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diff --git a/html/TUNING_README.html b/html/TUNING_README.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9a378d0 --- /dev/null +++ b/html/TUNING_README.html @@ -0,0 +1,704 @@ +<!doctype html public "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> + +<html> + +<head> + +<title>Postfix Performance Tuning</title> + +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> + +</head> + +<body> + +<h1><img src="postfix-logo.jpg" width="203" height="98" alt=""> +Postfix Performance Tuning</h1> + +<hr> + +<h2>Purpose of Postfix performance tuning </h2> + +<p> The hints and tips in this document help you improve the +performance of Postfix systems that already work. If your Postfix +system is unable to receive or deliver mail, then you need to solve +those problems first, using the <a href="DEBUG_README.html">DEBUG_README</a> document as guidance. + +<p> For tuning external content filter performance, first read the +respective information in the <a href="FILTER_README.html">FILTER_README</a> and <a href="SMTPD_PROXY_README.html">SMTPD_PROXY_README</a> +documents. Then make sure to avoid latency in the content filter +code. As much as possible avoid performing queries against external +data sources with a high or highly variable delay. Your content +filter will run with a small concurrency to avoid CPU/memory +starvation, and if any latency creeps in, content filter throughput +will suffer. High volume environments should avoid RBL lookups, +complex database queries and so on. </p> + +<p>Topics on mail receiving performance: </p> + +<ul> + +<li> <a href="#server_tips">General mail receiving performance tips</a> + +<li> <a href="#speedup">Doing more work with your SMTP server processes</a> + +<li> <a href="#slowdown">Slowing down SMTP clients that make many errors</a> + +<li> <a href="#conn_limit">Measures against clients that make too many connections</a> + +</ul> + +<p>Topics on mail delivery performance: </p> + +<ul> + +<li> <a href="#mailing_tips">General mail delivery performance tips</a> + +<li> <a href="#hammer">Tuning the frequency of deferred mail delivery attempts</a> + +<li> <a href="#rope">Tuning the number of simultaneous deliveries</a> + +<li> <a href="#rcpts">Tuning the number of recipients per delivery</a> + +</ul> + +<p>Other Postfix performance tuning topics: </p> + +<ul> + +<li> <a href="#proc_limit">Tuning the number of Postfix processes</a> + +<li> <a href="#proc_sys">Tuning the number of processes on the system</a> + +<li> <a href="#file_limit">Tuning the number of open files or +sockets</a> + +</ul> + +<p> The following tools can be used to measure mail system performance +under artificial loads. They are normally not installed with Postfix. +</p> + +<ul> + +<li> <a href="smtp-source.1.html">smtp-source, SMTP/LMTP message +generator</a> + +<li> <a href="smtp-sink.1.html">smtp-sink, SMTP/LMTP message dump +</a> + +<li> <a href="qmqp-source.1.html">qmqp-source, QMQP message generator +</a> + +<li> <a href="qmqp-sink.1.html">qmqp-sink, QMQP message dump </a> + +</ul> + +<h2><a name="server_tips">General mail receiving performance +tips</a></h2> + +<ul> + +<li> <p> Read and understand the <a href="QSHAPE_README.html#maildrop_queue">maildrop queue</a>, <a href="QSHAPE_README.html#incoming_queue">incoming queue</a>, +and <a href="QSHAPE_README.html#active_queue">active queue</a> discussions in the <a href="QSHAPE_README.html">QSHAPE_README</a> document. </p> + +<li> <p> Run a local name server to reduce slow-down due to DNS +lookups. If you run multiple Postfix systems, point each local name +server to a shared forwarding server to reduce the number of lookups +across the upstream network link. </p> + +<li> <p> Eliminate unnecessary LDAP lookups, by specifying a domain +filter. This eliminates lookups for addresses in remote domains, +and eliminates lookups of partial addresses. See <a href="ldap_table.5.html">ldap_table(5)</a> for +details. </p> + +</ul> + +<p> When Postfix responds slowly to SMTP clients: </p> + +<ul> + +<li> <p> <a href="DEBUG_README.html#logging">Look for obvious signs +of trouble</a> as described in the DEBUG_README document, and +eliminate those problems first. </p> + +<li> <p> Turn off your <a href="postconf.5.html#header_checks">header_checks</a> and <a href="postconf.5.html#body_checks">body_checks</a> patterns and +see if the problem goes away. </p> + +<li> <p> <a href="DEBUG_README.html#no_chroot">Turn off chroot +operation</a> as