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Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 ggr 10/10/85; site packard.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!ihnp4!packard!gjm
From: gjm@packard.UUCP (Gary J. Murakami)
Newsgroups: net.mail
Subject: Re: cant send mail to osu-eddie AUGH!
Message-ID: <377@packard.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 14-Dec-85 19:44:22 EST
Article-I.D.: packard.377
Posted: Sat Dec 14 19:44:22 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 15-Dec-85 06:58:08 EST
References: <33@drutx.UUCP> <1987@akgua.UUCP>
Reply-To: gjm@packard.UUCP (59455-GJ Murakami)
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Liberty Corner
Lines: 31
Summary: 


While I am no longer officially supporting ihnp4, I check on its status
occationally.  In this case, a test to osu-eddie resulted in "login
failed."  Somehow ihnp4!action didn't get (or maybe install) an update
for login/password changes at osu-eddie.

FYI, ihnp4 has over 1500 connections and over 200 (13%) of the
connections are broken!

Some of these "broken" connections are new and ihnp4 just hasn't been
able to get around to testing them.  Some of the problems (1-2 dozen)
are due to the REMOTE REJECT YOU ARE UNKNOWN TO ME problem that comes as
the default "secure" configuration for HDB UUCP as mentioned by Lindsay.

But by far, most of the problems are due to poor administration, e.g.
administrators that dont send in updates for changes and dont return
phone calls ( - note that ihnp4 hasn't changed its public access
connection information in years).

I used to make/answer a many dozens of phone calls and mail messages a
week to try to fix broken connections.   Even with that effort, there
were over 100 bad connections at any given time. Currently, Kathy
Andrews <ihnp4!action> juggles a multiple person job just handling the
phone and mail updates from administrators.

Entropy?  If that is a term applicable to a small mail/UUCP site, how do
you describe a major mail/UUCP gateway?  A paradox?  A singularity?

... More like a cross between a star and a black hole ... :-)

-Gary