Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucsd!mvb.saic.com!dayvb!udcps3!ncrlnk!ncrstp!npdiss1!pasek
From: pasek@npdiss1.StPaul.NCR.COM (Michael A. Pasek)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Re: New Binary Distribution Method
Summary: Mail archive servers already exist
Keywords: comp.binaries.mac archive binaries
Message-ID: <657@npdiss1.StPaul.NCR.COM>
Date: 19 Oct 90 14:39:20 GMT
Expires: 25 Oct 90 23:00:00 GMT
References: <12240004@hpfcmgw.HP.COM>
Reply-To: pasek@c10sd3.StPaul.NCR.COM (M. A. Pasek)
Followup-To: comp.sys.mac.misc
Distribution: na
Organization: NCR Comten, Inc.
Lines: 76

In article <12240004@hpfcmgw.HP.COM> davea@hpfcmgw.HP.COM (Dave Arns) writes:
[text of message to Roger Long (c.b.m moderator) suggesting that Roger set
 up an archive of the c.b.m postings that can be accessed by mail requests]

>Sometimes though, I realize a need for a particular program days or weeks 
>after it has been removed from the postings, or, because of fumblefingers 

Do as I do:  It doesn't matter whether you think you'll need it....take it
anyway.  That way, if you decide "days or weeks" later that you need it, 
you'll have it.

>What do you think of this proposal:
>    o Set up an e-mail auto-respond program such that people could just mail
>      an electronic request to a particular address; the e-mail messages would
>      contain special text strings that identify available programs.

There are many mail servers that perform this function, although perhaps not
ALL the c.b.m postings will be available through these services.  If there is
NOT a site that has all the c.b.m postings, I think it would be easier for
all concerned (especially Roger) to expand the existing service(s) to include
ALL the c.b.m material, rather than to ask Roger to set up an archive server.

>    o Every week or so, post a message to comp.sys.mac.misc that gives a list
>      of all the binaries that are available, a brief description, and the

This would be nice, but I think the sheer size of such a list (for some of
the servers) would be prohibitive.  Perhaps a short "Archive Servers and
How to Use Them" every couple of weeks (somewhat like the "Anonymous FTP
LIST) would be helpful.  I could also see a list of the most recent 
additions (last couple of months' worth) to an archive, along with a brief
description, as being useful.

>    o If a requestor asked for a non-existent binary (either because of a
>      misspelling or because it has already been removed), the auto-responder
>      would send a mail message to that effect.  

I think the existing servers work this way.  I can't speak with authority
on these matters, since I've only sent one request to a server, and that
was just to get a list of what was available.

>I don't know whether the above scenario would work or be practical, but I
>think it would be very useful for many people.  It would be more of a "random
>access" method, as opposed to the "serial access" of comp.binaries.mac.  Once
>it was set up, the actual shipping of the binaries would be zero extra work,
>and because of the time savings there, maybe more binaries could be offered
>(assuming disk space exists...).  Also, people in charge of other archives
>might set up a similar distribution method.  This would be handy for people
>like me because, working at Hewlett-Packard, our Internet connection is a
>closed subnet (for security reasons), so I can't get to any of the apple.com
>or sumex archives.  But since e-mail works perfectly well, this would meet the
>need of such folks.

Although there may be some "time savings" (in the sense of HUMAN time), 
the machine usage would skyrocket, along with line costs (at least for Roger's
phone!).  Since you can't do FTP (we also have a "closed" subnet, but at
least our gateway allows us to do FTP/Telnet out, but no one can do either
coming in...), I suggest you try the server at Rice University (the only one
I can think of off the top of my head).

>If the above proposal is worth pursuing, I would be willing to be a alpha/beta
>tester, so as to get the bugs out of the system before being inundated with
>requests.
>What do you think?  Would it work?

I think this proposal would be much more warmly received if YOU had offered
to provide this "archive/mail server"  :-)  Sure, it would work, but I think
you're asking the wrong person/organization to do it....

>Thanks,
>Dave Arns

You're welcome.

M. A. Pasek               Software Development              NCR Comten, Inc.
(612) 638-7668              MNI Development               2700 N. Snelling Ave.
pasek@c10sd3.StPaul.NCR.COM                               Roseville, MN  55113