[itdiscuss] Email Message Size Limits

[Kevin Brunson]

Let's say one of your users sends out a mass email to 200 of their closest friends, and that email includes a pdf attachment that is 20 MB in size.  Your internet connection and exchange server are going to slow to a crawl until that gets through.  Not so much a security issue as a DDDOS, meaning dumb-dumb denial of service.  I have seen even a single 100 MB attachment bring Exchange to its knees if allowed through.  And remember, unless you have relocated the mailroot folder, it is probably on your C: drive, so lots of mail stuck in the queue can fill up your C: drive if you don't keep that drive very clean, or very large.  Exchange is very good at using ALL available bandwidth to send messages to the internet, so you want to make sure your bandwidth can handle email that your Exchange server is processing.

Kevin

From: discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org [mailto:discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org] On Behalf Of blloyd at buskercom.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 1:35 PM
To: discuss at itdiscuss.org
Subject: [itdiscuss] Email Message Size Limits

I have a question about limiting the size of each message.  The trend that I have seen is to limit the size of an individual email to somewhere between 2mb and 10mb.  I've always heard that the reason for such limits is primarily to limit security risks.  Can anyone give me good reasons why you should limit message sizes?  I believe there are good reasons, but I'm trying to explain them to the CEO.

Thanks,



Bill Lloyd
IT Manager
[cid:image001.jpg at 01C80FFC.A6B42C20]

5375 Oakbrook Parkway
Norcross, GA 30093
Phone: 770-417-1604
Cell:     404-379-6963

blloyd at buskercom.com
This email and any accompanying attachments may contain confidential and proprietary information.  This information is private and protected by law and, accordingly, if you are not the intended recipient, you are requested to delete this entire communication immediately and are notified that any disclosure, copying or distribution of or taking any action based on this information is prohibited. Emails cannot be guaranteed to be secure or free of errors or viruses.  The sender does not accept any liability or responsibility for any interception, corruption, destruction, loss, late arrival or incompleteness of or tampering or interference with any of the information contained in this email or for its incorrect delivery or non-delivery for whatsoever reason or for its effect on any electronic device of the recipient.

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