Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!lll-crg!nike!ll-xn!topaz!packard!gjm
From: gjm@packard.UUCP (Gary J. Murakami)
Newsgroups: net.news,net.news.adm
Subject: Re: ihnp4 problems
Message-ID: <509@packard.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 25-Aug-86 18:45:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: packard.509
Posted: Mon Aug 25 18:45:23 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 25-Aug-86 21:55:56 EDT
References: <782@laidbak.UUCP>
Reply-To: gjm@packard.UUCP (59455-GJ Murakami)
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Liberty Corner
Lines: 29
Keywords: ihnp4 seismo mail
Xref: mnetor net.news:1989 net.news.adm:657

In article <782@laidbak.UUCP> miker@laidbak.UUCP writes:
>...  ihnp4 has a tendency to bounce mail with a message about
>failing to contact the remote machine.

ihnp4 is doing its best to deliver huge amounts of mail and news with
limited cycles, modems, administration, etc.  It's often the case that
it can't get around to a site simply due to lack of resources.

Some neighboring sites have small windows for availability.  If ihnp4
doesn't get them during that period, you get increments of 24 hour
delays to the next time window.

Many neighboring sites change their access and failed to notify ihnp4. 
Out of 1400 or so links, 100-200 appear defective.  A couple of years
ago, I used to fix a few links daily by tracking down errant system
administrators, but you can guess how fun this was.

>...  I wouldn't consider this too much of a problem
>except that the failure rate is quite high (about 1/3 of my mail
>gets bounced).  I realize email isn't completely reliable, but even
>the post office does better than this.
>----------
>Mike Roth  -  ihnp4!laidbak!miker

I'm sure ihnp4 could do better if everyone donated $.22 or so for each
piece of mail (or news) that they routed through ihnp4.  I wonder how
well USnail would run if you didn't have to pay for it.

-Gary