Since american.edu doesn't seem to be working any more, I have set about
making my own gateway.

I am afraid, however, that it will only be able to handle my own
list/newsgroup.

I thought, however, that I would post here what I have done and am doing so
that others out there can also make their own gateways.

*

The first thing I did was search for information on how other
newsgroups were moderated.  I found the Usenet Moderators Archive
<http://www.landfield.com/moderators/> and the NetNews Moderator's Handbook
<http://www.landfield.com/usenet/moderators/handbook/>  The abstract for
the handook says:

*

After determining that it was feasible, I sent out a request on my list and
newsgroup asking for help.  What I needed was a unix account with email and
usenet access, and someone who was able to write scripts/program in unix.
One member was able to give me an account on his linus server, and others
offered their services in building the gateway.

If you have a separate email account that you use to handle your list, it
may be a unix account and can be used to for the gateway.

"Technically, all that the <gateway> has to do is add an 'Approved'
header, and repost the article. The only thing that differentiates
an 'approved' from a 'non-approved' posting is the existence of the
'Approved:' header. The news transport will then accept it and transfer it
to other machines."

So, the set up would be:
1.  The list address is set up as the newsgroup moderator
    submission address and the Approved: address.  This allows
2.  The gateway is subscribed to the list and SET NORENEW
3.  The gateway takes email it receives, confirms it is from the
    list (via the Sender: line) and modifies the headers.  Then it
    puts it in the newsgroup. It now propagates in the normal
    Usenet manner.

Listowners do #1 and #2.  Unix experts do #3

Modifying the headers:
1.  Apparently some headers need to be stripped (see
    NetNews Moderator's Handbook Section 5).  The listserv
    does some of that, but not all of that.
2.  The listserv puts the correct Newsgroups: line in itself.
3.  The approval syntax is "Approved:listname@nodename
4.  Until the american.edu gateway is turned off, the Path: line
    needs to contain american.edu to prevent a loop from
    forming.
5.  I wont know what else needs to be looked at till the gateway
    is finished and functioning.

I hope this is helpful.

Mark

--
Mark Drake   [log in to unmask]