@Townman wrote:
@bazzer,
It would be folly to presume that there is just one factor which contributes to the variable performance perceived. There are numerous factors which contribute to 'system stress' ... one two or more are gathered together and the wind is from left-field the same symptoms might be seen.
Out of interest, for those who regularly see the symptoms...
- what's the refresh interval? Settings -> Preferences tab -> User Interface -> Refresh
- is mail preview switched on? Settings -> Preferences tab -> Mailbox view -> Show preview pane
- what's the mail item page size in use? Settings -> Preferences tab -> Mailbox view -> Rows per page
- what's the Check all folders for new messages setting? Settings -> Preferences tab -> Mailbox view -> Check all folders
The refresh interval being too low is going to hammer the IMAP servers - making this a sensible number of minutes (certainly longer than the 3 minute request timeout duration) might take significant strain off the IMAP server to the benefit of all users. Indeed, setting it to manual and using the mailbox manual refresh button might be even better.
Mail preview with a short duration mark as read will generate a lot of traffic to / from the IMAP server. Switching preview off and explicitly reading emails in a pop-up might also be found to be beneficial.
Retrieving fewer items per page might reduce the size of each IMAP server request.
If email is arranged in multiple folders, not checking those other than the inbox might again reduce the query load on the IMAP servers.
As I have just observed, changing these individually might not deliver individual improvement, however if enough users give it a go, we might just see some benefit. If not, then there's not a lot lost beyond collectively giving it a go.
Kevin,
I agree completely. However...
Since all the people reading this thread represent (I surmise) a very small proportion of PN Webmail users, and of those only an uncertain proportion will actually take heed of what you say, your valiant effort with good advice here is unlikely to have enough impact. I think PlusNet itself needs to take executive action to limit the load on IMAP (and POP3) servers, for the benefit of all. They could, for example, set the minimum refresh interval selectable to 6 or maybe 10 minutes, and put an explainer (or a link to one) on the Preferences / User Interface screen, which would tell the user that this is to improve performance and at the same time remind them they can use the "Check for new messages" button if they need their new emails rightnowmost. It would be to the benefit of all, perhaps effecting a major improvement in Webmail performance - who knows? Other preference settings may be worth PN's attention too. How does one get PlusNet to address this? Might be one for @bobpullen?
It is clearly a dreadful waste of system resources to have devices sitting there getting a refreshed display of emails every three minutes, when the user may not even be looking or present, on account of leaving the computer on while going shopping, having lunch or a nap etc., or at best just working on another window. Quite possibly, they have gone away to cool down after the frustration of dealing with the intermittent dreadful performance of Webmail! I've done that.
Through being only an occasional user of PN Webmail - I use Outlook normally, but now have* to use Webmail every few days (see footnote) - I had not altered or even looked at my Preference settings for many years, and had even forgotten that the refresh facility existed - I always just click the 'Check for new messages' button when I need to see new emails, and would in fact be content with that. I have now set the refresh interval to 10 minutes. That's my drop in the ocean.
AtP
* (This is all because of an apparent error in Outlook 2016 which (a) causes Outlook to fail to delete my emails from the server when the number of days I have specified for delayed deletion (in the email account details within the Outlook email profile) has expired, and (b) frequently delivers me all my emails in the server, even the ones already previously downloaded to Outlook, causing a build-up of duplicates. I therefore have to keep manually deleting old emails off the server by way of Webmail - wnen it works. The said non-deletion fault is the subject of a thread elsewhere, and in theory is being looked into by MS Support.)
