Enable Logging for SMTP, NNTP, and HTTP Protocols

By setting the configuration properties of the virtual server associated with each messaging transport protocol, you can protect your mail system in multiple ways. The Internet protocols (SMTP, HTTP, and NNTP) enable you to use logging to track the commands the virtual server receives from clients. For example, for each message you can view the client IP address, client domain name, date and time of the message, and number of bytes sent.

When logging is used with Windows 2000 event logs, the protocol log enables you to audit the use of the virtual server and identify problems.

The following procedure describes how to enable logging on virtual servers except for the HTTP Exchange Virtual Server. You enable logging on the HTTP Exchange Virtual Server through the IIS snap-in.

To enable protocol logging for SMTP, NNTP, and HTTP virtual servers (except the HTTP Exchange Virtual Server):

1. Start System Manager
   On the Start menu, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Exchange, and then click System Manager.
2. Navigate to the SMTP, NNTP, or HTTP virtual server.

   Servers

   1. Server name
   2. Protocols
   3. Protocol type
   4. Virtual server
3. Right-click the virtual server, and then click Properties.
4. On the General tab, select the Enable logging check box.
5. In the Active log format drop-down list, select the log file format, and then click Properties. The default log file format is Microsoft IIS Log File Format.
6. In the Logging Properties dialog box, on the General Properties tab, select the time interval to write to the log file, log file size, directory where the log file exists, and other parameters depending on the type of format you selected.
7. If you selected W3C Extended Log File Format, in the Logging Properties dialog box, on the Extended Properties tab, specify the W3C extended log file entries.

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