Configuring the message tracking data source for On-Premises Exchange

Introduction

For more information about the import process, see Import Message Tracking Data.

Message tracking files and server roles

Only servers with a Transport or a Mailbox role installed generate message tracking files that can be used by Promodag Reports to produce reports on traffic.

Exchange 2013/2016/2019:

The application imports message tracking files from servers with the Mailbox role installed.

Up to Exchange 2013 CU2, the naming convention for log files in the message tracking log directory is:

• MSGTRKMSyyyymmdd-n.log: contains traffic events (sent messages);
• MSGTRKMDyyyymmdd-n.log: contains traffic events (received messages);
• MSGTRKyyyymmdd-n.log: contains flow events.

The Exchange server generates at least 3 message tracking files a day.

This naming convention changes from Exchange 2013 CU3 onwards, for message tracking files are created hourly. The files described above are now named as follows:

• MSGTRKMSyyyymmddhh-n.log;
• MSGTRKMDyyyymmddhh-n.log;
• MSGTRKyyyymmddhh-n.log.

The Exchange server now generates at least 72 message tracking files a day.

Exchange 2010:

The application imports message tracking files from servers with the Hub Transport and Edge Transport roles installed. The name format of these files is MSGTRKyyyymmdd-n.log.

Note: Promodag Reports does not import the specific message tracking files generated on Mailbox servers, whose name contains an additional M: MSGTRKMyyyymmdd-n.log.

Location of message tracking files

By default, the Exchange server generates message tracking files in

• Exchange 2013/2016/2019: C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\TransportRoles\Logs\MessageTracking,
• Exchange 2010: C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V14\TransportRoles\Logs\MessageTracking,

Those directories are not shared by default.

Rights and permissions

The user account used to start Promodag Reports (or the administrative account defined in Server Properties, Security tab) must have at least Read-Only access permissions to the message tracking files shared folder. This folder is not shared by default and Promodag Reports uses the following UNC paths to access it:

• Exchange 2013/2016/2019: \\<Server>\C$Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\TransportRoles\Logs\MessageTracking,
• Exchange 2010: \\<Server>\C$Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V14\TransportRoles\Logs\MessageTracking,

This path reference the C$ shared resource that can only be accessed with administrative rights. Therefore, you can either use an administrative account to run Promodag Reports, or enter an administrative account name and password in Server Properties, Security tab.

If you cannot or if you do not wish to use an administrative share, you can

• Copy message tracking files into another folder on a local or network share and configure its path in the Server Properties, Message Tracking tab,

Note: Please make sure that you grant the required permissions if you decide to change the location of the message tracking files directory. For more information, please refer to Microsoft Technet.

• Or set up a shared resource and configure its path in Server Properties, Message Tracking tab.

How to share a message tracking log folder

Please follow these steps to share a message tracking log folder:

• Open a session on the Exchange server, select the C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\(...)\MessageTracking\ folder and create a shared folder. Name it MessageTracking$.
• In Share Permissions, grant the Promodag account Read permissions and click Apply.
• Back to the File Explorer, right-click the C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\(...)\MessageTracking\ folder, select Properties in the context menu and open the Security tab.
• Click Advanced.
• In the Permissions tab, click Change permissions.
• Click Add, click Select a principal and select the Promodag account.
• In Type, select Allow; in Applies to, select This folder, subfolders and files; in Basic permissions, check Read.

Enabling message tracking

By default, message tracking is enabled on all Exchange 2010 servers that have the Hub Transport, Mailbox, or Edge Transport server roles installed, and on Exchange 2013/2016 Mailbox servers.

For more information on how to configure message tracking in Exchange 2010 and newer, seeMicrosoft Technet.

How long are message tracking files retained?

By default, Microsoft Exchange Server keeps message tracking files for a duration of 30 days. For more information on how to enable message tracking in Exchange 2010 and newer, see the Microsoft Technet website.

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