PC Ext: Session Log File Maintenance

• Microsoft Mail for PC Networks, MS-DOS workstation, versions 2.1, 3.0, and 3.2

SUMMARY

When the External Mail program runs on a highly used Microsoft Mail network, the SESSION.LOG file can become very large. Because this file is continually updated (by the External Mail program), it is locked open at all times. This may restrict a Mail administrator from archiving logged information conveniently. The following information is provided to help in these situations.

There are two issues related to the management of the SESSION.LOG file:

• The SESSION.LOG file is locked by the External Mail program
• There is limited disk space

SESSION.LOG File is Locked by External

This issue can be resolved by using an appropriate text editor. For example, Microsoft Word for Windows can open locked files by making a copy. In this manner, you can open and check the SESSION.LOG file while the External Mail program is still running.

Limited Disk Space

This issue is more prevalent in organizations where either disk space is limited, or log file archiving is required. If you need to control the size of the SESSION.LOG file on a scheduled basis, you will need to create a utility that can rename the SESSION.LOG file at scheduled times. To do this, you need to use the Break Time option (as explained on page 242 of the Microsoft Mail 3.2 "Administrator's Guide"). The Break Time option enables you to halt the External Mail program, access SESSION.LOG to perform archiving, and then resume the External Mail program automatically.

The following code is an example of a REXX file that is called from a command file named EXTRN1.CMD. This file uses the current date as a code name for all archived files. It also uses an OS/2 version of PKZIP.EXE (ZIP.EXE). If you choose to use this shareware product please register per its documentation.

   /* Log File Management */

   /* Prepare a code name for archived Log Files */
   Today1=date('s')
   Say (' Today is ''')
   /* Parse the parameter down to six characters */
   Today2=DELSTR(Today1,1,2)

   /* If today's archive exists, exit back to external.   */
   /* If it does not, zip logs into an archive directory. */

   'If exist c:\mmta\log\archive\AR'Today2'.zip call
      f:\External\Extrn1.cmd'
   'zip c:\mmta\log\AR'Today2'.zip *.*'
   'copy c:\mmta\log\AR'today2'.zip archive\*.*'

   /* If archiving is unsuccessful, do not delete the active */
   /* log files. All further logging will be appended to the */
   /* active logs. */

   'If exist C:\mmta\log\archive\AR'Today2'.zip erase
      c:\molotov\mmta\log\*.log'

   /* Loop back to the External Command file */
   'call f:\External\Extrn1.cmd'