Server Management using IMail Administrator
IMail Administrator is a Windows program for local server management. It presents a tree of all mail hosts supported by IMail on your localhost. Initially, this tree contains one entry: the primary host configured during installation. Later, you may add virtual hosts to this list (see Virtual Domain Administration). Beneath each mail host are the users, lists, and aliases defined for that domain (see Mail Account and List Administration).

SMTP, POP3, IMAP4, LDAP, WhoIs, Finger, Password, Web Messaging, and Monitor services are configured at the "localhost" level and affect every mail domain. For example, SMTP parameters include a mail queue timer, retries, DNS addresses, logfile name, and the gateway used to forward all remote mail or only those messages that cannot be delivered directly (right). Many great features are configured at this level: SMTP security, service monitoring and notification, and Web Messaging—all are explored in greater depth later in this review.

IMail Administrator can also display log files, the mail queue, and the status of each service. Log files can be disabled, redirected, or created for each service. By default, new files are created in the spool directory daily. Logs do not wrap or self-delete, so periodic maintenance is required. IMail includes an "isplcln" utility that automates age-based removal. I found the number of logs created by default a trifle overwhelming and believe most admins will fine tune these parameters to reduce resource consumption. On the other hand, logs proved invaluable when diagnosing mail delivery problems.

Some administration tasks can also be performed through a browser. When a user with "IMail System Administration" privileges logs into the Web Messaging client, its standard menu is expanded with admin commands. Using a browser, a sys admin can display log files and view, delete, or (re)send queued messages in progress or waiting. A sys admin can also edit Welcome and News messages (see Customizable Web Messaging).