Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!coplex!dean
From: dean@coplex.UUCP (Dean Brooks)
Newsgroups: comp.mail.uucp
Subject: Re: What use is Trailblazer compression?
Keywords: uucp, Trailblazer, LZW, data compression
Message-ID: <171@coplex.UUCP>
Date: 5 Jul 90 19:26:18 GMT
References: <1990Jul4.195351.9324@tsa.co.uk>
Organization: Copper Electronics Inc.; Louisville, Ky
Lines: 28

domo@tsa.co.uk (Dominic Dunlop) writes:

>Is Trailblazer compress any use with uucp for mail transfer?  Although I'm
>pretty sure it would be counter-productive with compressed news batches, is
>there likely to be any increase in throughput if I have my Trailblazer
>attempt to negotiate compression when exchanging plaintext mail with sites
>which are not newsfeeds?

   You are correct about the compressed news batches not gaining any
performance.  In fact, on compressed files, it could actually hinder
performance.  However, on plain ascii files, you will gain whatever
compression ratio, their algorithm is able to achieve.  I would guess
around 30% increase, if you are able to get a 30% compression ratio. In
most instances, it could only speed the transmission time, not slow it
down (unless you are transferring binary files).

> Has anybody run tests?  Was it a win?

Unfortunately I havent ever used compression, as we mainly transfer batched
compressed news.  However, if you transfer mostly plain ascii files, I would
highly recommend its usage; try it for a while, see what performance changes
you get on transferring the same files.

--
dean@coplex.UUCP   Dean A. Brooks
                   Copper Electronics, Inc.
                   Louisville, Ky
UUCP: !uunet!coplex!dean