described in the DEBUG_README document and see +if the problem goes away. </p> + +<li> <p> If Postfix logs the SMTP client as "unknown" then you have +a name service problem: the name server is bad, or the resolv.conf +file contains bad information, or some packet filter is blocking +the DNS requests or replies. </p> + +<li> <p> If the number of <a href="smtpd.8.html">smtpd(8)</a> processes has reached the process +limit as specified in <a href="master.5.html">master.cf</a>, new SMTP clients must wait until +a process becomes available. See the <a href="STRESS_README.html">STRESS_README</a> and <a href="POSTSCREEN_README.html">POSTSCREEN_README</a> +documents for measures that help to prevent SMTP server overload. </p> + +</ul> + +<h2><a name="speedup">Doing more work with your SMTP server +processes</a></h2> + +<p> With Postfix versions 2.0 and earlier, the <a href="smtpd.8.html">smtpd(8)</a> server +pauses before reporting an error to an SMTP client. The idea is +called tar pitting. However, these delays also slow down Postfix. +When the <a href="smtpd.8.html">smtpd(8)</a> server replies slowly, sessions take more time, +so that more <a href="smtpd.8.html">smtpd(8)</a> server processes are needed to handle the +load. When your Postfix <a href="smtpd.8.html">smtpd(8)</a> server process limit is reached, +new clients must wait until a server process becomes available. +This means that all clients experience poor performance. </p> + +<p> You can speed up the handling of <a href="smtpd.8.html">smtpd(8)</a> server error replies +by turning off the delay: </p> + +<blockquote> +<pre> +/etc/postfix/<a href="postconf.5.html">main.cf</a>: + # Not needed with Postfix 2.1 + <a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_error_sleep_time">smtpd_error_sleep_time</a> = 0 +</pre> +</blockquote> + +<p> With the above setting, Postfix 2.0 and earlier can serve more +SMTP clients with the same number SMTP server processes. The next +section describes how Postfix deals with clients that make a large +number of errors. </p> + +<h2><a name="slowdown"> Slowing down SMTP clients that make many errors</a></h2> + +<p> The Postfix <a href="smtpd.8.html">smtpd(8)</a> server maintains a per-session error count. +The error count is reset when a message is transferred successfully, +and is incremented when a client request is unrecognized or +unimplemented, when a client request violates <a +href="SMTPD_ACCESS_README.html">access restrictions</a>, or when +some other error happens. </p> + +<p> As the per-session error count increases, the <a href="smtpd.8.html">smtpd(8)</a> server +changes behavior and begins to insert delays into the responses. +The idea is to slow down a run-away client in order to limit resource +usage. The behavior is Postfix version dependent. </p> + +<p> IMPORTANT: These delays slow down Postfix, too. When too much +delay is configured, the number of simultaneous SMTP sessions will +increase until it reaches the <a href="smtpd.8.html">smtpd(8)</a> server process limit, and new +SMTP clients must wait until an <a href="smtpd.8.html">smtpd(8)</a> server process becomes available. +</p> + +<p> Postfix version 2.1 and later:</p> + +<ul> + +<li> <p> When the error count reaches $<a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_soft_error_limit">smtpd_soft_error_limit</a> +(default: 10), the Postfix <a href="smtpd.8.html">smtpd(8)</a> server delays all non-error and +error responses by $<a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_error_sleep_time">smtpd_error_sleep_time</a> seconds (default: 1 +second). </p> + +<li><p>When the error count reaches $<a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_hard_error_limit">smtpd_hard_error_limit</a> +(default: 20) the Postfix <a href="smtpd.8.html">smtpd(8)</a> server breaks the connection. </p> + +</ul> + +<p> Postfix version 2.0 and earlier:</p> + +<ul> + +<li> <p> When the error count is less than $<a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_soft_error_limit">smtpd_soft_error_limit</a> +(default: 10) the Postfix <a href="smtpd.8.html">smtpd(8)</a> server delays all error replies by +$<a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_error_sleep_time">smtpd_error_sleep_time</a> (1 second with Postfix 2.0, 5 seconds with +Postfix 1.1 and earlier). </p> + +<li> <p> When the error count reaches $<a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_soft_error_limit">smtpd_soft_error_limit</a>, +the Postfix <a href="smtpd.8.html">smtpd(8)</a> server