Novell GROUPWISE 7 - POST OFFICE AGENT User manual

Post Office Agent

novdocx (en) 11 December 2007

461

Post Office Agent

Chapter 35, “Understanding Message Delivery and Storage in the Post Office,” on page 463

Chapter 36, “Configuring the POA,” on page 475

Chapter 37, “Monitoring the POA,” on page 515

Chapter 38, “Optimizing the POA,” on page 547

Chapter 39, “Using POA Startup Switches,” on page 565

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Understanding Message Delivery and Storage in the Post Office

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463

Understanding Message Delivery

and Storage in the Post Office

A post office is a collection of user mailboxes and GroupWise®objects. Messages are delivered into

mailboxes by the Post Office Agent (POA). The following topics help you understand the post office

and the functions of the POA:

Section 35.1, “Post Office Representation in ConsoleOne,” on page 463

Section 35.2, “Post Office Directory Structure,” on page 464

Section 35.3, “Information Stored in the Post Office,” on page 464

Section 35.4, “Post Office Access Mode,” on page 468

Section 35.5, “Role of the Post Office Agent,” on page 469

Section 35.6, “Message Flow in the Post Office,” on page 471

Section 35.7, “Cross-Platform Issues in the Post Office,” on page 471

35.1 Post Office Representation in ConsoleOne

In ConsoleOne®, post offices are container objects that contain at least one POA object, as shown

below:

Figure 35-1 ConsoleOne View Showing the POA Object

Although each post office is linked to a domain, it does not display as subordinate to the domain in

the Console View. However, using the GroupWise View, you can display post offices as subordinate

to the domains to which they are linked in your GroupWise system.

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Figure 35-2 GroupWise View Showing Post Offices in Relationship to Domains

35.2 Post Office Directory Structure

Physically, a post office consists of a set of directories that house all the information stored in the

post office. See “Post Office Directory” in GroupWise 7 Troubleshooting 3: Message Flow and

Directory Structure.

35.3 Information Stored in the Post Office

The following types of information are stored in the post office:

Section 35.3.1, “Post Office Database,” on page 464

Section 35.3.2, “Message Store,” on page 464

Section 35.3.3, “Guardian Database,” on page 466

Section 35.3.4, “Agent Input/Output Queues in the Post Office,” on page 466

Section 35.3.5, “Libraries (optional),” on page 467

All databases in the post office should be backed up regularly. How often you back up GroupWise

databases depends on the reliability of your network and hardware. See Section 31.2, “Backing Up a

Post Office,” on page 407.

35.3.1 Post Office Database

The post office database (wphost.db) contains all administrative information for the post office,

including a copy of the GroupWise Address Book. This information is necessary for users to send

messages to others in the GroupWise system.

35.3.2 Message Store

GroupWise messages are made up of three parts:

Message Header: The message header contains addressing information including the sender’s

address, recipient’s address, message priority, status level, and a pointer that links the header to

the message body.

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Message Body: The message body contains the message text in an encrypted format and a

distribution list containing user IDs of the sender and recipients.

File Attachments (optional): File attachments can be any type of file that is attached to the

message.

The message store consists of directories and databases that hold messages. The message store is

shared by all members of the post office so only one copy of a message and its attachments is stored

in the post office, no matter how many members of the post office receive the message. This makes

the system more efficient in terms of message processing, speed, and storage space.

All information in the message store is encrypted to prevent unauthorized access.

The message store contains the following components:

“User Databases” on page 465

“Message Databases” on page 465

“Attachments Directory” on page 466

User Databases

Each member of the post office has a personal database (userxxx.db) which represents the user’s

mailbox. The user database contains the following:

Message header information

Pointers to messages

Folder assignments

Personal groups

Personal address books

Rules

Contacts

Checklists

Categories

Junk Mail lists

When a member of another post office shares a folder with one or more members of the local post

office, a “prime user” database (puxxxxx.db) is created to store the shared information. The

“prime user” is the owner of the shared information.

Local user databases and prime user databases are stored in the ofuser directory in the post office.

