Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!uwm.edu!rpi!clarkson!news
From: ahd@kendra.kew.com (Drew Derbyshire)
Newsgroups: comp.mail.misc
Subject: Re: list server program, easy..
Message-ID: <1990Oct6.140936.7394@news.clarkson.edu>
Date: 6 Oct 90 14:09:36 GMT
References: <1990Oct5.150135.26313@maths.tcd.ie>
Sender: ahd@clutx.clarkson.edu (Drew Derbyshire)
Reply-To: ahd@kendra.kew.com (Drew Derbyshire)
Organization: Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY
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From article <1990Oct5.150135.26313@maths.tcd.ie>, by tim@maths.tcd.ie (Timothy Murphy):
> The program as it stands is what might be called a mail-server --
> it allows people to 'subscribe' to a mailing-list.
> 
> I must say I was surprised to find 
> that almost all the existing list-servers run on IBM machines.
> They run more or less standard software,
> serving both the functions described above.

That's because BITNET, an IBM NJE protocol based network, has as a high
percentage of IBM boxes as USENET has UNIX boxes, and the Revised
LISTSERV processor was written for Bitnet by a Frenchman, Eric Thomas,
in Paris.  It's widely accepted on BITNET bewcause getting files is
harder than the Internet (no FTP- effectively, all personal and public
files are mailed), but cheaper than USENET (because BITNET links
normally use dedicated telephone lines, sending as much data as fits is as
cheap as not using the line).  Given that many USENET hosts pick up the
costs for for each call (and length therefore), running a list server
can easily involve real costs.