Permissions.
  • Add Exchange Trusted Subsystem with Full Control permissions.
• Verify that the share permissions and the NTFS permissions both allow access.

3. Use the Exchange Server’s FQDN:

• Sometimes, using the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the server in the UNC path can resolve the issue.
• Example: Instead of \\FileServer\PSTExports\UserMailbox.pst, use \\FileServer.Domain.com\PSTExports\UserMailbox.pst.

4. Ensure the Exchange Server Has Access to the Share:

• If you’re using multiple Exchange servers, ensure that the server processing the request has access to the network share.
• You can force the export request to run on a specific server by specifying the -MailboxServer parameter when using PowerShell:powershellCopy codeNew-MailboxExportRequest -Mailbox "UserMailbox" -FilePath "\\FileServer\PSTExports\UserMailbox.pst" -MailboxServer "ExchangeServerName"

5. Test the Path with PowerShell:

• You can try running a simple command to test if the Exchange server can write to the share:powershellCopy codeTest-Path -Path "\\FileServer\PSTExports\test.txt"
• You can also try creating a test file:powershellCopy codeNew-Item -Path "\\FileServer\PSTExports\test.txt" -ItemType "file"
• If these fail, the issue is likely with permissions or the network path.

6. Check for Typos and Format Errors:

• Ensure there are no typos or extra spaces in the path.
• Double-check the share name and folder structure.

7. Restart the Exchange Server:

• If you’ve verified the above steps and are still encountering issues, try restarting the Exchange server. This can sometimes resolve permission or network issues.

8. Consider Local Export:

• As a last resort, you could export the PST file to a local drive on the Exchange server and then manually move the file to your desired location:powershellCopy codeNew-MailboxExportRequest -Mailbox "UserMailbox" -FilePath "D:\Exports\UserMailbox.pst"
• After the export, you can manually copy the PST file to the network share.

By following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to resolve the issue and successfully export the PST file from Exchange 2016. If the problem persists, double-check all network configurations, or consider engaging your network or system administrator to assist with the file share setup.