>Yesterday, a major operations problem occured, caused by a software
>change on the FRMOP11 node (and possibly on other nodes, but this is not
>yet clear).
>
>As this had clearly a negative impact on mail distribution (FRMOP11 is a
>LISTSERV backbone node), Eric Thomas took the decision to remove FRMOP11
>from this backbone.
>
>We have to object to the way this decision was taken (regardless of its
>merits which are not that obvious because of the increased load on the
>international lines): such an operations decision must be taken by the
>operations group or at least the most concerned people, namely in this
>case A. Auroux, D. Dumas, M. Hebgen and E. Thomas.
>
>So, we ask Eric Thomas to restore FRMOP11 as LISTSERV backbone node as
>soon as the situation at this node becomes normal again, and to avoid in
>the future to take unilateral decisions: It should be clearly understood
>that being the person who has developed and is maintaining a tool, with
>the rights associated to it, does not grant the right to take all
>decisions related to the operations of the tool network wide.
>
>In addition, we welcome the proposal made by Eric to discuss the problem
>of quality of maintenance of networking tools on international nodes,
>and we are asking you to make proposals of directives/recommendations
>which would help keeping the smooth operations of EARN
>
> Alain Auroux Michael Hebgen
This kind of notes is one of the reasons why I want to completely
discontinue any service I am providing to EARN. You speak of my
"unilateral" decision. To me it appears that EARN has unilaterally
decided that I am no longer responsible for the operation of the LISTSERV
backbone, and that the people who ought to make that kind of decisions
are Alain Auroux, Michael Hebgen and a representative from FRMOP11. If
this decision has been made at some time, it was without my approval and
it has either not been published or been published in one of these
"public" documents that nobody knows where to find.
Until we do come to an agreement with EARN about the operation, support
and maintenance of LISTSERV on EARN, I am the "LMC" (LISTSERV Master
Coordinator) for both EARN and non-EARN sites. I am responsible for the
provision of files like PEERS NAMES and LINKSWT FILE to LISTSERV backbone
sites, and part of this responsibility is to decide who should be on the
backbone and who should not, in order to ensure a smooth operation of
mailing list distribution, of the DISTRIBUTE command, etc. If I had
allowed all the sites which sent back a registration form with
":backbone.YES" to be on the backbone, we would not have a backbone but a
MESS.
I will not restore FRMOP11 to the backbone unless the EARN BoD issues a
directive stating that the NOG is the entity responsible for deciding
which (EARN) sites should be on the backbone and which should not.
Eric
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