delays all responses by "error count" +seconds or $<a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_error_sleep_time">smtpd_error_sleep_time</a>, whichever is more. </p> + +<li><p>When the error count reaches $<a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_hard_error_limit">smtpd_hard_error_limit</a> +(default: 20) the Postfix <a href="smtpd.8.html">smtpd(8)</a> server breaks the connection. </p> + +</ul> + +<h2><a name="conn_limit">Measures against clients that make too many connections</a></h2> + +<p> Note: these features use the Postfix <a href="anvil.8.html">anvil(8)</a> service, introduced +with Postfix version 2.2. </p> + +<p> The Postfix <a href="smtpd.8.html">smtpd(8)</a> server can limit the number of simultaneous +connections from the same SMTP client, as well as the connection +rate and the rate of certain SMTP commands from the same client. +These statistics are maintained by the <a href="anvil.8.html">anvil(8)</a> server (translation: +if <a href="anvil.8.html">anvil(8)</a> breaks, then connection limits stop working). </p> + +<p> IMPORTANT: These limits must not be used to regulate legitimate +traffic: mail will suffer grotesque delays if you do so. The limits +are designed to protect the <a href="smtpd.8.html">smtpd(8)</a> server against abuse by +out-of-control clients. </p> + +<blockquote> + +<dl> + +<dt> <a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_client_connection_count_limit">smtpd_client_connection_count_limit</a> (default: 50) </dt> <dd> +The maximum number of connections that an SMTP client may make +simultaneously. </dd> + +<dt> <a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_client_connection_rate_limit">smtpd_client_connection_rate_limit</a> (default: no limit) </dt> +<dd> The maximum number of connections that an SMTP client may make +in the time interval specified with <a href="postconf.5.html#anvil_rate_time_unit">anvil_rate_time_unit</a> (default: +60s). </dd> + +<dt> <a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_client_message_rate_limit">smtpd_client_message_rate_limit</a> (default: no limit) </dt> <dd> +The maximum number of message delivery requests that an SMTP client +may make in the time interval specified with <a href="postconf.5.html#anvil_rate_time_unit">anvil_rate_time_unit</a> +(default: 60s). </dd> + +<dt> <a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_client_recipient_rate_limit">smtpd_client_recipient_rate_limit</a> (default: no limit) </dt> +<dd> The maximum number of recipient addresses that an SMTP client +may specify in the time interval specified with <a href="postconf.5.html#anvil_rate_time_unit">anvil_rate_time_unit</a> +(default: 60s). </dd> + +<dt> <a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_client_new_tls_session_rate_limit">smtpd_client_new_tls_session_rate_limit</a> (default: no limit) +</dt> <dd> The maximum number of new TLS sessions (without using +the TLS session cache) that an SMTP client may negotiate in the +time interval specified with <a href="postconf.5.html#anvil_rate_time_unit">anvil_rate_time_unit</a> (default: 60s). +</dd> + +<dt> <a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_client_auth_rate_limit">smtpd_client_auth_rate_limit</a> (default: no limit) </dt> <dd> +The maximum number of AUTH commands that an SMTP client may send +in the time interval specified with <a href="postconf.5.html#anvil_rate_time_unit">anvil_rate_time_unit</a> (default: +60s). Available in Postfix 3.1 and later. </dd> + +<dt> <a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_client_event_limit_exceptions">smtpd_client_event_limit_exceptions</a> (default: $<a href="postconf.5.html#mynetworks">mynetworks</a>) +</dt> <dd> SMTP clients that are excluded from connection and rate +limits specified above. </dd> + +</dl> + +</blockquote> + +<h2><a name="mailing_tips">General mail delivery performance tips</a></h2> + +<ul> + +<li> <p> Read and understand the <a href="QSHAPE_README.html#maildrop_queue">maildrop queue</a>, <a href="QSHAPE_README.html#incoming_queue">incoming queue</a>, +<a href="QSHAPE_README.html#active_queue">active queue</a> and <a href="QSHAPE_README.html#deferred_queue">deferred queue</a> discussions in the <a href="QSHAPE_README.html">QSHAPE_README</a> +document. </p> + +<li> <p> In case of slow delivery, run the qshape tool as described +in the <a href="QSHAPE_README.html">QSHAPE_README</a> document. </p> + +<li> <p> Submit multiple recipients per message instead of submitting +messages with only a few recipients. </p> + +<li> <p> Submit mail via SMTP instead of /usr/sbin/sendmail. You +may have to adjust the <a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_recipient_limit">smtpd_recipient_limit</a> parameter setting. +</p> + +<li> <p> Don't overwhelm the disk with mail submissions. Optimize +the mail submission rate by tuning the number of parallel submissions +and/or by tuning the Postfix <a href="postconf.5.html#in_flow_delay">in_flow_delay</a> parameter setting. </p> + +<li> <p> Run a local name server to reduce slow-down due to DNS +lookups. If you run multiple Postfix systems, point each local name +server to a shared forwarding server to reduce the number of lookups +across the upstream network link. </p> + +<li> <p> Reduce the <a href="postconf.5.html#smtp_connect_timeout">smtp_connect_timeout</a> and <a href="postconf.5.html#smtp_helo_timeout">smtp_helo_timeout</a> +values so that Postfix does not waste lots of time connecting +to non-responding remote SMTP servers. </p> + +<li> <p> Use a dedicated mail delivery transport for problematic +destinations, with reduced timeouts and with adjusted concurrency. +See "<a href="#rope">Tuning the number of simultaneous deliveries</a>" +below. +</p> + +<li> <p> Use a <a href="postconf.5.html#fallback_relay">fallback_relay</a> host for mail that cannot be delivered +upon the first attempt. This "graveyard" machine can use shorter +retry times for difficult to reach destinations. See "<a +href="#hammer">Tuning the frequency of deferred mail delivery +attempts</a>" below. </p> + +<li> <p> Speed up disk updates with a large (64MB) persistent write +cache. This allows disk updates to be sorted for optimal access +speed without compromising file system integrity when the system +crashes. </p> + +<li> <p> Use a solid-state disk (a persistent RAM disk). This +is an expensive solution that should be used in combination +with short SMTP timeouts and a <a href="postconf.5.html#fallback_relay">fallback_relay</a> "graveyard" +machine that delivers mail for problem destinations. </p> + +</ul> + +<h2><a name="rope">Tuning the number of simultaneous deliveries</a></h2> + +<p> Although Postfix can be configured to run 1000 SMTP client +processes at the same time, it is rarely desirable that it makes +1000 simultaneous connections to the same remote system. For this +reason, Postfix has safety mechanisms in place to avoid this +so-called "thundering herd" problem. </p> + +<p> The Postfix queue manager implements the analog of the TCP slow +start flow control strategy: when delivering to a site, send a +small number of messages first, then increase the concurrency as +long as all goes well; reduce concurrency in the face of congestion. +</p> + +<ul> + +<li> <p> The <a href="postconf.5.html#initial_destination_concurrency">initial_destination_concurrency</a> parameter (default: 5) +controls how many messages are initially sent to the same destination +before adapting delivery concurrency. Of course, this setting is +effective only as long as it does not exceed the process limit and +the destination concurrency limit for the specific mail transport +channel. </p> + +<li> <p> The <a href="postconf.5.html#default_destination_concurrency_limit">default_destination_concurrency_limit</a> parameter (default: +20) controls how many messages may be sent to the same destination +simultaneously. You can override this setting for specific message +delivery transports by taking the name of the <a href="master.5.html">master.cf</a> entry +and appending "_destination_concurrency_limit". </p> + +</ul> + +<p> Examples of transport specific concurrency limits are: </p> + +<ul> + +<li> <p> The <a href="postconf.5.html#local_destination_concurrency_limit">local_destination_concurrency_limit</a> parameter (default: +2) controls how many messages are delivered simultaneously to the +same local recipient. The recommended limit is low because delivery +to the same mailbox must happen sequentially, so massive parallelism +is not useful. Another good reason to limit delivery concurrency +to the same recipient: if the recipient has an expensive shell +command in her .forward file, or if the recipient is a mailing list +manager, you don't want to run too many instances of those processes +at the same time. </p> + +<li> <p> The default <a href="postconf.5.html#smtp_destination_concurrency_limit">smtp_destination_concurrency_limit</a> of 20 seems +enough to noticeably load a system without