HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Newsgroups: news.software.anu-news
Subject: New newsgroups problem and fix in 6.1b5 
From: kacovert@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu (Kent Covert)
Date: 13 Dec 92 15:57:44 -0500
Organization: Miami University Academic Computer Service"

I believe that I have found a bug in NEWS61b5, although someone else may have
already found it.

After new groups are added, users get a message signifying that a new newsgroup
has appeared, but then the program gets in an infinite loop that can only be
cancelled by control-Y.

After looking over the code, I found the following problem.  In the function
profile_read() in the NEWSPROFILE.C file, there is the following code...

      grprab.rab$l_rop = RAB$M_RRL | RAB$M_NLK;
      grprab.rab$b_krf = 0;
      grprab.rab$b_rac = RAB$C_SEQ;
      sys$rewind(&grprab);
      while (sys$get(&grprab) & 1) {
        if (!newsgrp.grp_num) continue;
        if (newsgrp.grp_credate >= sys_reg_time) reggroup(newsgrp.grp_name);
        }

This shows that the groups file is being read sequentially, but in
reggroup() there is a call to read_group() which reads the file using a key. 
Therefore, when this code returns from reggroup, the sys$get function keeps
reading the same record over and over again.

With this in mind, I changed the code to the following:

      grprab.rab$l_rop = RAB$M_RRL | RAB$M_NLK;
      grprab.rab$b_krf = 0;
      grprab.rab$b_rac = RAB$C_SEQ;
      sys$rewind(&grprab);
      while (sys$get(&grprab) & 1) {
        if (!newsgrp.grp_num) continue;
        if (newsgrp.grp_credate >= sys_reg_time) {
          reggroup(newsgrp.grp_name);
          grprab.rab$b_rac = RAB$C_SEQ;
          }
        }

this causes subsequent reads to be done in a sequential fashion and seems to fix
the problem.

Has this problem already been found, and if so, where can people find patches
for problems such as this?  In addition, does anyone know how far away we are
from a final version of 6.1?

-- 
                                     Kent Covert, Software Coordinator
                                     Miami Computing and Information Services
                                     Miami University, Oxford, OH
                                     kacovert@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu  (internet)
                                     kacovert@miavx1                 (bitnet)
From: sloane@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (Bob Sloane)
Newsgroups: news.software.anu-news
Subject: Re: 4584 items in JUNK...
Date: 11 Dec 92 16:06:31 CST
Followup-To: news.software.anu-news
Distribution: world
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services

In article <Don.Rainwater-101292125406@ucrain.san.uc.edu>,
 Don.Rainwater@UC.Edu (Don Rainwater) writes:
>         Well, I received an answer VERY QUICKLY from Harry Flowers of
> Memphis State University.  It turns out that there's a qualifier for the
> ADD FILE command called /NOJUNK, which tells news to discard 'unacceptable'
> articles instead of putting them in the JUNK newsgroup.  Thanks, Harry.

I wouldn't recommend using /NOJUNK unless you are SURE that you don't
want any of the articles in the junk group.  If articles are ending up
in junk, it means that there is some problem with your configuration.
Either your feed is sending you groups you do not want or it is
sending you distributions you do not want, or you haven't created
groups or distributions that you do want.  A few articles in junk is
reasonable, but several thousand per day isn't.  Either you are
discarding articles you want, or you are transmitting articles you
don't want. Either way, you should probably do something about it.
-- 
USmail: Bob Sloane, University of Kansas Computer Center, Lawrence, KS, 66045
E-mail: sloane@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu, sloane@ukanvax.bitnet, AT&T: (913)864-0444
From: easmwei@ube.ub.umd.edu
Newsgroups: news.software.anu-news
Subject: More help setting up outgoing NNTP feed
Date: 17 Dec 92 03:27:56 GMT
Organization: University of Baltimore

In article <1992Dec15.082919.45653@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>, 
                      sloane@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (Bob Sloane) writes:
> In article <17540@umd5.umd.edu>, easmwei@ube.ub.umd.edu writes:
>> I am having trouble getting an outgoing NNTP feed working using NNTP_XMIT
>> with UCX.
> 
> You probably need the following patch.
> -- 

Thanks, that was part of the problem. NNTP_XMIT now appears to be
communicating with the remote system, but all IDs "offered" are now being
logged as "failed". Could this be a problem at the remote NNTP server or
do I have something configured wrong.

