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.

Configurable parameters for the test
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.
Measurements made by the test
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:

  • Microsoft Exchange MTA service is down
  • Microsoft Exchange MTA service is choking up memory
  • The Exchange Server 5.5 is overloaded.

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.