bringing it to its knees. +Be careful when changing this to a much larger number. </p> + +</ul> + +<p> The above default values of the concurrency limits work well +in a broad range of situations. Knee-jerk changes to these parameters +in the face of congestion can actually make problems worse. +Specifically, large destination concurrencies should never be the +default. They should be used only for transports that deliver mail +to a small number of high volume domains. </p> + +<p> A common situation where high concurrency is called for is on +gateways relaying a high volume of mail between the Internet +and an intranet mail environment. Approximately half the mail +(assuming equal volumes inbound and outbound) will be destined +for the internal mail hubs. Since the internal mail hubs will be +receiving all external mail exclusively from the gateway, it is +reasonable to configure the gateway to make greater demands on the +capacity of the internal SMTP servers. </p> + +<p> The tuning of the inbound concurrency limits need not be trial +and error. A high volume capable mailhub should be able to easily +handle 50 or 100 (rather than the default 20) simultaneous connections, +especially if the gateway forwards to multiple MX hosts. When all +MX hosts are up and accepting connections in a timely fashion, +throughput will be high. If any MX host is down and completely +unresponsive, the average connection latency rises to at least 1/N +* $smtp_connection_timeout, if there are N MX hosts. This limits +throughput to at most the destination concurrency * N / +$smtp_connection_timeout. </p> + +<p> For example, with a destination concurrency of 100 and 2 MX +hosts, each host will handle up to 50 simultaneous connections. If +one MX host is down and the default SMTP connection timeout is 30s, +the throughput limit is 100 * 2 / 30 ~= 6 messages per second. This +suggests that high volume destinations with good connectivity and +multiple MX hosts need a lower connection timeout, values as low +as 5s or even 1s can be used to prevent congestion when one or +more, but not all MX hosts are down. </p> + +<p> If necessary, set a higher transport_destination_concurrency_limit +(in <a href="postconf.5.html">main.cf</a> since this is a queue manager parameter) and a lower +smtp_connection_timeout (with a "-o" override in <a href="master.5.html">master.cf</a> since +this parameter has no per-transport name) for the relay transport +and any transports dedicated for specific high volume destinations. +</p> + +<h2><a name="rcpts">Tuning the number of recipients per delivery</a></h2> + +<p> The <a href="postconf.5.html#default_destination_recipient_limit">default_destination_recipient_limit</a> parameter (default: +50) controls how many recipients a Postfix delivery agent will send +with each copy of an email message. You can override this setting +for specific Postfix delivery agents. For example, +"uucp_destination_recipient_limit = 100" would limit the number of +recipients per UUCP delivery to 100. </p> + +<p> If an email message exceeds the recipient limit for some +destination, the Postfix queue manager breaks up the list of +recipients into smaller lists. Postfix will attempt to send multiple +copies of the message in parallel. </p> + +<p> IMPORTANT: Be careful when increasing the recipient limit per +message delivery; some SMTP servers abort the connection when they +run out of memory or when a hard recipient limit is reached, so +that the message will never be delivered. </p> + +<p> The <a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_recipient_limit">smtpd_recipient_limit</a> parameter (default: 1000) controls +how many recipients the Postfix <a href="smtpd.8.html">smtpd(8)</a> server will take per +delivery. The default limit is more than any reasonable SMTP client +would send. The limit exists to protect the local mail system +against a run-away client. </p> + +<h2><a name="hammer">Tuning the frequency of deferred mail delivery attempts</a></h2> + +<p> When a Postfix delivery agent (<a href="smtp.8.html">smtp(8)</a>, <a href="local.8.html">local(8)</a>, etc.) is +unable to deliver a message it may blame the message itself, or it +may blame the receiving party. </p> + +<ul> + +<li> <p> When the delivery agent blames the message, the queue +manager gives the queue file a time stamp into the future, so it +won't be looked at for a while. By default, the amount of time to +cool down is the amount of time that has passed since the message +arrived. This results in so-called exponential backoff behavior. +</p> + +<li> <p> When the delivery agent blames the receiving party (for +example a local recipient user, or a remote host), the queue manager +not only advances the queue file time stamp, but also puts the +receiving party on a "dead" list so that it will be skipped for +some amount of time. </p> + +</ul> + +<p> This process is governed by a bunch of little parameters. </p> + +<blockquote> + +<dl> + +<dt> <a href="postconf.5.html#queue_run_delay">queue_run_delay</a> (default: 300 seconds; before Postfix 2.4: +1000s) </dt> <dd> How often +the queue manager scans the queue for deferred mail. </dd> + +<dt> <a href="postconf.5.html#minimal_backoff_time">minimal_backoff_time</a> (default: 300 seconds; before Postfix +2.4: 1000s) </dt> <dd> The +minimal amount of time a message won't be looked at, and the minimal +amount of time to stay away from a "dead" destination. </dd> + +<dt> <a href="postconf.5.html#maximal_backoff_time">maximal_backoff_time</a> (default: 4000 seconds) </dt> <dd> The +maximal amount of time a message won't be looked at after a delivery +failure. </dd> + +<dt> <a href="postconf.5.html#maximal_queue_lifetime">maximal_queue_lifetime</a> (default: 5 days) </dt> <dd> How long +a message stays in the queue before it is sent back as undeliverable. +Specify 0 for mail that should be returned immediately after the +first unsuccessful delivery attempt. </dd> + +<dt> <a href="postconf.5.html#bounce_queue_lifetime">bounce_queue_lifetime</a> (default: 5 days, available with Postfix +version 2.1 and later) </dt> <dd> How long a MAILER-DAEMON message +stays in the queue before it is considered undeliverable. Specify +0 for mail that should be tried only once. </dd> + +<dt> <a href="postconf.5.html#qmgr_message_recipient_limit">qmgr_message_recipient_limit</a> (default: 20000) </dt> <dd> The +size of many in-memory queue manager data structures. Among others, +this parameter limits the size of the short-term, in-memory list +of "dead" destinations. Destinations that don't fit the list are +not added. </dd> + +<dt> <a href="postconf.5.html#transport_destination_concurrency_failed_cohort_limit"><i>transport</i>_destination_concurrency_failed_cohort_limit</a> +</dt> <dd> Controls when a destination is considered "dead". This +parameter is critical with a non-zero +<a href="postconf.5.html#transport_destination_rate_delay"><i>transport</i>_destination_rate_delay</a>, with a reduced +<a href="postconf.5.html#transport_destination_concurrency_limit"><i>transport</i>_destination_concurrency_limit</a>, or with +a reduced <a href="postconf.5.html#initial_destination_concurrency">initial_destination_concurrency</a>. </dd> + +</dl> + +</blockquote> + +<p> IMPORTANT: If you increase the frequency of deferred mail +delivery attempts, or if you flush the deferred mail queue frequently, +then you may find that Postfix mail delivery performance actually +becomes worse. The symptoms are as follows: </p> + +<ul> + +<li> <p> The <a href="QSHAPE_README.html#active_queue">active queue</a> becomes saturated with mail that has +delivery problems. New mail enters the <a href="QSHAPE_README.html#active_queue">active queue</a> only when +an old message is deferred. This is a slow process that usually +requires timing out one or more SMTP connections. </p> + +<li> <p> All available Postfix delivery agents become occupied +trying to connect to unreachable sites etc. New mail has to wait +until a delivery agent becomes available. This is a slow process +that usually requires timing out one or more SMTP connections. </p> + +</ul> + +<p> When mail is being deferred frequently, fixing the problem is +always better than increasing the frequency of delivery attempts. +However, if you can control only the delivery attempt frequency, +consider using a dedicated <a href="postconf.5.html#fallback_relay">fallback_relay</a> "graveyard" machine for +bad destinations, so that these destinations do not ruin the +performance of normal +mail deliveries. </p> + +<h2><a name="proc_limit">Tuning the number of Postfix processes</a></h2> + +<p> The <a href="postconf.5.html#default_process_limit">default_process_limit</a> configuration parameter gives direct +control over how many daemon processes Postfix will run. As of +Postfix 2.0 the default limit is 100 SMTP client processes, 100 +SMTP server processes, and so on. This may overwhelm systems with +little memory, as well as networks with low