Storing and partitioning email messaging data

A computing device for storing messaging data at a mail transport agent in a network environment, comprising:

• a memory storing instructions;
• a processor coupled to the memory, the processor executing a storage and partitioning application, wherein the storage and partitioning application is configured to:
• receive an email message at a mail transport agent (MTA);
• retrieve messaging data associated with the email message, the messaging data including at least one from a set of:
• data associated with the email message, data associated with a state of the email message, and data associated with one or more recipients of the email message;
• partition the messaging data into one or more generations representing a time frame based on a date and a time of receipt of the email message at the MTA;
• store the one or more generations in a data store associated with the MTA;
• upon expiration of a time period sufficient to process delivery requests for a plurality of email messages associated with a generation, scan the generation for unprocessed messages;
• if no unprocessed message is found, automatically delete the generation;
• and
• if one or more unprocessed email messages are found, cache the messaging data for the one or more unprocessed email messages and suspend deletion of the generation.

A computer-readable memory device with instructions stored thereon for storing messaging data at a mail transport agent in a network environment, the instructions comprising:

• receiving an email message at a mail transport agent (MTA);
• retrieving messaging data associated with the email message;
• partitioning messaging data for a plurality of email messages having a plurality of recipients received by the MTA into one or more generations representing a time frame based on a date and a time of receipt of each email message at the MTA, the messaging data including message data and recipient data;
• storing the generations in a data store associated with the MTA;
• receiving a request from a downstream recipient server to retrieve and replay messaging data for a previously sent email message during a specified time frame;
• performing a search operation to locate and retrieve the requested messaging data employing a replay index;
• automatically deleting data from the data store by removing an entire generation storing messaging data after the generation has stored the messaging data for a predetermined period of time;
• prior to removing the entire generation, scanning the generation for one or more unprocessed email messages;
• and
• if one or more unprocessed emails are identified, caching the messaging data for the one or more unprocessed email messages and suspending removal of the generation.