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Setting Up Web Messaging

To set up Web Messaging, you need to:

Web Address for the Web Messaging Server

By default, the Web Messaging server is assigned a web address that consists of the host name of the IMail Server host and a web server port number. The default port number is 8383. If your mail host had a name of mailhost1.ipswitch.com, then the address will be:
http://imail.ipswitch.com:8383

Your mail users can start Web Messaging by entering the address in their browser's address field.

If you are not running another web server on the same host, you can set the port number to the normal HTTP (web) server port of 80. In this case, users do not have to specify the port with the web address. For example, you could enter: http://imail.ipswitch.com

Note that some firewalls may block the 8383 port, in which case you need to change the port number. To change the port number, see "Configuring the Web Server".

If You Have Multiple Mail Hosts

If you have set up multiple mail hosts on your IMail Server system, the web address is determined by whether the mail host has its own IP address or uses a virtual IP address. For information on virtual hosts, see "Chapter 2: Configuration".

If each host has its own IP address, you will have a different web address for each host. For example, if you have set up the following hosts: 

mail.marcel.com 	156.21.50.78 
mail.magnolia.net	156.21.50.80

the web address for the respective hosts would be: 

mail.marcel.com:8383 
mail.magnolia.net:8383

If a mail host does not have an IP address, then it will have the same web address as the primary mail host. For example, if you have set up the following hosts: 

mail.marcel.com 	156.21.50.78 
mail.magnolia.net	<$virtual IP>

the web address for both hosts would be: 

mail.marcel.com:8383

The host mail.magnolia.net can still have its own set of users, but users on this host must identify the host when they enter their logon user ID. For example, the user fred on mail.magnolia.net would enter the web address mail.marcel.com:8383 to open the Logon page, then would enter fred@mail.magnolia.net as his user ID.

Configuring the Web Server

The Web Messaging server is installed on the host where the IMail Server software is installed. You can change the default port number and web directory, set SSL options, set other web server options, and start and stop the web server. (Some of these options can also be set in the iwebmsg.ini file in the winnt folder.)

  1. Expand the Services folder in the left panel and select Web Messaging. Then click on the Web Messaging Server tab.

  1. Change any of the web server properties. See the previous sections for more information about the web server port and SSL.

    Log to. This is where web server information will be stored. You can choose from:
    • W#YYMMDD.log
    • No Log
    • App Log
    • Log Server

    Web Server Port. This is the port on the local system on which the Web Messaging server operates. If you change the port, the Web Messaging server must be stopped and restarted.

Note: If you use a non-standard port number (anything other than 80), users will need to specify the port in the logon web address. For more information, see "Web Address for the Web Messaging Server".

Web Files Directory. This directory contains the files used to create web pages for Web Messaging. If you change this directory, you must stop and restart the web server.

Max Concurrent Users. This is the maximum number of users that can be logged into Web Messaging at the same time. This option must set between 256 and 1024 users.

Note: You cannot limit Web Messaging to allow less than 256 concurrent users, or more than 1024. If a number outside of this range is entered for the Max Concurrent Users option, it is still displayed, but does not function. In that case even if the setting displays 2, the system actually allows 256 concurrent users.

Max Attachment Size. This setting controls the maximum size (in kilobytes) allowed for attachments.

Ignore source address in security check. Before displaying a page, the web server checks the IP address that requested the page against the IP address from which the user logged on. If this option is selected, the web server does not check the IP address. This is useful with some firewalls and with service providers that use dynamic IP addresses (such as America Online).

Enable Keep Alive. Select this option to create a persistent TCP connection between the Web Messaging server and a browser (if the browser supports it). If the option is cleared, the server closes the TCP connection after each response.

Normally, the connection between a browser and a web server is only valid for a single request/response pair. Clearing Enable Keep Alive can improve performance by reducing overhead per request, but it also means that fewer resources are available for other processes, such as creating new connections.

Note: If you select Enable Keep Alive and Enable Thread Pooling, the number of simultaneous connections allowed to the server will equal the Max Work Threads. Thus, you are limiting the number of connections allowed.

Enable Statistics. Collects statistical information about the system to be viewed through Web Messaging.

Auto Restart Server on Apply. If this is selected, the web server is stopped and restarted automatically when you click Apply (if you changed anything). We recommend that you select this option.

  1. Click Apply to save your changes.
  2. Stop and restart the web messaging service to save your changes.

Advanced Tab

On the Advanced tab, you can set Spell Checking, SSL, thread pooling and user login suspend properties. The options on this tab are not required for the server to function.

  1. Set Spell Checking Options.

    Web Spell Checking Port. The port on which the spell checker's java applet runs. By default the port is 8385, but is configurable.

    Maximum Number of Spelling Suggestions. The maximum number of spelling suggestions that will be given for a misspelled word.

    For information about setting up spell check dictionaries, see "Spell Checker".

  2. Set SSL options. For information about SSL, see "Using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)".

    Enable SSL. Select this option if you are using the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) utility to encrypt communications with the Web Messaging client. This sets the Web Messaging server to accept SSL connections in addition to normal connections.

    Web SSL Port. The TCP port on which Web Messaging listens for an SSL-based HTTP request. If you used the default Web Server Port for Web Messaging (8383), then you can assign any TCP port number here, the default is 8384. The standard SSL port is 443.

Note: If you use a non-standard port number (anything other than 443), users will need to specify the SSL port in the logon web address.

Force SSL. Select this option if you want the Web Messaging server to accept only SSL-based HTTP connections; normal HTTP connections are not accepted.

