def _get_postqueue_stats(self, postfix_config_dir, tags):

        # get some intersting configuratin values from postconf
        pc_output, _, _ = get_subprocess_output(['postconf', 'mail_version'], self.log, False)
        postfix_version = pc_output.strip('\n').split('=')[1].strip()
        pc_output, _, _ = get_subprocess_output(['postconf', 'authorized_mailq_users'], self.log, False)
        authorized_mailq_users = pc_output.strip('\n').split('=')[1].strip()

        self.log.debug('authorized_mailq_users : {}'.format(authorized_mailq_users))

        output, _, _ = get_subprocess_output(['postqueue', '-c', postfix_config_dir, '-p'], self.log, False)

        active_count = 0
        hold_count = 0
        deferred_count = 0

        # postque -p sample output
        '''
        root@postfix:/opt/datadog-agent/agent/checks.d# postqueue -p
        ----Queue ID----- --Size-- ---Arrival Time---- --Sender/Recipient------
        3xWyLP6Nmfz23fk        367 Tue Aug 15 16:17:33 root@postfix.devnull.home
                                                            (deferred transport)
                                                            alice@crypto.io

        3xWyD86NwZz23ff!       358 Tue Aug 15 16:12:08 root@postfix.devnull.home
                                                            (deferred transport)
                                                            bob@crypto.io

        -- 1 Kbytes in 2 Requests.
        '''

        for line in output.splitlines():
            if '*' in line:
                active_count += 1
                continue
            if '!' in line:
                hold_count += 1
                continue
            if line[0:1].isdigit():
                deferred_count += 1

        self.log.debug('Postfix Version: %s' % postfix_version)

        self.gauge(
            'postfix.queue.size', active_count, tags=tags + ['queue:active', 'instance:{}'.format(postfix_config_dir)]
        )
        self.gauge(
            'postfix.queue.size', hold_count, tags=tags + ['queue:hold', 'instance:{}'.format(postfix_config_dir)]
        )
        self.gauge(
            'postfix.queue.size',
            deferred_count,
            tags=tags + ['queue:deferred', 'instance:{}'.format(postfix_config_dir)],
        )
root@postfix:/opt/datadog-agent/agent/checks.d# postqueue -p
        ----Queue ID----- --Size-- ---Arrival Time---- --Sender/Recipient------
        3xWyLP6Nmfz23fk        367 Tue Aug 15 16:17:33 root@postfix.devnull.home
                                                            (deferred transport)
                                                            alice@crypto.io

        3xWyD86NwZz23ff!       358 Tue Aug 15 16:12:08 root@postfix.devnull.home
                                                            (deferred transport)
                                                            bob@crypto.io

        -- 1 Kbytes in 2 Requests.