Message Databases

Each member of the post office is arbitrarily assigned to a message database (msgnnn.db) where

the body portions of messages are stored. Many users in a post office share a single message

database. There can be as many as 255 message databases (numbered 0 through 254) in a post

office. Message databases are stored in the ofmsg directory in the post office.

Historical Note: Prior to GroupWise 7, the POA created a maximum of 25 message databases per

post office. The current maximum of 255 message databases speeds up message delivery and

minimizes user impact if a database is damaged.

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Outgoing messages from local senders are stored in the message database assigned to each sender.

Incoming messages from users in other post offices are stored in the message database that

corresponds to the message database assigned to the sender in his or her own post office. In each

case, only one copy of the message is stored in the post office, no matter how many members of the

post office it is addressed to.

Attachments Directory

The attachments directory (offiles) contains subdirectories that store file attachments, message

text, and distribution lists that exceed 2 KB. Items of this size are stored more efficiently as files

than as database records. The message database contains a pointer to where each item is found.

35.3.3 Guardian Database

The guardian database (ngwguard.db) serves as the master copy of the data dictionary

information for the following subordinate databases in the post office:

User databases (userxxx.db)

Message databases (msgnnn.db)

Prime user databases (puxxxxx.db)

Library databases (dmsh.db and dmxxnn01-FF.db)

The guardian database is vital to GroupWise functioning. Therefore, the POA has an automated

back-up and roll-forward process to protect it. The POA keeps a known good copy of the guardian

database called ngwguard.fbk. Whenever it modifies the ngwguard.db file, the POA also

records the transaction in the roll-forward transaction log called ngwguard.rfl. If the POA

detects damage to the ngwguard.db file on startup or during a write transaction, it goes back to

the ngwguard.fbk file (the “fall back” copy) and applies the transactions recorded in the

ngwguard.rfl file to create a new, valid and up-to-date ngwguard.db.

In addition to the POA back-up and roll-forward process, you should still back up the

ngwguard.db, ngwguard.fbk, and ngwguard.rfl files regularly to protect against media

failure. Without a valid ngwguard.db file, you cannot access your e-mail. With current

ngwguard.fbk and ngwguard.rfl files, a valid ngwguard.db file can be rebuilt should the

need arise.

The ngwguard.dc file is the structural template for building the guardian database and its

subordinate databases. Also called a dictionary file, the ngwguard.dc file contains schema

information, such as data types and record indexes. If this dictionary file is missing, no additional

databases can be created in the post office.

35.3.4 Agent Input/Output Queues in the Post Office

Each post office contains agent input/output queues where messages are deposited and picked up for

processing by the POA and the MTA. The MTA transfers messages into and out of the post office,

while the POA handles message delivery.

For illustrations of the processes presented below, see “Message Delivery to a Different Post Office”

and “Message Delivery to a Different Domain” in GroupWise 7 Troubleshooting 3: Message Flow

and Directory Structure.

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MTA Output Queue in the Post Office

The MTA output queue in each post office is the post_office\wpcsout directory.

If the MTA has a mapped or UNC link to the post office, the MTA writes user messages directly into

its output queue, which requires write access to the post office. If the MTA has a TCP/IP link to the

post office, the MTA transfers user messages to the POA by way of TCP/IP. The POA then stores the

messages in the MTA output queue on behalf of the MTA, so the MTA does not need write access to

the post office.

The post_office\wpcsout\ofs subdirectory is where the MTA transfers user messages for

delivery by the POA to users’ mailboxes in the local post office.

The MTA post_office\wpcsout\ads subdirectory is where the MTA transfers

administrative messages instructing the POA admin thread to update the post office database

(wphost.db).

POA Input Queue in the Post Office

The POA input queue in each post office is the post_office\wpcsout directory, which is the

same as the MTA output queue.

The post_office\wpcsout\ofs subdirectory is where the POA picks up user messages

deposited there by the MTA and updates the local message store, so users receive their messages.

The post_office\wpcsout\ads subdirectory is where the POA admin thread picks up

administrative messages deposited there by the MTA and updates the post office database

(wphost.db).

