Re: [cobalt-users] SMTP performance

[Seth Mos <knuffie@xxxxxxxxx>]

At 05:27 PM 8/19/00 +0100, you wrote:
> Dear list
>
> We are using 3 x RAQ3's for SMTP and are sending hundreds of thousands of
> e-mails per day through them.  We are about to increase that number by 2-3
> times and can't hope to get them out at current speeds.
>
> Are there any settings I can change to increase the rate that I can send
> mail out of the RAQ3?

Sendmail 8.10 has multiple queue support.
With multiple spool directory's it should be significantly faster. (think 
factors)
See http://www.sendmail.org/ for the source.

> I have increased the number of channels coming in to the RAQ3 (so I can send
> to it on many channels simultaneously) but I don't know how I can make the
> RAQ3 'talk' to as many remote mail servers as possible.  Seemingly I can
> only deliver 2-4 x 10kbyte e-mails per second from each RAQ3 on a 1mbit
> connection but I feel that a machine like the RAQ3 must be able to send more
> than this.

If you can't fill the T1 with 1 Raq3 you should check what's happening.

> Do you have any performance information for sending e-mail via the RAQ3?  Is
> 2-4 /second the limit?

Maybe /etc/sendmail.cf contains limitations to make sure it doesn't crumble 
under load.
Some systems have these set to make sure your machine doesn't crash when 
receiving more then a few million e-mails at once (load average 35 ;-)

> At the moment our choices seem to be to increase performance by altering
> settings, buy more RAQ3's or buy something else that will offer more
> throughput.

Try the new sendmail with multiple queue support first.

> Thanks for your help - our business depends on being able to send out all
> these e-mails!

You are not spamming are you?

bye
--
Seth
"Have you gone mad?"
"Well, yes, but that's beyond the scope of this email."