Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watnot!watmath!clyde!rutgers!husc6!bu-cs!tower From: tower@bu-cs.UUCP Newsgroups: comp.mail.uucp,news.sysadmin Subject: Re: old files in uucp map Message-ID: <5887@bu-cs.BU.EDU> Date: Mon, 30-Mar-87 15:31:54 EST Article-I.D.: bu-cs.5887 Posted: Mon Mar 30 15:31:54 1987 Date-Received: Wed, 1-Apr-87 01:33:59 EST References: <3481@cbosgd.ATT.COM> <21361@styx.UUCP> <43227@beno.seismo.CSS.GOV> <3491@cbosgd.ATT.COM> Reply-To: tower@bu-cs.bu.edu Organization: Distributed Systems Group, Boston University, 111 Cummington Street, Boston, MA 02215, USA +1 (617) 353-2780 Lines: 38 Xref: utgpu comp.mail.uucp:381 news.sysadmin:89 Home: 36 Porter Street, Somerville, MA 02143, USA +1 (617) 623-7739 I would like to reiterate a suggestion I made a while back about this old files in the uucp map problem. The suggestion is based on some assumptions, that appear to reflect the reality of the way people use the data, instead of the way the uucp map maintainers intend people to use the data. Note that I feel the map maintainers are doing a good job, otherwise. They are quite dedicated volunteers. Assumptions: - Admins have a minimum amount of time to maintain the map database. - At many sites, the map files are always stored in the same directory. - One of the reasons this is done is that map postings often are incomplete at many receiving sites, and admins prefer to have a database that is as complete as possible, so they set things up so they have can easily use the old files. Suggestion: - Filenames that are dead, be retained in the map distribution for a reasonable period of time (at least for 3 or 4 COMPLETE postings). Their contents should be replaced with a single comment line, saying that the file was declared dead on "date", and why. For example: # u.Foo.1 was replaced on 1 Feb 87 by filename u.Bar.1 This solves the problem, at low cost in usenet transmission costs and maintainer time. It also prevents problems, when old files aren't deleted at some sites. And will save the uucp map maintainers from having to post requests like <3481@cbosgd.ATT.COM>, which will take months for some sites to implement. enjoy -len -- Len Tower, Distributed Systems Group, Boston University, 111 Cummington Street, Boston, MA 02215, USA +1 (617) 353-2780 Home: 36 Porter Street, Somerville, MA 02143, USA +1 (617) 623-7739 UUCP: {}!harvard!bu-cs!tower INTERNET: tower@bu-cs.bu.edu