POA Output Queue in the Post Office

The POA output queue (post_office\wpcsin) is where the POA deposits user messages for the MTA

to transfer to other domains and post offices.

Historical Note: In earlier versions of GroupWise, the GroupWise client wrote user messages to the

POA output queue when using direct access to the post office. In GroupWise 6.xand later, client/

server access to the post office is the preferred method.

MTA Input Queue in the Post Office

The MTA input queue in each post office (post_office\wpcsin) is the same as the POA

output queue. The MTA picks up user messages deposited there by the POA and transfers them to

other domains and post offices.

For a mapped or UNC link between the domain and post office, the MTA requires read/write access

rights to its input/output queues in the post office. For a TCP/IP link, no access rights are required

because messages are communicated to the MTA by way of TCP/IP.

35.3.5 Libraries (optional)

A library is a collection of documents and document properties stored in a database system that can

be managed and searched. You do not need to set up libraries unless you are using GroupWise

Document Management Services (DMS). See Part VII, “Libraries and Documents,” on page 291.

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Library Databases

The databases for managing libraries are stored in the gwdms directory and its subdirectories in the

post office.

The dmsh.db file is a database shared by all libraries in the post office. It contains information

about where each library in the post office is located.

Each library has its own subdirectory in the gwdms directory. In each library directory, the

dmxxnn01-FF.db files contain information specific to that library, such as document properties

and what users have rights to access the library.

Document Storage Areas

The actual documents in a library are not kept in the library databases. They are kept in a document

storage area, which consists of a series of directories for storing document files. Documents are

encrypted and stored in BLOBs (binary large objects) to make document management easier. A

document, its versions, and related objects are stored together in the same BLOB.

A document storage area might be located in the post office directory structure, or in some other

location where more storage space is available. If it is located in the post office, the document

storage area can never be moved. Therefore, storing documents in the post office directory structure

is not usually recommended. If it is stored outside the post office, a document storage area can be

moved when additional disk space is required.

35.4 Post Office Access Mode

The GroupWise 6.xand later Windows client and the GroupWise 6.5 and later Cross-Platform client

both use client/server access mode to the post office. This requires a TCP/IP connection between the

GroupWise clients and the POA in order for users to access their mailboxes. Benefits of client/server

access include:

Load Balancing: The workload is split between the client workstation and the POA on another

server. The POA can perform a processor-intensive request while the client is doing something

else.

Database Integrity: The GroupWise client does not need write access to databases in the post

office. Therefore, client failures cannot damage databases.

Reduced Network Traffic: Requests are processed on the POA server and only the results are

sent back across the network to the client workstation.

Tighter Security: Client users do not need to log in to the server where the post office is

located. This eliminates the need for users to have write access to the post office directory.

Scalability: More concurrent users can be supported in a single post office.

Platform Independence: The GroupWise client on any platform can access the post office by

way of TCP/IP communication with the POA.

Simplified Client Connections: The GroupWise client can communicate with any POA in the

GroupWise system. Any POA can then redirect the client to connect to the correct POA for the

users’ post office.

Historical Note: In GroupWise 5.x, the GroupWise client allowed the user to enter a path to the post

office directory to facilitate direct access mode. The GroupWise 6.xand later clients no longer offer

Understanding Message Delivery and Storage in the Post Office 469

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the user that option. However, you can force the GroupWise 6.xand later client to use direct access

by starting it with the /ph switch and providing the path to the post office directory.

35.5 Role of the Post Office Agent

The GroupWise Post Office Agent (POA) delivers messages to users’ mailboxes, connects users to

their post offices in client/server access mode, updates post office databases, indexes messages and

documents, and performs other post office-related tasks. You must run at least one POA for each

post office.

