DOCUMENT:Q137043 31-OCT-1999 [pcmail] TITLE :SMTP: Benchmarking the SMTP Gateway PRODUCT :Microsoft Mail For PC Networks PROD/VER:MS-DOS:3.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Mail Gateway to SMTP, version 3.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= This article is intended to give you an idea of the volume of mail this gateway can theoretically move for inbound mail and outbound mail. This information will help you set the proper expectations of this gateway in high volume environments, or when a disproportionate amount of mail moves into, or out of, the postoffice. The tests were conducted with the following assumptions: - All messages are the same size (537 bytes) with no attachments. - There is no traffic on the Microsoft Mail for PC Networks postoffice (PO) or the Smart Host---no file contention with users or other message transfer agent (MTA), nor does the Connection Attempts Options (-q) come into play. - The MS-DOS workstation running the gateway does not experience any network fluctuations. MORE INFORMATION ================ Outbound -------- When you move mail from the Microsoft Mail environment to SMTP, there are three obvious variables: the Wait Option, the actual time it takes to send mail, and how many messages move per cycle. A cycle begins with a wait state and ends with a wait state. A limit of six messages is sent outbound during each cycle. Below are examples of how changing the Wait Option will increase or decrease the volume of mail moving out of the SMTP gateway. A large wait time will decrease the amount of time available for outgoing mail; thus, it limits the amount of outbound mail. Factors ------- Wait Option (Sec) 120 (default) Time to send msg. (sec) 2.5 Mail per cycle 6 Wait time per cycle (sec) 105 Active Time per cycle (sec) 15 Hours Days Time period (Sec) 86,400 24 1 Waiting for Inbound Mail (Sec) 75,600 21 87.5% Active gateway time (Sec) 10,800 3 12.5% ======= Messages Sent over 24 hour period 1,800 Factors ------- Wait Option (Sec) 15 Time to send msg. (sec) 2.5 Mail per cycle 6 Wait time per cycle (sec) 0 Active Time per cycle (sec) 15 Hours Days Time period (Sec) 86,400 24 1 Waiting for Inbound Mail (Sec) 0 0 0.0% Active gateway time (Sec) 86,400 24 100.0% ======= Messages Sent per Time period 14,400 Factors ------- Wait Option (Sec) 600 Time to send msg. (sec) 2.5 Mail per cycle 6 Wait time per cycle (sec) 585 Active Time per cycle (sec) 15 Hours Days Time period (Sec) 86,400 24 1 Waiting for Inbound Mail (Sec) 84240 23.4 97.5% Active gateway time (Sec) 2,160 0.6 2.5% ==== # Message Sent per Time period 360 Per the factors above, if you change the -W option, it has a substantial impact on the volume of mail moved out of the gateway. Inversely, this will affect the availability of inbound messages. Depending on how much mail needs to be sent, or which way it needs to be sent, this option will determine how you configure your gateway. However, there is one more issue that should be addressed. Receiving mail, unlike sending mail, does not limit how many messages may be received during a cycle. (This is not possible to configure on the SMTP host.) In theory, once a connection is made messages will be received indefinitely. Therefore, the setting of the command-line options makes no difference. Inbound ------- Below is a table showing the maximum volume of inbound messages based on the same size message. Factors ------- Wait Option (Sec) 120 Default Time to receive msg. (sec) 2.5 Messages per cycle Unlimited Checking for mail per cycle (sec) 0 Receive Mail per cycle (sec) 300 Hours Days Time period (Sec) 86,400 24 1 Time spent checking for mail per day (Sec) 0 0 0.0% Time Spent Receive mail (Sec) 86,400 24 100.0% # Message received per Time period 34,560 Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbMailSearch kbMailGateSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbMailGateSMTP300 Version : MS-DOS:3.0 ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1999.