Again the command I am using to send is:

   $nntp_xmit haven.umd.edu tcp news_manager_dev:[ihave_haven]collect.ids -
   _$ nntp_xmit.log nntp_xmit.debug

and now returns the following in the logfiles:

nntp_xmit.log:
15 Dec 92 21:27:50  ube.ub.umd.edu: nntpxmit: haven.umd.edu 1 offered, 
                                0 accepted, 0 rejected, 1 failed, 0 expired

nntp_xmit.debug:
X> Try open channel to remote node
X> IHAVE <1992Dec15.212616.23@ube.ub.umd.edu><500>

My NEWS.SYS looks like this:
me:to.ube,world,news,americast,ub,nptn,\
local,junk,control,general,vmsnet
haven:to.haven,vmsnet,news:N:NEWS_MANAGER_DEV/[IHAVE_HAVEN]COLLECT.IDS

The article in the logs was posted (locally) to vmsnet.test. If it was
a problem with the remote NNTP server's NEWS.SYS wouldn't the log have
reported the "failed" article as "rejected" instead?

George Weitzel
University of Baltimore
george@ube.ub.umd.edu
Xref: sparky news.software.anu-news:1676 vmsnet.mail.mx:1198
From: bg@dymaxion.ns.ca
Newsgroups: news.software.anu-news,vmsnet.mail.mx
Subject: MX->ANU-News gateway missing message-id's
Date: 18 Dec 92 08:48:36 AST
Organization: Dymaxion Research Limited, NS, Canada

I've been having problems with the MX -> News gateway.  The site
deliver log looks fine, but most of the NEWSGATE work files never make
it into the local news database.  I never seem to see any error
messages from the Anu-News Add file/delete NEWSGATE*.BATCH command
when I run my skim procedure in batch, but if I try to save copies of
the same NEWSGATE batch files and then add them interactively,
Anu-News complains that these messages are missing message-id's.  Is
this just me, or am I using a bad version of the gateway?  The really
strange thing is, occasionaly, a message actually does make it into
the database.
--
Ben Armstrong, Software Development                  bus: (902)422-1973
Dymaxion Research Ltd.,                              fax: (902)421-1267
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3J 1R2            Internet: bg@dymaxion.ns.ca
Newsgroups: news.software.anu-news
Subject: RE: Spreading News over multiple platters
From: Doug Saunders <CC007001@WVNVMS.BITNET>
Date: 15 Dec 1992 11:01:41 -0500
Reply-To: Doug Saunders <CC007001@WVNVMS.BITNET>
X-VMS-To: IN%"ANU-NEWS@NDSUVM1.BITNET"
X-VMS-Cc: CC007001
MIME-version: 1.0
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT

>In article <1992Dec14.164132.686@totaltec.com>, mark@totaltec.com writes:
>> Is there anyway to spread the actual news files over more than one disk?
>
>Yes. I do:
>
>$ DEFINE/SYSTEM/EXEC              NEWS_ROOT        DUA4:[NEWSMGR.DATA]
>$ DEFINE/SYSTEM/EXEC/TRANS=(conc) NEWS_DEVICE      DUA4:[NEWSMGR.DATA.]
>$ DEFINE/SYSTEM/EXEC              NEWS_MANAGER     DUA6:[NEWSMGR.MANAGER]
>$ DEFINE/SYSTEM/EXEC/TRANS=(conc) NEWS_MANAGER_DEV DUA6:[NEWSMGR.MANAGER.]
>
>I suspect that you could put all four on different devices, although I
>haven't actually tried it.
 
We have also added a logical NEWS_INDEX_FILES, made the appropriate changes
in the code, and moved the NEWS.GROUPS and NEWS.ITEMS files to a different
drive.
 
Doug Saunders
West Va. Network for Ed. Telecomputing
Newsgroups: news.software.anu-news
From: XMBS_GH@debet.nhh.no (Gunnar Helliesen)
Subject: ADD FILE problem (importing newsitems)
Organization: MBS Fjerndata AS, Bergen Norway
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 22:06:14 GMT
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.24

I have the following setup for my "newsfeed":

I extract all newsitems from a newsgroup to a file on a remote VMS system 
running VMS NEWS V1.24. The newsitems are stored sequentially into the file 
with headers and all. I then mail this file to my own VMS system where I 
run ANU NEWS V6.0-3.

