Answer
GFI MailEssentials uses 3 methods to count and retrieve users:
- Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 and later
- Microsoft Active Directory
- Internal user database
This article provides more information about each of these methods:
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 and later
GFI MailEssentials is installed with Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 (on the same machine) or Microsoft Exchange 2007 or later with the Mailbox role installed, will count all Active Directory users that have a mailbox on the local Microsoft Exchange Information Store.
Microsoft Active Directory
In the following scenarios, GFI MailEssentials will count user objects in Microsoft Active Directory where the 'mail' property is defined. Users will only be counted from the same Microsoft Active Directory domain where the product is installed:
- GFI MailEssentials is installed on a machine that is part of Microsoft Active Directory (but not on the same machine as Microsoft Exchange 2003)
- GFI MailEssentials is installed on the same machine as Microsoft Exchange 2007 or later but the mailbox role is not present
If GFI MailEssentials is installed as a gateway, to any other SMTP server, and it is desired to retrieve users from Microsoft Active Directory, a purchase of the equivalent of the amount of Microsoft Active Directory users that have a SMTP address is required.
Internal user database
An internal user database is used when the users are not retrieved from Microsoft Active Directory.
This is the only option if GFI MailEssentials is installed on a machine that is not part of a Microsoft Active Directory domain. However, it is also possible to make use of the internal user database if GFI MailEssentials is installed in a Microsoft Active Directory environment.
In this case, email addresses will be retrieved from outgoing emails and saved in the user database. Users can also be added to the GFI MailEssentials configuration manually.
If GFI MailEssentials is installed as a Gateway, to any other SMTP server, and it is undesirable to retrieve users from Microsoft Active Directory, a purchase of the equivalent amount of email addresses which are used to send outbound is needed.
IMPORTANT: There is no way to exclude users from a license. A purchase of the equivalent amount is required according to the criteria above.
*** Please note that the System mailbox is not counted (or any disabled users).