The following sections help you understand the various functions of the POA:

Section 35.5.1, “Client/Server Processing,” on page 469

Section 35.5.2, “Message File Processing,” on page 470

Section 35.5.3, “Other POA Functions,” on page 470

35.5.1 Client/Server Processing

Using client/server access mode, the GroupWise client maintains one or more TCP/IP connections

with the POA and does not access the post office directly. Consequently, the performance of the

POA in responding to requests from the GroupWise client directly affects the GroupWise client’s

responsiveness to users. To provide the highest responsiveness to client users, you can configure a

POA just to handle client/server processing. See Section 38.1.3, “Configuring a Dedicated Client/

Server POA,” on page 550.

When using client/server access mode, the GroupWise client can be configured to control how much

time it spends actually connected to the POA.

In Online mode, the client is continuously connected.

In Caching mode, the client connects at regular intervals to check for incoming messages and

also whenever the client user sends a message. Address lookup is performed locally. Caching

mode allows the POA to service a much higher number of users than Online Mode.

In Remote mode, the client connects whenever the client user chooses, such as when using a

brief modem connection to download and upload messages.

NOTE: Remote mode is not currently available in the Cross-Platform client.

For more information about the client modes available with client/server access mode, see “Using

Caching Mode” and “Using Remote Mode” in the GroupWise 7 Windows Client User Guide and

“Using Caching Mode” in the GroupWise 7 Cross-Platform Client User Guide.

Client/server access mode also allows users to access their GroupWise mailboxes from POP and

IMAP clients, in addition to the GroupWise client. See Section 36.2.3, “Supporting IMAP Clients,”

on page 490.

In client/server mode, the POA can provide and, if necessary, force secure SSL connections with all

clients. See Section 36.3.3, “Securing the Post Office with SSL Connections to the POA,” on

page 498.

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35.5.2 Message File Processing

Messages from users in other post offices arrive in the local post office in the form of message files

deposited in the POA input queue. See Section 35.3.4, “Agent Input/Output Queues in the Post

Office,” on page 466.

The POA picks up the message files and updates all user and message databases to deliver incoming

messages in the local post office. To provide timely delivery for a large volume of incoming

messages, you can configure a POA just to handle message file processing. See Section 38.2.2,

“Configuring a Dedicated Message File Processing POA,” on page 553.

35.5.3 Other POA Functions

In addition to client/server processing (interacting with client users) and message file processing

(delivering messages), the POA:

Performs indexing tasks for document management. See Section 38.3.1, “Regulating

Indexing,” on page 555.

Performs scheduled maintenance on databases in the post office. See Section 36.4.1,

“Scheduling Database Maintenance,” on page 507.

Monitors and manages disk space usage in the post office. See Section 36.4.2, “Scheduling

Disk Space Management,” on page 510.

Restricts the size of messages that users can send outside the post office. See Section 36.2.8,

“Restricting Message Size between Post Offices,” on page 495.

Primes users’ mailboxes for Caching mode. See Section 36.2.7, “Supporting Forced Mailbox

Caching,” on page 494.

Performs nightly user upkeep so users do not need to wait while the GroupWise client performs

it; also creates a downloadable version of the system Address Book for Remote and Caching

users. See Section 36.4.3, “Performing Nightly User Upkeep,” on page 513.

Provides LDAP authentication and LDAP server pooling. See Section 36.3.4, “Providing

LDAP Authentication for GroupWise Users,” on page 501.

Prevents unauthorized access to the post office. See Section 36.3.5, “Enabling Intruder

Detection,” on page 506.

Tracks the GroupWise client software in use in the post office. See Section 36.2.6, “Checking

What GroupWise Clients Are in Use,” on page 492.

Automatically detects and repairs invalid information in user databases (userxxx.db) and

message databases (msgnnn.db) for the local post office by using an efficient multi-threaded

process. See Section 38.4.1, “Adjusting the Number of POA Threads for Database

Maintenance,” on page 559.

Automatically detects and repairs invalid information in the post office database

(wphost.db).

Automatically detects and repairs damage to the guardian database (ngwguard.db) in the

post office.

Updates the post office database whenever GroupWise users, resources, post offices, or other

GroupWise objects are added, modified, or deleted.

Replicates shared folders between post offices.

Executes GroupWise client rules.

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