I then extract this mail to a local file and run the following command:

$ NEWS/NOSCREEN add file NEWS_VMS.TMP/CREGRP/RETRY/DELETE

This works fine, except for the following problem:

The newsitems are put into the correct newsgroups, but not all items are 
separated from the preceeding item. In other words, I sometimes get two or 
three newsitems added into a newsgroup in ANU NEWS as *one* newsitem. :-(

I've tried to look at these items' headers, but I can't find anything wrong 
with them (although there must be something).

Any ideas? What should I look for? Hints appreciated!



Please reply via e-mail. Thanks!

-- Gunnar

/------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
| Gunnar Helliesen, Support/Tech. Manager, MBS Fjerndata AS, Bergen, Norway    |
| INTERNET: xmbs_gh@debet.nhh.no        PHONE: Intl + 47 5 34 38 00            |
| From APPLELINK: add "@INTERNET#"      FAX: Intl + 47 5 34 56 90              |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| "The Universe is old enough and big enough to take care of itself"           |
|  - Douglas Adams in 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy'                    |
\------------------------------------------------------------------------------/
From: rand@lucy.merrimack.edu
Newsgroups: news.software.anu-news
Subject: Wierd distribution problems
Date: 18 Dec 92 14:52:36 GMT
Reply-To: rand@lucy.merrimack.edu ()
Organization: "Silicon Surfers, Inc."

, 18 09:52:36 19929209:52:36 1992EST GMTLines: 11


I've had a couple of comments from people here. They claim they post items
and no one in the US ever sees them. People outside the US do but no one
in the US. Any clues why this might be happening?


--
Rand P. Hall, System Janitor, Merrimack College, North Andover, Massachusetts
Internet: rand@merrimack.edu, rand@lucy.merrimack.edu
\  /\  /\  /\  /\____________________________________________________________  
 \/  \/  \/  \/     Abortion stops a beating heart
Newsgroups: news.software.anu-news
Subject: When to prevent users running ANU-NEWS
From: mgoddard@ehd.hwc.ca (Michael Goddard)
Date: 11 Dec 92 14:10:44 
Distribution: world
Organization: Health and Welfare, Canada

I'd like to know for which regular NEWS tasks one should bar users
from reading or posting news.

I'm thinking primarily of the regular SKIM run and the CONVERT runs.
I understand that one should preferably convert to a file with a
different name and rename files after the convert runs, and I do that
now.  In that case, can convert run in a batch queue as users read or
post to the news?  

And similarly, can one run a skim in a batch while users read and
possibly post to news.

We have just added newsgroups and overnight maintenance is not always
complete by the time users start accessing news the next day.

Any pointers would be useful.

                                                   ....[MIchael]

p.s. As skim and convert are all part of the big command file, I never
NNTP_XMIT while a skim or convert is running...does NEWS_STOP affect
any other aspect of the service?


-- 
MGODDARD@EHD.HWC.CA : Michael Goddard : (613) 954-0169 : Fax (613) 952-9798
B9, Environmental Health Centre, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, Canada,  K1A 0L2
From: easmwei@ube.ub.umd.edu
Newsgroups: news.software.anu-news
Subject: Help setting up outgoing NNTP feed
Date: 14 Dec 92 19:41:36 GMT
Reply-To: easmwei@ube.ub.umd.edu
Organization: University of Baltimore, Baltimore,MD

I am having trouble getting an outgoing NNTP feed working using NNTP_XMIT
with UCX. I currently am receiving an NNTP feed via UCX with no problems
and the NNTP_CLIENT works ok. Trying to  initiate an NNTP_XMIT session
with the command:

   $nntp_xmit haven.umd.edu tcp news_manager_dev:[ihave_haven]collect.ids -
   _$ nntp_xmit.log nntp_xmit.debug

returns the following in the logfiles:

nntp_xmit.log:
10 Dec 92 14:19:25  ube.ub.umd.edu: nntpxmit: haven.umd.edu,
                               Error: Connection lost, transfer aborted.

