On Mon, 3 Oct 1994 17:36:23 CST Bill Harvey <[log in to unmask]> said: >If I could rephrase the question slightly: Has LSoft given any thought >to implementing a BITEARN-NODES-independent way to do this kind of >thing? There's nothing wrong with the :newnode approach, except that >it's not very useful for non-BITNET members. But the ":newnode concept" >is still a significant problem for the Internet as a whole. That's true, but I'm afraid it's a problem the Internet has to solve. The BITEARN NODES file is maintained by a number of NJE providers (not L-Soft), where NJE sites can centrally register that they are about to change a name or leave BITNET. LISTSERV can then use that information, because it is available. Similarly, the Internet could develop a structure whereby people can register name changes with their IP providers, or maybe a DNS extension. LISTSERV could then, at least in theory, use the information. But somehow the network manager has to take the initiative to register it, and someone has to have the authority and manpower to make this registration and make the information available. If L-Soft designed some mechanism to register new addresses with L-Soft, we would just collect bad press and not solve the problem, because most people would not know about it, and if they knew they would whine about non-standard proprietary solutions and not take advantage of it. Of course, sites that do use LISTSERV would use it. But the problems are usually with recipients at other sites. BYU, for instance, doesn't run LISTSERV. Eric