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Internet Exchange Frequently Asked Questions

Internet Exchange Messaging Server
SMTPC Message Priority Handling

Message Priority Handling
SMTPC assigns a priority weight to each message based upon three factors, namely:

• the predefined message precedence
• the message size
• the total deferred time (for messages in the Deferred Queue)

The message priority weight is calculated using the following formula:

Priority weight = (precedence * Mp)
                     + (size * Ms)
                     + (deferred_time * Md)

where Mp is the precedence multiplier, Ms is the size multiplier, and Md is the time multiplier.

The priority weight is an integer value. The lower the priority weight, the higher the priority level and the sooner the message is processed. The message precedence is a configurable parameter that is defined by the system administrator. The message size is also a configurable parameter that provides the system administrator with a mechanism for preventing large messages from delaying the delivery of urgent but smaller messages. The total deferred time (for messages in the Deferred Queue), on the other hand, represents the time a message has been stored in the Deferred Queue. A message with a longer total deferred time is given a higher priority level than those that arrived recently. This parameter is also configured by the system administrator.