REPLY TO 04/03/89 08:23 FROM [log in to unmask] "Revised LISTSERV forum": Re: Two more ( NETWIDE commands >That was never questioned, the problem is CPU time on sites which are not >commited to provide service to the network, rather than network load. > > Eric Eric, perhaps this is an area where a combination of centralized and decentralized processing could provide the best of both worlds. How about system of centralized inverted files, that is, sorted by user id rather than list name, being shipped to regional central processors once a day where they would be merged to form a complete record of all the lists for a given user. Each local listserv would of course need to know who it's regional server was but I doubt that would be a big problem. Global requests sent to any local listser would be redirected to the regional server. The response could include a reminder that global directories are only updated once a day and might not reflect signon/signoff activity within the last 24 hours. Most global commands do not require a database that's accurate to the minute as they are often cleanup activities anyway. /June To: [log in to unmask]