R6IMAP workload

The R6IMAP workload executes Domino® transactions that model a server for mail users at sites that rely on IMAP mail for communication. Not only does this test stress the IMAP protocol by receiving mail messages, but also exercises SMTP and LDAP by sending SMTP messages to a number of recipients and performing LDAP lookups on those recipients.

About this task

The R6IMAP workload models an active user retrieving and sending mail. An average user executes this script no more than four times per hour. For each iteration of the script, there is a retrieval of IMAP mail messages, one SMTP message sent, and 'n' LDAP lookup requests based on the variable, NumMessageRecipients. In sending messages, each user sends a mail message to NumMessageRecipients not more than once every 15 minutes.

The SMTP messages sent by each driver user are delivered to the mail databases of other driver users on the SUT.

Note: The R6IMAP workload makes use of the SMTP and LDAP protocols in addition to IMAP.

System information

About this task

A Notes® client can run 1500 user threads per 512 MB driver. With less memory, the number of threads must be decreased. You can experiment to see what the CPU and memory usage is on your particular drivers for a given number of threads.

The number of users that can be supported by a server is limited by memory. On UNIX™ it is 4 GBs.

On an 8way Intel Xeon™, Microsoft™ Windows™ server the resource limitation is often memory. The maximum memory that the server can use is approximately 2.3GBs.

Domino® TLS in the Server.Load R6IMAP workload

About this task

The Secure Socket Layer (SSL) is enabled for the R6IMAP workload. Add the NOTES.INI setting, NB_SSL_OPTION=USE_SSL, to the client driver's NOTES.INI file to enable SSL. For example,

NB_SSL_OPTION=USE_SSL

To disable SSL in the R6IMAP workload, remove the NOTES.INI setting.

The time required to run this test is six hours, minimum, after steady state verified.

This test measures:

  • Throughput of completed IMAP, LDAP, and SMTP operations
  • Average response time at maximum capacity
  • Maximum number of IMAP mail users supported

The capacity metric for an SMTP/IMAP server is the maximum number of users that can be supported before the average user-response time becomes unacceptable.

System under test (SUT) is required.

Test Initialization

Procedure

  1. Perform all the required setup procedures that apply to your configuration for this test, including setting up the NOTES.INI file and the destination servers.
  2. Run the R6IMAP Initialization workload to initialize and convert to IMAP mail files.

What to do next

See the related topics for information on the R6IMAP Initialization workload, and on setting up the IMAP service.

Creating mail databases

About this task

Use the R6IMAP initialization workload to initialize the first database for Domino® 6 or use the IMAPINIT workload for Domino® R5. Make sure that the latest mail template is copied to the test driver before you create the first database and that the mail template NOTES.INI setting is set on the child. The template is named MAILn.NTF, where n is the current release number.

After you create your first mail database, open the database by performing a File - Application - Open from the Notes® client or by using Microsoft™ Outlook. Opening the database initializes several database fields and uses less memory per user during the test.

NOTES.INI settings for the test driver for the R6IMAP workload

About this task

The following is an example of the NOTES.INI settings for the test driver:

NormalMessageSize=10000

MailRecipientPercentUser=50

MailRecipientPercentVolume=50

MailRecipientBeginNumber=1

MailRecipientEndNumber=2000

; EndNumber should be set to maximum entries in Domino® Directory

R5IMAP_loop_N=1000 (set to 56 to exit out of loop in 8 hours.)

NthIteration=6

ClientHost=hostname_of_the_client

SMTPHost=hostname_of_your_SMTP_server_under_test

LDAPHost=hostname_of_your_LDAP_server_under_test

IMAPHost=hostname_of_your_IMAP_server_under_test

RecipientDomain=name_of_your_domain

MessageLineSize=100

NumMailNotesPerUser=100

NumMessageRecipients=3

NOTES.INI settings for the R6IMAP SUT

About this task

The following are examples of the settings that can be added to the server's NOTES.INI file:

view_rebuild_dir=l:\temp\

Debug_Outfile=g:\server_debug\server_grigsby2k.txt

Server_Show_Performance=1

Mail_Number_of_mailboxes=2 (can be set in the Server document)

ServerTasks=Router,IMAP,LDAP

IMAP_Session_Timeout=60

Log_mailrouting=20. Set to 20 for minimal logging, or to 10 for no logging (minimizes logging while testing). Set to 40 to display additional routing information on the console; for example, to verify that messages are being routed by the Router and MTA tasks.

Note: The MailRecipientPercentUser and the Mail RecipientPercentVolume settings impact each other. If MailRecipientPercentUser=20 and Mail RecipientPercentVolume=80, 80 percent of the messages are addressed to 20 percent of the users.

Special instructions for the R6IMAP workload

About this task

Table 1. Special instructions

Field

Setting

Routing Tasks

Select Mail Routing.

SMTP listener task

Enable this setting.

Fully-qualified Internet host name

For example, servername.iris.com

Procedure

  1. Open the Server Configuration document and click Edit document.
  2. On the Basics tab, locate the field International MIME setting for this document, and click Enabled.
    Table 2. Other fields

    Field

    Setting

    SMTP used when sending message outside of the local Internet domain

    Enable this setting.

    SMTP allowed within the local Internet domain

    Select All messages

    Servers within the local Notes® domain are reachable via SMTP over TCPIP

    Select Always

Running the R6IMAP workload

About this task

Note: Clear the memory on the client (reboot) before the start of this test.

Complete these steps to run the R6IMAP test.

Procedure

  1. If you have not already created mail databases, do so now using the R6IMAP Initialization workload.
  2. On the SUT start the Domino® server. The router, IMAP, LDAP, and SMTP server processes must be started. You can run additional server programs at your discretion.
  3. At the end of the test, Issue a SH STAT command at the SUT console prior to exiting the Domino® server.

Client Setup

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Use the latest Notes® client for best results.

Open the Location document and modify these fields:

  • On the Servers tab, in the home/mail server field, enter the server name followed by the domain name. For example, Servername/IrisTS.
  • On the Basics tab, enter the Internet mail address, for example, testnsf@servername.iris.com in the Internet mail address field.