Newsgroups: news.software.b
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!yale.edu!cmcl2!panix!alexis
From: alexis@panix.uucp (Alexis Rosen)
Subject: Backup newsfeed plans
Message-ID: <1991Jun28.112207.939@panix.uucp>
Date: Fri, 28 Jun 91 11:22:07 GMT
Organization: PANIX - Public Access Unix Systems of NY

We feed from a large site that we're generally very happy with. We have no
need for another feed on a regular basis- they supply us with everything.
 
But 2 or 3 times a year they'll go down for a few days. At such points, the
newsflow stops and when it restarts, it takes a while to catch up. Then there's
a 60MB hump in the newsflow that brings us close to the edge (or maybe even
over) on our news partition. Yuck.
 
What we'd like to do is set up a backup feed. Can anyone think of any serious
problems with the following plan?

1) Set up software so that news can flow in both directions, then turn off
   batching. Have the backup admin do the same.
2) Watch for newsfeed failure.
3) When it fails, send a message asking the backup feed's admin to turn on
   batching.
4) When first newsfeed starts up again have remote turn off batching.

There are a few details. You could turn off polling the backup except when
the primary feed is down. Or you could call them all the time, but only
use them for outbound news, for quicker news propagation.

More importantly (in terms of this being acceptable to the remote admin) you
could reduce the remote admin's headache level by writing a few scripts that
entirely automate his end of the deal. He could set up a mail alias that
you could send start and stop messages to that would turn batching on and off.

You could also automate your end. Have a cron job that checks recent news
activity, and if there is none, automatically start up the backup feed. It
could as easily turn it off again when the primary come back on line.

Are there any major holes in this plan? I know that there will be LOTS of
duplicate news from the primary when it comes back online (unless it was
crashed, not just modem-dead), but that's OK. We'd also miss up to a day's
worth of news but that's a lot better than nothing. And I know about ihave/
sendme and I can't use it- it's too much to ask for, and too costly, for a
setup that will be used maybe 2-3 times a year.

BTW, while I'm asking, is there a site in New York City (718 or 212 area codes)
that's willing to do something like this for us, if we do the work? We have
a telebit and will do all the calling.

Thanks,
---
Alexis Rosen
Owner/Sysadmin, PANIX Public Access Unix, NY
alexis@panix.com
{cmcl2,apple}!panix!alexis