Limiting the Size of User Mailboxes

NetMail enables administrators to more effectively plan and manage server storage space by limiting the size of user mailboxes. You can set Mailbox quotas in the NMAP Agent, Parent object, and User object. The following sections review each of these options.


Setting Mailbox Quotas in the NMAP Agent

The NMAP Agent allows you to manage mailbox quotas for all users within the current NMAP Agent's contexts. Through the NMAP Agent, you can either set the same mailbox quota for all mailboxes on the current messaging server or defer to the User object for individual user quotas. Messages, folders, and calendar items count against the mailbox quota.

The NMAP Agent's mailbox quota settings are explained in the following table:

IMPORTANT:  You must restart NMAPD to effect any changes in the mailbox quota properties. See Loading and Unloading NetMail Agents for more information.

Option Function
Quota

 

Quota Parameters

The system administrator can define mailbox quotas for specific users or for all users serviced by the current NMAP Agent. Messages, folders, and calendar items count against the mailbox quota.

IMPORTANT:  You must restart the nmapd executable to effect any changes in these properties. See Loading and Unloading NetMail Agents for more information.

Per User Quota

Enable this option to require individual user quotas. User quotas are set in the NetMail Configuration page of the User object. For further information on User object configuration, see User Objects.

System-Wide Mailbox Quotas

To set the same quota for all mailboxes on the current messaging server, enable this option and type the maximum mailbox size in the Kbyte field.

If you enable both Per User and System-Wide Mailbox Quotas, you can set quotas at both levels. While the system-wide quota serves as the default quota for all users in the NMAP Agent's assigned contexts, quotas defined in the User object take precedence. For example, you can set a default, system-wide mailbox quota but still allocate more disk space to specific users such as the messaging server postmaster, system administrators, or VIPs using User object mailbox quotas.

NOTE:  You can also define mailbox quotas at the Parent object level. For more information on Parent object mailbox quotas, see the Per User Mailbox Quota property in Parent Object.

Quota Return Message

An optional message that is returned to the sender when the recipient has exceeded his or her mailbox quota. The message notifies the sender that the recipient has exceeded the allotted mailbox quota and cannot receive additional messages.

NOTE:  When users are within 10% of a mailbox quota, they receive a system message notifying them that the mailbox is almost full. The message advises them to delete some of the messages and warns that when the mailbox is full, all inbound messages are returned to the sender.


Setting Mailbox Quotas in the Parent Object

Mailbox quotas defined in the Parent object function as the default Per-User mailbox quota for all User objects associated with the current Parent object.

IMPORTANT:  The Parent object's mailbox quota is not enabled unless either the System-Wide or Per User Mailbox Quota option is marked in the NMAP Agent's Options page.

The following table explains the mailbox quota options in the Parent object:

NOTE:  Changes to these properties are implemented immediately.

Option Function
Quota Parameters

 

Inheritance

Use If Specified Below, Fallback to User uses the mailbox quota configured in the Parent object. If no mailbox quota is configured in the Parent object, the setting defers to the mailbox quota defined in the User object.

Disabled disables all mailbox quotas for users associated with the current Parent object. This includes mailbox quotas configured in the Parent object, User object, or NMAP Agent.

Use User Values, Fallback to Values Below uses the mailbox quota configured in the User object. If no mailbox quota is configured in the User object, the setting defers to the mailbox quota defined in the Parent object.

Per User Mailbox Quota

If enabled, this is the mailbox quota applied to all users associated with the current Parent object. Type the maximum mailbox size in the kByte field.

Messages, folders, and calendar items count against the mailbox quota.


Setting Mailbox Quotas in the User Object

Individual users' mailbox quotas are defined in the User object's Disk Quota field under the NetMail Configuration page. For more information, see User Objects.

For the defined Disk Quota to take effect, you must mark the Per User Mailbox Quotas option in the NMAP Agent's configuration. Additionally, if the User is associated with a Parent object that has a defined mailbox quota, you must select the Use user quota, fallback to parent quota option in the Parent object before the User object mailbox quota can take effect.

Because the User object's Disk Quota property can override mailbox quotas defined in the NMAP Agent and Parent object, you can use it to allot additional mailbox space to individual users (such as system administrators, the messaging server's postmaster, or company VIPs) on a case-by-case basis.