EXO online archive

Question

Hi all

I'd like to ask some questions regarding the EXO online archive. I have a user that has currently reached the 99GB mark (we're on M365 E3)

I am currently testing the online archive feature before configuring it to the user. While googling online i came across this documentation https://lazyadmin.nl/office-365/outlook-online-archive-for-office-365-explained/#searching-in-online-archive

Here it mentions that folder structure of the inbox is automatically created in the online archive I tried looking for some MS documentation regarding this but was not able to find anything about it. As mentioned, I am currently testing the online archive. I can see the online archive folder in my outlook but i can only see 3 folders in it (Deleted Items, Archive and Search Folders). It hasn't populate with a copy of my current inbox's folder structure

Here are my questions

1. does this actually happen? copying of inbox folder structure
2. how long does it take if it does?

By the way, this is my currently policy. The goal is to keep / archive everything hence i removed everything that has delete in it

Answer 1

It doesn't copy the Inbox structure per se, it simply creates a matching folder for any folder in the "main" mailbox to which you have applied a tag with the Archive action, and for which at least one item has expired. In other words, as items in a folder with Archive tag applied age out, they are moved to a folder with the same name within the Online archive.

The initial processing of the mailbox can take up to a week, especially considering the size in your case. Afterwards, items are moved every 2-3 days (the official SLA is one week for Exchange Online).