Kernel OST Viewer¶

What Kernel OST Viewer does¶

Guided SUSA tool journey

Kernel OST Viewer supports email forensics. In this guide, you will use it to review a copied OST and identify one relevant message and attachment relationship. The procedure and screenshots provide the practical reference; the surrounding context explains what to record and how to judge the result.

Tool guide at a glance¶

Investigation task

Review a copied OST and identify one relevant message and attachment relationship.

Starting material

A copied training mail store or message set with account and acquisition context.

Successful outcome

A message finding supported by identifiers, headers, mailbox context, and safely handled attachments.

Evidence and safety

Do not open recovered attachments or links on SUSA. Preserve the source store and exported-message provenance. Record the input identifier, tool version, relevant commands or settings, time and time zone, output location, and any errors or limitations as you work.

Choose your journey¶

01Understand the evidenceLearn the email forensics concepts and limitations.Complete when you can explain what the evidence can and cannot show.Beginner · No tool required · 15–25 min 02Follow the Kernel OST Viewer guideWork through the commands, screenshots, and instructional sequence below.Complete when the documented workflow produces its expected output.Guided · SUSA workstation · Time varies 03Interactive labPractise the tool workflow in a safe browser simulation.Complete when the guided result is supported by the case evidence.Beginner · Browser only · 10–20 min 04Full LabInvestigate an authorised training scenario with fewer prompts and preserve a reviewable result.Complete when another analyst can reproduce and verify the outcome.Intermediate · Isolated lab · 45–90 min

How the labs complement this guide

The Interactive Lab is a safe browser simulation for practising the workflow and validation logic. The Full Lab is an independent exercise for an isolated, authorised environment. Confirm the installed tool version and expected output before relying on either exercise in a real case.

Accessing Kernel OST Viewer in SUSA¶

Kernel OST Viewer is a tool used to open and view Outlook OST files without needing Microsoft Outlook or an Exchange connection.

Download Kernel OST Viewer.

Move the downloaded executable to C:\Tools\Kernel OST Viewer directory and double-click the application. Click Next, accept the license agreement. Select default options and click Next.

$Screenshot: Move the downloaded executable to C:\Tools\Kernel OST Viewer directory and double-click the application. Click Next, accept the license a…$

Once the install is complete, click Finish.

This creates a desktop shortcut and launches the application.

Right-click the Kernel OST Viewer desktop shortcut and select Properties. Record the application location (C:\Program Files (x86)\Kernel OST Viewer\Kernel OST Viewer.exe).

$Screenshot: Right-click the Kernel OST Viewer desktop shortcut and select Properties. Record the application location (C:\Program Files (x86)\Kernel…$

Move the shortcut to C:\Tools\Kernel OST Viewer.

$Screenshot: Move the shortcut to C:\Tools\Kernel OST Viewer$

Double-click Kernel OST Viewer to verify that it runs without an error.