Applies to: Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Online

Topic Last Modified: 2012-11-27

You can use the Shell to enable, disable, or modify protocol logging settings for POP3 and IMAP4. By default, protocol logging isn't enabled.

Protocol logging lets you review the POP3 and IMAP4 connections in your Exchange environment. This can be useful if you're troubleshooting issues related to POP3 or IMAP4 performance. For more information, see Protocol Logging for POP3 and IMAP4. For more information related to POP3 and IMAP4, see POP3 and IMAP4.

What do you need to know before you begin?

Tip:
Having problems? Ask for help in the Exchange forums. Visit the forums at: Exchange Server, Exchange Online, or Exchange Online Protection.

What do you want to do?

Use the Shell to enable protocol logging for POP3 or IMAP4

This example enables protocol logging for IMAP4 or POP3 on the Client Access server CAS01.

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Set-ImapSettings -Server "CAS01" -ProtocolLogEnabled $true
Set-PopSettings -Server "CAS01" -ProtocolLogEnabled $true
Note:
After you've changed protocol logging settings for POP3 or IMAP4, you must restart whichever services you’re using: POP3 or IMAP4. For information about how to restart the POP3 and IMAP4 services, see Start and Stop the POP3 Services and Start and Stop the IMAP4 Services.

For detailed syntax and parameter information, see Set-ImapSettings and Set-PopSettings.

Use the Shell to disable protocol logging for POP3 or IMAP4

This example disables protocol logging for IMAP4 or POP3 on the Client Access server CAS01.

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Set-ImapSettings -Server "CAS01" -protocolLogEnabled $false
Set-PopSettings -Server "CAS01" -protocolLogEnabled $false
Note:
After you've changed protocol logging settings for POP3 or IMAP4, you must restart whichever services you’re using: POP3 or IMAP4. For information about how to restart the POP3 and IMAP4 services, see Start and Stop the POP3 Services and Start and Stop the IMAP4 Services.

For detailed syntax and parameter information, see Set-ImapSettings and Set-PopSettings.

Use the Shell to modify protocol logging for POP3 or IMAP4

To modify POP3 or IMAP4 logging settings, run the Set-ImapSettings or Set-PopSettings cmdlets with one or more of the following parameters.

  • LogFileLocation   This parameter specifies the location for the POP3 or IMAP4 protocol log files. By default, POP3 protocol log files are located in the C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\Logging\Pop3 directory. This example turns on POP3 protocol logging on the Client Access server CAS01. It also changes the POP3 protocol logging directory to C:\Pop3Logging.

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    Set-PopSettings -Server "CAS01" -ProtocolLogEnabled $true -LogFileLocation "C:\Pop3Logging"
  • LogFileRollOverSettings   This parameter defines how frequently POP3 or IMAP4 protocol logging creates a new log file. By default, a new log file is created every day. The possible values are:

    Hourly

    Daily

    Weekly

    Monthly

    This setting applies only when the value for the parameter LogPerFileSizeQuota is set to zero. This example changes the POP3 protocol logging on the Client Access server CAS01 to create a new log file every hour.

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    Set-PopSettings -Server "CAS01" -LogPerFileSizeQuota 0 -LogFileRollOverSettings Hourly
  • LogPerFileSizeQuota   This parameter defines the maximum size of a POP3 or IMAP4 protocol log file in bytes. By default, this value is set to zero. When this value is set to zero, a new protocol log file is created at the frequency specified by the LogFileRollOverSettings parameter.

    This example changes the POP3 protocol logging on the Client Access server CAS01 to create a new log file when a log file reaches 2 megabytes (MB).

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    Set-PopSettings -Server "CAS01" -LogPerFileSizeQuota 2000000
    This example changes the POP3 protocol logging on the Client Access server CAS01 to use the same log file regardless of its creation date and size.

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    Set-PopSettings -Server "CAS01" -LogPerFileSizeQuota unlimited
Note:
After you've changed protocol logging settings for POP3 or IMAP4, you must restart whichever services you’re using: POP3 or IMAP4. For information about how to restart the POP3 and IMAP4 services, see Start and Stop the POP3 Services and Start and Stop the IMAP4 Services.

For detailed syntax and parameter information, see Set-ImapSettings and Set-PopSettings.

How do you know this worked?

Run the following command in the Shell to verify POP3 protocol logging settings. If POP3 protocol logging is enabled, the value for the ProtocolLogEnabled parameter is True. If POP3 protocol logging is disabled, the value is False. You can also make sure the values for the LogFileLocation, LogPerFileSizeQuota, and LogFileRollOverSettings parameters are correct.

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Get-PopSettings | format-list

Run the following command in the Shell to verify IMAP4 protocol logging settings. If IMAP4 protocol logging is enabled, the value for the ProtocolLogEnabled parameter is True. If IMAP4 protocol logging is disabled, the value is False. You can also make sure the values for the LogFileLocation, LogPerFileSizeQuota, and LogFileRollOverSettings parameters are correct.

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Get-ImapSettings | format-list

For more information

After you configure protocol logging settings for POP3 and IMAP4, you may also want to:

Start and Stop the IMAP4 Services

Start and Stop the POP3 Services