MsXStore Test
This test monitors the performance of Exchange Server information store, a server-side component. The information store makes it possible for users to send mail and use public folders. The information store performs the following tasks:
- Stores public folders in the public information store.
- Stores user’s messages in the private information store.
- Maintains storage.
- Delivers messages addressed to users on the same server as the sender.
- Forwards messages addressed to recipients on other servers and systems to the message transfer agent (MTA) to deliver.
Target of the test : A Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5
Agent deploying the test : An internal agent
Outputs of the test : One set of results for every Exchange Server 5.5 being monitored.
Parameters | Description |
---|---|
Test Period |
This indicates how often should the test be executed. |
Host |
The IP address of the machine where the Exchange Server 5.5 is installed. |
Port |
The port number through which the Exchange Server 5.5 communicates. The default port number is 25. |
Measurement | Description | Measurement Unit | Interpretation |
---|---|---|---|
Current users |
This measure shows the actual number of users (not connections) currently using the information store. |
Number |
This measure is a good indicator of user activity in the Exchange 5.5 Server. This information can be used by the administrator for planning the capacity of the mail server. |
Mail send queue size |
This measure indicates the number of messages in the send queue of an information store. |
Number |
This measure is usually zero under normal conditions. This measure can be non-zero in the case of very busy systems (2000 users and more).
|
Mail receive queue size |
This measure shows the number of messages in the receiving queue of the information store. |
Number |
This measure is usually zero under normal conditions. A non-zero value for this measure indicates that the SMTP service is choking up memory.
|
Mail sent rate |
This measure indicates the rate at which messages are being sent to other storage providers via the Message Transfer Agent (MTA). MTA is a component of Microsoft Exchange Server that sends and distributes information between Microsoft Exchange Server systems or between Microsoft Exchange Server and a foreign system. Each MTA is associated with one information store. |
Msgs/Min |
A high value over a period for this measure indicates the one of the following:
|
Mail opens |
This measure indicates the rate at which the requests, to open the messages are being submitted to the private information store. |
Msgs/Sec |
This measure shows the overall picture of user activity. An abnormally high value for this measure may indicate that the Exchange Server 5.5 is overloaded.
|
Folder opens |
This measure indicates the rate at which requests, to open the folders are being submitted to the public information store. |
Reqs/Sec |
This measure is another good indicator of user activity on the mail folders.
|
Avg mail delivery time |
This measure indicates the average time between the submission of a message to the information store and the submission to the MTA for the last 10 messages. |
Secs |
A non-zero value for this measure indicates a change in user workload. An abnormally high value for this measure indicates inability to deliver to one or more destinations. One of the possible reasons for this can be a network failure.
|
Avg mail local delivery time |
This measure indicates the average time between the submission of a message to the information store and the delivery to all local recipients (recipients on the same server) for the last 10 messages. |
Secs |
A non-zero value for this measure indicates a change in the user workload. An abnormally high value for this measure may indicate that the server is overloaded. |