SUMMARY
How to analyse MailEnable logging files and explains the various codes used in the log file.
DETAIL
MailEnable
provides extensive logging of SMTP activity. There are 3 log files that are used
by MailEnable. These are the debug, activity and W3C log. The W3C log files are
essentially a replica of the Activity log, hence it is only necessary to
investigate the activity and debug logs.
The debug log contains explanations of significant actions
undertaken by MailEnable. For example, when a user attempts to relay a mail
message, this is recorded and time stamped in the SMTP Debug log. The Activity log file contains a transcript of all SMTP
commands exchanged between MailEnable and other remote clients or mail servers.
The simplest way to find a message and debug a SMTP transaction is to open the SMTP Activity log in notepad and search it.
It is also possible to
load the log file into Micosoft Excel as follows:
How to
import the Activity log into Excel:
There are two important types of transactions outlined in the SMTP Activity log file. These are SMTP Inbound Transactions and SMTP Outbound Transactions. These transactions are denoted in the log files as SMTP-IN and SMTP-OU in their respective lines in the Activity log file.
How to relate Activity log entries to the debug log file:
The most obvious way of relating an entry in the
Activity log file to the Debug log file is via the time stamp recorded in the
file. It is also possible to use the Message ID (as this is often recorded in
the debug log file). The message ID is useful in tracking messages as they pass
through the MTA. The MTA logs this message ID and therefore you can use the logs
to track a message as it is routed through MailEnable's Connectors via the
MTA.
For example, a user may complain that
they cannot send mail from Outlook. In this case an error message will be
reported back to the remote mail client.
e.g. 503 This mail server requires authentication. Please
check your mail client settings.
Use this error
string to locate the transaction sequence in the SMTP activity log. Once the entry has been found in
the SMTP activity log, check the SMTP debug log for the same time period. The
system will record the reason why the relay request was
denied.
MORE INFORMATION
How to use the MailEnable Log Analysis Tool to check log files for errors: http://www.mailenable.com/kb/content/article.asp?ID=ME020113
How to configure where MailEnable stores its Log Files?: http://www.mailenable.com/kb/content/article.asp?ID=ME020095
Explanation of Socket Response and Error Codes used in MailEnable Log Files: http://www.mailenable.com/kb/content/article.asp?ID=ME020074
Product: | MailEnable (All Versions) |
Category: | Operation |
Article: | ME020170 |
Module: | SMTP |
Keywords: | analyse,logging,log,logs,SMTP,troubleshoot,trouble,shoot,connections |
Class: | HOWTO: Product Instructions |
Created: | 12/07/2003 2:54:00 PM |
Revised: | Wednesday, May 4, 2016 |
Author: | MailEnable |
Publisher: | MailEnable |