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Can TB handle a 200,000 message inbox on a Mac ?

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by christ1

SomeOldGuy53
SomeOldGuy53
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My client has TB on a recent Mac Mini, runs an up-to-date version of ElCapitan with 8gb RAM and an SSHD. His inbox contains over 150,000 messages (157gb) which he refuses to archive (keeping this years and the last 2), His primary email is with Google using Imap. I have experimented with the setting to store messages on this computer set both ways without noticeable difference. When you first open TB, after starting up normally, you get the spinning color wheel which can last for 5-10 minutes, and then control is returned to the user. After a few minutes, at random, the color wheel will appear again and lock up TB for 3-5 minutes, sometimes longer. My client has little patience, and often will restart TB or his computer so I can't give you an accurate upper limit for this activity. I speculate that TB isn't capable of handling a DB of these proportions, and it's the synchronization with Google that is actually causing the application to appear to be frozen. No problems like this on any other workstation except for his laptop, which uses the same email and has the same database (surprised?). Thoughts ?

My client has TB on a recent Mac Mini, runs an up-to-date version of ElCapitan with 8gb RAM and an SSHD. His inbox contains over 150,000 messages (157gb) which he refuses to archive (keeping this years and the last 2), His primary email is with Google using Imap. I have experimented with the setting to store messages on this computer set both ways without noticeable difference. When you first open TB, after starting up normally, you get the spinning color wheel which can last for 5-10 minutes, and then control is returned to the user. After a few minutes, at random, the color wheel will appear again and lock up TB for 3-5 minutes, sometimes longer. My client has little patience, and often will restart TB or his computer so I can't give you an accurate upper limit for this activity. I speculate that TB isn't capable of handling a DB of these proportions, and it's the synchronization with Google that is actually causing the application to appear to be frozen. No problems like this on any other workstation except for his laptop, which uses the same email and has the same database (surprised?). Thoughts ?

All Replies (4)

Zenos
Zenos
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I don't know if Thunderbird can manage that enormous monolithic Inbox. It is not a test that I would care to carry out. I can't imagine that this is efficient, either in terms of the technical issues or the human factors/usability of it. If your client was working on something for me, I'd be very concerned about how well be runs his business and keeps on top of things. Does he file his physical paperwork in one teetering stack?

Yes, I know that google store your messages in one big heap, but you don't have to look at and work with that big heap. You use folders and labels to break it into smaller units and thereby make it manageable. I know that my larger folders are more sluggish and take longer to refresh and update.

Your client has a problem of his own making. Sometimes people are their own worst enemies. You have my commiserations. Does he not understand that even if he doesn't file it, and just puts it all into an Archive folder it remains searchable? Presumably he uses search a lot already?

SomeOldGuy53
SomeOldGuy53 Question owner
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Thank you for reinforcing what I already know about my client's cognitive abilities, but back to the technical issues. Any constructive or definitive thoughts ?

Zenos
Zenos
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Sorry, my only suggestion that I'd have any confidence in would be to break it into smaller units, which has already been declined as a solution.

Is any anti virus or anti spam software in use? We generally advise against "live" scanning of both incoming and outgoing email, relying on scanning at point of use when attachments are opened.

I hesitate to bring this up, but does the user allow Thunderbird to compact? Not doing so would make the mailstore file larger than it need be. However, if it hasn't been compacted regularly, there is a significant risk of data loss, so make sure you have a backup before trying it.

Do you happen to know the physical file sizes involved here? Oh, (re-reading original post) yes of course you do. 175 GB. I'm amazed he doesn't have more troubles.

175 GB ÷ 150,000 messages = 1.6 MB per message. That seems quite large. Do these messages involve a lot of graphics or a high proportion of attachments? Or maybe there really are a lot of deleted but non-compacted messages.

Modified by Zenos

christ1
christ1
  • Top 25 Contributor
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I'm not exactly sure what the question is or what kind of answer you expect.

My client has TB on a recent Mac Mini

So far so good. You then explain Thunderbird locks up for minutes, and then becomes responsive again.

When you first open TB, after starting up normally, you get the spinning color wheel which can last for 5-10 minutes

What does 'first' mean? First open after installing Thunderbird? First open after setting up the Gmail account? Thunderbird should already be open after that.

Is 'All Mail' subscribed to for this account?

No problems like this on any other workstation

If any of those other workstations runs Thunderbird, the question whether Thunderbird can handle a 200k messages Inbox appears to be answered.

No problems like this ... except for his laptop,

What laptop? And how is the laptop related to the Mac Mini above?

Please clarify your question(s).