Exchange Plugin

[av-outsource]

Please can you tell me how i can access the exchange module to enable me to run a scan on public folders and the message store? I can't find any menu for exchange options.

Also how can i test it is functioning correctly?
 

[Vlk]

Please can you tell me how i can access the exchange module to enable me to run a scan on public folders and the message store? I can't find any menu for exchange options.

This is not possible. It's simply not supported by the Exchange system - so practically no antivirus has this feature... On the other hand, the Exchange Information Store automatically performs scan of all items after AV installation and also after each VPS update (unless this feature is turned off). This is called 'Background scanning' in Exchange parlance. This feature more or less ensures that there are no viruses in the store, at any time. So you shouldn't really have a need to perfom any on-demand scans - the cleanness of the store is ensured automatically (even for the items received prior to the AV scanner installtion).

Also how can i test it is functioning correctly?

Well - classic methods -- eicar, or wait for a couple of minutes -- for the next arrival of a Beagle, MyDoom or Netsky variant...


Cheers,
Vlk

[av-outsource]

Thanks for that.

One other thing. Does the exchange plugin use MAPI, ESE and AVAPI2?

[Vlk]

It uses AVAPI 2.0 (if running on E2K) or AVAPI 2.5 (if on E2K3) PLUS a different method for filtering of SMTP traffic. In a way, it's unique - I'm not aware of any other competitive product that uses the same method.

Cheers.

[av-outsource]

Please could you expand on the way smtp scanning is unique? It may help close a deal we are working on.

thanks

[Vlk]

Please could you expand on the way smtp scanning is unique

Hehe I see, unique is a very precious term in the world of business, right?

The uniqueness lies in the fact that there's no other AV software using the same technique (as far as I know). Everyone's talking about the pros and cons of VS API, ESE API, MAPI etc... -- but no one even thinks about SMTP event sinks (which work very well actually, and integrate perfectly with Exchange)... Some more info can be found on the product page, http://www.avast.com/i_idt_1402.html .

Hope this helps,
Vlk

[av-outsource]

Cool.

Could you confirm if Avast SMTP requires Exchange? or Can it be run without exchange?

James

[Vlk]

It can be run without Exchange. But if Exchange is installed, it will work transparently for Exchange.

[av-outsource]

Thanks very much! As always