Message Handler Overview, Message Forwarding Overview, Message Server Configuration
The message server is an NT service that runs in the background on low priority threads receiving, routing, and storing log messages. It receives messages forwarded from other message servers and from log message generators running on the same machine. It then routes those messages on to viewers, custom coded message handlers, and other servers. It also stores log messages in memory and to disk so that later connecting viewers can download those messages as well.
The message server is very resource and CPU friendly. It was specifically designed to be a very non-intrusive addition to production server environments. Virtually all work in the server is performed on low priority threads under normal operating circumstances. Thread priorities are temporarily adjusted at times to balance throughput but this is done only to avoid losing messages or to aid in clearing out messages to meet memory usage limits. The dispatching of messages (to viewers, message handlers, and message servers) is always treated as a lesser priority than other activity on the machine. Memory usage is also diligently managed with internal data compression as well as configurable parameters for average and maximum usage. See Configuring Memory Usage for further information.