"Christian J. Reichetzeder" <REICHETZ@AWIIMC11>
Thu, 9 Mar 89 13:31:40 SET
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Then ... let's start a technical discussion 'though I'm not sure if it's
possible to completely avoid politics - maybe policy is permitted.
I did a q&d check on the global lists. There are some 900 *different* lists,
550 only on BITNET/NetNorth hosts, 250 only on EARN hosts and 100 peered over
the Atlantic (if I didn't make a mistake). More than half of the lists use
DISTRIBUTE (for non-peered lists it's approx. 40%). If I had more time I could
give more detailed and more accurate numbers.
Keeping in mind that both peering and DISTRIBUTE are used to minimize traffic
you can imagine the impact of the split. Remember: only mail and only if the
list has not set Mail-Via=DISTx is "packed" to a maximum of 5 recipients in
one file, everything else goes in one-file-per-recipient across the water.
What are possible solutions?
a) wait until the net is overloaded - probably not a good idea, but maybe
traffic isn't that high at all.
b) Subscription is restricted (by means of the Service= keyword). Maybe one
(other-side) redistribution list is permitted per list. This of course will
make the lists one-way.
c) A LISTGATE could be implemented. On both sides there is one LISTGATE (i.e.
a LISTSERV/LISTEARN peering all the lists on it's side). They would be set
up so that "pseudo-peering" takes place.
But technical decisions depend also on p*litical ones. It doesn't make much
sense to develop strategies without knowing the future direction. I would like
to have a statement from EARN as soon as possible. Or assurance that the
transatlantic link and major lines can take the traffic without problems. But
what if BITNET is not happy with the extra traffic on it's lines .. ???
Christian
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