Utilities: Administration: Server: Operational Statistics

The Server Statistics page gives you information about your ListManager server's performance, and a picture of what it is doing at any one time.

Terms Used in Server Statistics

Protocol

A method of communication that has certain rules. Almost like a human language, it is the way data is formatted and presented that only makes sense to a computer program if it is expecting that protocol. This is just like human language in that we may immediately understand another person if he/she is speaking a language we know, but we have no idea if the language is different, even if both languages are trying to communicate the same ideas.

SMTP

SMTP stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. This protocol regulates how mail servers talk to each other to send mail.

Thread

A thread is a method by which independent tasks are executed at the ‘same’ time by quickly alternating between them. Using threads allows a system with just one ‘brain’ (the CPU) to act as if is doing many things at once, but in fact, it is doing a little bit of each task and then switching to the next task. However, this is done so quickly that it appears the system is working on many things at the same time. As an example of the human body, you could say that there is a thread running your heart, one for breathing, and others for digestion and other bodily functions. Each of these things is happening at the same time, and could be considered similar to threads.

Socket

A connection to another computer. It is similar to placing a phone call. When you dial you are attempting to connect, and once the connection succeeds, a ‘socket’ is established. If the receiving end refuses the connection or is too busy (gives you the busy signal), then the socket is not established.

TCP

TCP stands for Transmission Control Protocol, which is the way most data is actually packaged and formatted through the Internet.

NNTP

NNTP stands for Network News Transport Protocol. It is used if you are using the Multiview option to allow users to read postings using a newsreader.

LCP

LCP stands for Lyris Command Protocol. It is the means by which administrators can access and manipulate data. It is using LCP that the pre-6.0 ListManager web interface is generated.

TCLPORT

TCLPORT is the means by which the current ListManager web interface is generated.

Statistics Information

Lyris List Manager Version

The program name and some version identification information.

Total Incoming mail threads

The number of system threads working on incoming mail processing.

Total SMTP connections in progress

The number of connections to SMTP servers that the program is attempting. This is the total that the system would like to have in progress, but doesn’t count those that are currently waiting for DNS information or waiting for a connection, for example.

Total Physical Memory

The total amount of physical RAM available on the machine.

Physical Available

The amount of physical RAM memory available.

Serial number is date restricted

Indicates whether or not the serial number is restricted by date.

Multiview option enabled

Indicates whether or not Multiview (NNTP) is enabled.

Total Incoming NNTP Connections

The total number of incoming connections receiving data using the NNTP protocol.

Total Incoming SMTP Connections

The total number of incoming connections received using the SMTP protocol.

Total Incoming LCP Connections

The total number of connections to process LCP requests. These would normally be requests from the web interface, but could be custom scripts if your installation uses these.

Total Incoming TCLPORT Connections

The total number of connections to process web interface or clicking requests.

Seconds Elapsed Since Lyris ListManager Started

The number of seconds since ListManager was started.

Mail Messages Sucessfully Sent

The total number of email messages successfully sent by ListManager since the server was started.

Mail Messages Attempted but Could Not Be Sent

The total number of email messages ListManager attempted to send but was unable to do so since the server was started.

Mail Bytes Sent

The total number of bytes sent by ListManager since the server was started.

Number of Outbound SMTP Connections Listed by Domain

All the domains and IP addresses for which ListManager is currently processing out-going messages. Each domain and IP address is listed, with a number indicating how many messages are being processed to that domain/IP.

Total Connections

The total number of connections represented by the data above. This is different than Number of outbound SMTP allocations listed by Domain because this figure represents the total connections ListManager has already connected to, or is currently trying to connect to, rather than just the list of all those that we would like to connect to. And because of connection caching, ListManager can remain connected to more sockets than the figure given in the Number of outbound SMTP allocations in some cases.

Total Messages Mail-Merged and Ready to Send

The number of messages which have been processed for all mail merge tags and Tcl scripts, and are waiting to be sent.

Currently Active Jobs

The currently active outgoing jobs. Listed here is the ID from the outmail record, the ‘type’ of mail this is, whether or not it is in the first send try or a retry, and finally the list that this message is associated with.

Status of currently processing incoming messages

The currently active incoming jobs. Listed here is the ID from the inmail record, the ‘type’ of mail this is, and the date and time received.

SQL Stats:
Current Connections in Use

The connections to the database server that are currently being used, and the total available.

Total Connections Obtained

The total number of times that a connection was used to send and/or receive data from the database server.

