A new database will be made available on LISTSERV with the next release. It is called PEERS and contains information about all the EARN/BITNET LISTSERV hosts (ie information from the PEERS NAMES file). It will be provided only by backbone servers. Non-backbone LISTSERVs will point you to the nearest backbone one, as with the LISTS database. The PEERS database is very similar with the BITEARN one. Notably, the 'reports' it provides are the same: ADDRESS TECHDESC CONTACT ALL ASIS. The available search keywords are: - USERID, NODEID: userid and node of the network LISTSERV machine. - VERSION: (last reported) version of LISTSERV at this node (eg '1.5n'). - COUNTRY: same as BITEARN (eg 'USA', 'F'). - SOFTWARE: (reported) operating system. Must be one of 'VM/SP xxx', 'VM/HPO xxx' or 'VM/XA xxx'. - BACKBONE, DIST1, DIST2, LISTS/LISTDB: "boolean" fields (true='Y', false='-') indicating whether or not the server is on the backbone, accepts DIST1 jobs, accepts DIST2 jobs and provides the LISTS database, respectively (LISTDB is a synonym for LISTS). Note that value-synonyms are provided for these fields, so that you may search for 'DIST1=NO' or 'BACKBONE=YES'. However, the INDEX will always show 'Y' and '-'. Examples of index and report output are included below. Please note that the 'Ref' field is merely the DATABASE entry number, and has nothing to do with the LISTSERV internal 'server number' (which is defined in the ':nick.' field of each entry). *----------------------------------------------------------------------------* > s * in peers where system contains hpo and backbone=yes --> Database PEERS, 11 hits. > index Ref Nodeid Version Software Backbone Dist-1 Dist-2 LISTS --- ------ ------- -------- -------- ------ ------ ----- 018 AKRONVM 1.5n VM/HPO 4.2 Y - - - 019 TAMVM1 1.5n VM/HPO 4.2 Y Y Y - 024 AWIIMC11 1.5n VM/HPO 4.2 Y Y Y - 049 BOSTONU 1.5n VM/HPO 4.2 Y Y Y - 057 MAINE 1.5n VM/HPO 4.2 Y Y Y Y 076 QUCDN 1.5n VM/HPO 4.2 Y Y Y - 085 YALEVM 1.5n VM/HPO 4.2 Y Y Y - 086 UAFSYSB 1.5n VM/HPO 4.2 Y Y Y - 087 ECUVM1 1.5n VM/HPO 4.2 Y Y Y - 100 UMRVMB 1.5n VM/HPO 5 Y Y Y Y 101 UWAVM 1.5n VM/HPO 5 Y Y Y - (...) > p tech contact addr >>> Item number 43, dated 88/04/27 22:11:09 -- TECH LEHIIBM1 is an IBM 4381-13 running VM/SP 4. LISTSERV@LEHIIBM1 runs release 1.5n of LISTSERV. It is a member of the backbone and accepts DISTRIBUTE (DIST1/DIST2) jobs. It provides the full LISTS (list of lists) database. Note: Only for local use at the present time >>> Item number 43, dated 88/04/27 22:11:09 22:11:09 -- CONTACT LISTSERV maintainer: Jim Eshleman <LUJCE@LEHIIBM1> In case of emergency, you can also contact: LUJCE@LEHIIBM1 MAINT@LEHIIBM1 >>> Item number 43, dated 88/04/27 22:11:09 22:11:09 22:11:09 -- ADDR Lehigh University, Bethlehem Pa *----------------------------------------------------------------------------* Eric