27.2 Daily Monitoring Tasks

The most important tasks you should perform on a daily basis are checking postmaster mail, monitoring the log files, and setting up the stored utility. These tasks are described below.

27.2.1 Checking postmaster Mail

Messaging Server has a predefined administrative mailing list set up for postmaster email. Any users who are part of this mailing list will automatically receive mail addressed to postmaster.

The rules for postmaster mail are defined in RFC822, which requires every email site to accept mail addressed to a user or mailing list named postmaster and that mail sent to this address be delivered to a real person. All messages sent to postmaster@host.domain are sent to a postmaster account or mailing list.

Typically, the postmaster address is where users should send email about their mail service. As postmaster, you might receive mail from local users about server response time, from other server administrators who are encountering problems sending mail to your server, and so on. You should check postmaster mail daily.

You can also configure the server to send certain error messages to the postmaster address. For example, when the MTA cannot route or deliver a message, you can be notified via email sent to the postmaster address. You can also send exception condition warnings (low disk space, poor server response) to postmaster.

27.2.2 Monitoring and Maintaining the Log Files

Messaging Server creates a separate set of log files for each of the major protocols or services it supports including SMTP, IMAP, POP, and HTTP. These are located in msg-svr-base/data/log. You should monitor the log files on a routine basis--especially if you are having problems with the server.

Be aware that logging can impact server performance. The more verbose the logging you specify, the more disk space your log files will occupy for a given amount of time. You should define effective but realistic log rotation, expiration, and backup policies for your server. For information about defining logging policies for your server, see Chapter 25, Managing Logging.

27.2.3 Setting Up the msprobe Utility

The msprobe utility automatically performs monitoring and restart functions. For further information see 27.8.9 Monitoring Using msprobe and watcher Functions