I think Eric Thomas was doing just that recently to prepare for a talk
he had to give. I'm sending you an article I wrote recently to describe
LISTSERV in general terms to our users. Feel free to modify it for your
use.
Good luck.
LISTSERV on IUBVM: More Than Just Another Mail Distributor
Most academic users are well acquainted with BITNET subscription lists,
which distribute electronic mail pertaining to a topic or organization
to registered users. More than 2000 BITNET mailing lists are active
today. This article will discuss the software which supports these
lists, LISTSERV, and how it is used on IUBVM.
LISTSERV is a public-domain, VM-based mail and file manager which
currently runs on over 260 VM sites. LISTSERV is designed to work with
the VM Network MAILER to distribute mail to recipients on all nodes
within the BITNET and Internet networks (not just to VM sites) and to
any other node accessible via MAILER gateways. Besides the efficient
distribution of mail to the subscribers of mailing lists, LISTSERV's
capabilities include mail note logging, file distribution, file
serving, and archive searching. Recently, LISTSERV was enhanced to also
provide mail forwarding services for all local users.
Responsibility for creating and maintaining each list is delegated to
the list owner. List ownership provides the ability to add and delete
subscribers, maintain and collect usage statistics, suspend and resume
distribution of mail and other files, define confidentiality values,
add files to the lists' database, create file distribution packages,
and set confidentiality values for various aspects of the list.
If a list is set up so that subscription is automatic and open to the
public, very little maintenance is involved. Lists can also be set
up which require intervention by the owner for subscription and/or
intervention by the owner or designated moderator for posting. These
management functions may be performed from an IUBVM account or from any
valid BITNET or Internet account via interactive messages, mail
messages, or job command files.
Subscribers to a list can query and change their distribution and
acknowledgement options, change their names as recorded by LISTSERV,
search and request copies of the mailing log archives, request files
stored in the database, request that updated files be automatically
resent or that they be notified of an update.
Subscribers, as well as non-subscribers on any BITNET or Internet node,
can get copies of the LISTSERV documentation, ask for help, get lists
of available mailing lists, subscribe to lists, obtain copies of list
definition files, request non-confidential files from any list, and
search non-confidential mail archives. Requests for any of these
LISTSERV services are sent via interactive messages, mail messages, or
job command files.
Because LISTSERV allows remote management, VM sites sponsor lists for
both local and remote users. Where a list is sponsored depends on the
composition of the list (i.e., the percentage of local or regional
users), the preference of the list owner, the resources required by the
list (disk space, network bandwidth), and the willingness of the host to
sponsor it.
On IUBVM, owners manage their lists from their IUBVM account or
their VAX cluster accounts. IUBVM-sponsored lists include:
CJUST-L Criminal Justice Discussion List
DIS-L Drosophilia Workers Newsletter
DTS-L Dead Teachers' Society Discussion List
EDINFO-L Education Information Discussion List
MLA-L Music Library Association Mailing List
TML-L Database for Latin Music Theory
UNION-L Mail, newsletters and salary files for UUP-IU
MLA-L is currently the most active list, with frequent postings among
its more than 300 users worldwide. TML-L is the most intensive user of
LISTSERV's file serving functions, distributing text and graphics files
to a wide network of music theorists. TML-L users inform LISTSERV of
their area of interest (e.g. 14th century music theory), and then
automatically receive updates to any files in that category. To
accommodate Internet users, TML-L also provides a means of obtaining
files via FTP.
For more information about LISTSERV, contact VM Consultant Peter Molnar
(MOLNARP@IUBVM or [log in to unmask]).
Mary Papakhian
VM Systems Programmer
University Computing Services
WCC 136.13 855-2597
|