bandwidth. </p> + +<p> You can change the global process limit by specifying a +non-default <a href="postconf.5.html#default_process_limit">default_process_limit</a> in the <a href="postconf.5.html">main.cf</a> file. For example, +to run up to 10 SMTP client processes, 10 SMTP server processes, +and so on: </p> + +<blockquote> +<pre> +/etc/postfix/<a href="postconf.5.html">main.cf</a>: + <a href="postconf.5.html#default_process_limit">default_process_limit</a> = 10 +</pre> +</blockquote> + +<p> You need to execute "postfix reload" to make the change effective. +This limit is enforced by the Postfix <a href="master.8.html">master(8)</a> daemon which does +not automatically read <a href="postconf.5.html">main.cf</a> when it changes. </p> + +<p> You can override the process limit for specific Postfix daemons +by editing the <a href="master.5.html">master.cf</a> file. For example, if you do not wish to +receive 100 SMTP messages at the same time, but do not want to +change the process limits for other Postfix daemons, you could +specify: </p> + +<blockquote> +<pre> +/etc/postfix/<a href="master.5.html">master.cf</a>: + # ==================================================================== + # service type private unpriv chroot wakeup maxproc command + args + # (yes) (yes) (yes) (never) (100) + # ==================================================================== + . . . + smtp inet n - - - 10 smtpd + . . . +</pre> +</blockquote> + +<h2><a name="proc_sys">Tuning the number of processes on the system</a></h2> + +<ul> + +<li> <p> MacOS X will run out of process slots when you increase +Postfix process limits. The following works with OSX 10.4 and OSX +10.5. </p> + +<p> MacOS X kernel parameters can be specified in /etc/sysctl.conf. +</p> + +<pre> +/etc/sysctl.conf: + kern.maxproc=2048 + kern.maxprocperuid=2048 +</pre> + +<p> Unfortunately these can't simply be set on the fly with "sysctl +-w". You also have to set the following in /etc/launchd.conf so +that the root user after boot will have the right process limit +(2048). Otherwise you have to always run ulimit -u 2048 as root, +then start a user shell, and then start processes for things to +take effect. </p> + +<pre> +/etc/launchd.conf: + limit maxproc 2048 +</pre> + +<p> Once these are in place, reboot the system. After that, the limits will +stay in place. </p> + +</ul> + +<h2><a name="file_limit">Tuning the number of open files or sockets</a></h2> + +<p> When Postfix opens too many files or sockets, processes will +abort with fatal errors, and the system may log "file table full" +errors. </p> + +<ul> + +<li> <p> Depending on your Postfix and operating system versions +you may need to recompile Postfix if you need more than 1024 file +descriptors per process: </p> + +<ul> <li> <p> No recompilation is needed for Postfix version 2.4 +and later, when it was compiled for systems that support BSD kqueue(2) +(FreeBSD 4.1, NetBSD 2.0, OpenBSD 2.9), Solaris 8 /dev/poll, or +Linux 2.6 epoll(4). </p> + +<li> <p> Otherwise, Postfix needs to be recompiled to override the +default FD_SETSIZE value. </p> + +</ul> + +<li> <p> Reduce the number of processes as described under "<a +href="#proc_limit">Tuning the number of Postfix processes</a>" above. +Fewer processes need fewer open files and sockets. </p> + +<li> <p> Configure the kernel for more open files and sockets. +The details are extremely system dependent and change with the +operating system version. Be sure to verify the following information +with your system tuning guide: </p> + +<ul> + +<li> <p> Some FreeBSD kernel parameters can be specified in +/boot/loader.conf, and some can be specified in /etc/sysctl.conf +or changed with sysctl commands. +Which is which depends on the version. +</p> + +<pre> +kern.ipc.maxsockets="5000" +kern.ipc.nmbclusters="65536" +kern.maxproc="2048" +kern.maxfiles="16384" +kern.maxfilesperproc="16384" +</pre> + +<li> <p> Linux kernel parameters can be specified in /etc/sysctl.conf +or changed with sysctl commands: </p> + +<pre> +fs.file-max=16384 +kernel.threads-max=2048 +</pre> + +<li> <p> Solaris kernel parameters can be specified in /etc/system, +as described in the <a +href="http://www.science.uva.nl/pub/solaris/solaris2.html#q3.48">Solaris +FAQ</a> entry titled "How can I increase the number of file +descriptors per process?" </p> + +<pre> +* set hard limit on file descriptors +set rlim_fd_max = 4096 +* set soft limit on file descriptors +set rlim_fd_cur = 1024 +</pre> + +</ul> + +</ul> + +</body> + +</html> |