Total Milliseconds Spent Waiting for These Connections

The total time to get one of the available database connections. If this number is high, it means that the database is slow to give resources, which may mean that it is under powered for the demand being put on it.

Average Time to Execute SQL and Receive a Response, in Milliseconds

The average time to send a request to the database server and receive a response. A large number here means the database server is not fast enough to give good results, or the network communication is too slow. A sustained average less than 10 milliseconds is good, where higher numbers indicate problems.

Recent DNS Engine Stats:

Successful Lookups

The number of recently successful DNS lookups.

Failed Lookups

The number of recently failed DNS lookups.

UDP Packets Sent

The amount of bandwidth currently being used by the DNS resolver currently, indicating how busy it is.

Domains to Resolve

The number of domains that are waiting to be resolved by the ListManager DNS engine.
 

Mail Sending Stats:

Emails Ready to Queue

Individual email messages from a mailing that are merged and ready to send, but have not started the sending process yet.

Emails in Progress

The total number of emails that the mail engine is currently processing. This is similar to Total SMTP connections in progress, but is a count at a different part of the program, so the numbers are slightly different. The stats that follow break down this count of messages into their exact steps, but done roughly, so the numbers may not always add up correctly. The point of this is to see approximately what the distribution of steps is currently.

Waiting for Available MX Host to Mail Server

Those that are waiting for the mail server to have an available connection for ListManager to use.

Waiting for a Connection to Mail Server

ListManager has started a connection to a mail server, and these number are waiting for a response.

Waiting for Response to Connection

A connection has been established, and this number are waiting for the server to send its first introduction data.

Waiting for Response to HELO Command

The number of sockets waiting for a response to the SMTP ‘HELO’ command.

Waiting for Response to MAIL FROM Command

The number of sockets waiting for a response to the SMTP ‘MAIL FROM’ command.

Waiting for response to RCPT TO command

The number of sockets waiting for a response to the SMTP ‘RCPT TO’ command.

Waiting for Response to DATA Command

The number of sockets waiting for a response to the SMTP ‘DATA’ command.

Waiting for response to RSET command

The number of sockets waiting for a response to the SMTP ‘RSET’ command.

Sending message data

The number of sockets actually sending the data portion of the message.

Waiting for Response to Message Data

The number of sockets waiting for a response to the sent data.

Committing Message

The number of sockets in the final stage of internal cleanup after attempting to send a message.
 

Average Connect Wait

The average time it is taking to establish a connection to a mail server.

Average Response to Connect Wait

Average time it takes a mail server to send the initial text after a connection is established.

Average HELO Wait

Average time to receive a response to the SMTP command “HELO’

Average MAIL FROM Wait

Average time to receive a response to the SMTP command “MAIL FROM’

Average RCPT TO Wait

Average time to receive a response to the SMTP command “RCPT TO’

Average RESET Wait

Average time to receive a response to the SMTP command “RSET’

Average DATA wait

Average time to receive a response to the SMTP command “DATA’
 

Average Time to Send Message Data

The average time it takes to send the actual message body of an email message.

Average Time for Emails Sent

The average time it takes, from the moment ListManager connects to a mail server to the time it finishes sending, to deliver mail, for all the different mail messages processed thus far.

Socket Cache Hits

The number of times that a connection was needed to a mail server and one was already open and available within ListManager.

Socket Cache Misses

The number of times that a connection was needed to a mail server and none were already connected and available from within ListManager.

Sockets in the Socket Cache

The number of sockets that are connected to a mail server but are currently available for use. This is the number that Socket cache hits would be attempting to pull from.

Time to Process all Sockets for Activity Once

The amount of time it takes to process all sockets (total from Emails in progress) for any activity. That is, how long to check each socket to see if new data is available from a mail server, or if the server can now accept new data from us.

Message Body Bytes Desired to Send, this Iteration

The amount of data, in bytes, we wanted to send from this pass through all the sockets.

Message Body Bytes Actually Sent, this Iteration

The amount of data we were actually able to send. If this number is regularly less than Message body bytes desired to send, this iteration, or is significantly less than it, then the operating system is not able to keep up with the speed at which ListManager is throwing data at it.

Failed Because of Read Timeout

ListManager waited for a response from a server so long that it eventually gave up on it.

Failed Because of Connect Timeout

ListManager tried to connect, but gave up after waiting too long. Similar to letting a phone ring for many times, and then finally hanging up.

More

1.   Utilities: Administration: Server