  1. Set Thread Pooling options.

    Web Messaging can create a thread pool for handling HTTP requests (from the browser) on this TCP port. Using thread pooling reduces the overhead involved in creating and closing threads. However, if all threads in the pool are in use (your server is seeing heavy use), then an additional HTTP request will be denied. Also, threads reserved for use by Web Messaging are not available to other processes running on your server. You need to determine if thread pooling is appropriate for your needs.

    Enable Thread Pooling. Select this option to create a thread pool for handling HTTP requests from clients. Web Messaging creates up to the number entered for Max Work Threads (default is 64) to process requests. If this option is cleared, Web Messaging creates a thread to handle each request (either persistent or normal) and after handling that request, destroys the thread.

    Max Work Threads. Enable this option to constrain the load on your web server. This value sets the maximum number of work threads that can be used simultaneously by Web Messaging. If an HTTP request requires a work thread and the maximum has already been reached, Web Messaging returns a "server not available" message. This option requires that Enable Thread Pooling be enabled. The default value for this option is 64.

    Thread Exit. Select this option if you want Web Messaging to close a thread after the HTTP request is processed completely. Web Messaging creates a replacement for closed threads on next poll time, (set in Thread Check Time). Clear this option if you want Web Messaging to keep the thread open and available for another request. This option is used only when Enable Thread Pooling is selected.

    Thread Check Time. This is the interval (in seconds) used by Web Messaging to check the status of the thread pool. If the current number of work threads is less than the Max Work Threads option, new threads are created. This option is used only when Enable Thread Pooling is selected. The default value is 10 seconds.

  2. Set suspend user options

    Enable User Login Suspend. Select this option to activate automatic suspension of user accounts. This occurs only when an account has met the criteria listed by the administrator.

    Maximum Number of Tries before Suspend. The maximum number of times a user can attempt to logon before their account is suspended.

    Suspend Duration. The amount of time (in seconds), that a user account will be suspended.

    Time Suspend Info Remains in the Registry. The amount of time (in seconds) that information about suspended accounts is stored.

    Maximum Number of Suspends Before Lockout. The maximum number of unsuccessful logon attempts allowed for a user before they are locked out of the system.

  3. Click Apply to save your changes.

Setting Access to Web Messaging Features

Web Messaging provides access to mail functions based on the user permissions granted in the IMail Administrator. Permissions can be assigned for each individual mail account or globally, for all users on a mail host. A user can be granted some or all of the following permissions:

Allow Web Access. Allows the user access to their account via Web Messaging.

Host Administrator. Allows the user to add, modify, or delete users and aliases and set rules on their mail host. Allow Web Access must also be selected.

List Administrator. Allows the user to remotely manage IMail Server mailing lists on their mail host. Allow Web Access must also be selected.

IMail System Administrator. Allows the user to manage all mail hosts, view the spool directory and logs, set rules, and edit the messages displayed when users log on to Web Messaging. If this user also has Host Administrator permission, they can manage user accounts and aliases on all mail hosts. If this user has List Administrator permission, they can manage lists on all mail hosts. Allow Web Access must also be selected.

To set access to Web Messaging for an individual user mail account:

  1. In IMail Administrator, expand the mail host, and select the Users folder. Select a user ID to see the user's properties in the right panel.
  2. Select Allow Web Access and then click Apply to apply the change.
  3. Optionally, click the Host Administrator, List Administrator or IMail System Administrator options to allow the user access to the extended menu options.
  4. Click Apply to save any changes.

To set Allow Web Access as the default for all new users:

  1. Expand the mail host, and select the Users folder.
  2. Select Allow Web Access and click Apply to apply the change.

To set Allow Web Access to be the default for all existing users:

  1. Expand the mail host, and select the Users folder to see the default settings in the right panel.
  2. Select Global User Changes.
  3. Select Allow Web Access and then click Change ALL Accounts to apply the change.

Using Remote Administration Features

An extended menu containing administration functions is available to you if your mail account has Host Administrator, List Administrator or IMail System Administrator access enabled. See "Setting Access to Web Messaging Functions" above for how to grant permissions. These administrative options allow you to perform administrative tasks using web messaging, even if you are at a remote location.

The following sections provide an overview of the administration functions available in web messaging. See the Web Messaging help for more information.

User Administration

If you have User Administrator permissions, you can add, modify, and delete user mail accounts for your mail host. If you have User Administrator and IMail System Administrator permissions, you can add, modify, and delete user mail accounts for any mail host.

Alias Administration

If you have Alias Administrator permissions, you can add, modify, and delete aliases for your mail host. If you have Alias Administrator and IMail System Administrator permissions, you can add, modify, and delete aliases for any mail host. See "Chapter 3: User Mail Accounts" for a description of the alias properties.

List Administration

If you have List Administrator permissions, you can add, modify, delete and moderate lists for your mail host. If you have List Administrator and IMail System Administrator permissions, you can add, modify, delete and moderate lists for any mail host.

Viewing Monitor Logs and the Spool Directory

If you have IMail System Administrator permissions, you can view the following IMail Server log files.

For more information on the log files and spool directory, see "Appendix D. Spool, Queue, and Log Files".

Managing Virtual Hosts

If you have IMail System Administrator permissions, you can add, modify, and delete virtual hosts.

Managing Mailing Lists

If you have List Administrator permissions, you can create, modify, and delete list server mailing lists.

Creating Delivery Rules

If you have Host Administrator permissions, you can set rules for the mail host. If you also have IMail System Administrator permissions, you can set rules for any mail hosts. Regular users can set rules for their own mail account.

Editing the News of the Day and Welcome Messages

If you have IMail System Administrator permissions, you can add, delete, or modify the News of the Day and the Welcome messages directly from the Web Messaging interface.


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