nntp_xmit.debug:
X> Try open channel to remote node
Net: Could not open network channel
Cannot connect to node, retry: <1992Dec10.141758.20@ube.ub.umd.edu>

My NEWS.SYS looks like this:
me:to.ube,world,news,americast,ub,nptn,\
local,junk,control,general,vmsnet
haven:to.haven,vmsnet,news:N:NEWS_MANAGER_DEV/[IHAVE_HAVEN]COLLECT.IDS


Using VMS 5.4-3, UCX 1.3, VMS-NEWS 6.0-3 built with UCXQIO interface (also
tried UCXSOCKET interface with no luck).

Thanks for any wisdom shared,

George Weitzel
Network Manager
University of Baltimore
george@ube.ub.umd.edu
Newsgroups: news.software.anu-news
Subject: news.aliases
From: bonds@aedc-vax.af.mil
Date: 16 Dec 92 10:57:07 -0600
Organization: Arnold Engineering Development Center

I need to obtain a copy of the news.aliases template.  I either did not
get it with the distribution set or it has long since been deleted.  Could
someone please mail this to me.

Thank you.

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lynne Bonds    Bonds@aedc-vax.af.mil
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: fairfield@slacvx.slac.stanford.edu
Subject: Re: SET PROFILE/FASTLOAD Option
Organization: Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 19:45:08 GMT

In article <1992Dec14.085635@ulci20.unil.ch>, dhenchoz@ulci20.unil.ch (Daniel HENCHOZ) writes:
> I've selected the SET PROFILE/FASLOAD Option in my
> NEWSRC. file to speed up the starting of the news program
> on my VAX system. But now how can I proceed if I want to
> see all the unregistered newsgroups to select a new one ??
> I've tried: DIR/UNREGISTTER; I receive the message 
> Connecting to server @ ulci20.unil.ch (using TCP [Multinet])
> Retrieving newsgroups:......................
> But even if I give the REFRESH command it doesn't appear any
> unsubscibed newsgroup on my screen !
> Any help would be aprreciated! We are running ANU-NEWS
> version V6.0-3. Thanks in advance.

    The only way to accomplish this (seeing all newsgroups) is to have
TWO newsrc files, e.g. NEWSRC. and NEWSRC.FULL, where you've created
the former using /FASTLOAD, and the latter without.  When you want to
see all the newsgroups, exit news.  Then at DCL, do:

	$ DEFINE/USER NEWSRC NEWSRC.FULL
	$ ANEWS

That will access NEWSRC.FULL for the duration of running ANEWS (or whatever
symbol you use to invoke news), but will revert back to your "fastload"
newsrc for subsequent sessions.

    To add new groups to your fastload version, just edit them in by hand,
either by copying the corresponding entry in NEWSRC.FULL to NEWSRC., or
by adding a line that looks like the following:

	new.news.group: (1)

where you replace "new.news.group" with the actual name of the newsgroup
in question.  BTW, "deregistered" groups in NEWSRC.FULL appear with "(0)"
following the newsgroup name, rathern than "(1)".  You'll need to change
any (0)'s to (1)'s or they'll just disappear from your fastload version.

    Note that once you've deregistered a group (either on purpose or by
accidently hitting the REMOVE key in the newsgroups directory screen :-( ),
the group disappears "forever" from your fastload newsrc.  The only way
to get it back is by hand-editing it in...

-- 
 Dr. Kenneth H. Fairfield    |  Internet: Fairfield@Slac.Stanford.Edu
 SLAC, P.O.Box 4349, MS 98   |  DECnet:   45537::FAIRFIELD (45537=SLACVX)
 Stanford, CA   94309        |  BITNET    Fairfield@Slacvx
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 These opinions are mine, not SLAC's, Stanford's, nor the DOE's...
Newsgroups: news.software.anu-news
Subject: problems with NNTP feed
From: Rich Ibbotson <ibbotson@NSRL31.NSRL.ROCHESTER.EDU>
Date: 17 Dec 1992 13:40:26 -0500 (EST)
Reply-To: Rich Ibbotson <ibbotson@NSRL31.NSRL.ROCHESTER.EDU>
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT

Hi everyone,
 
  I've just been trying to install ANU-News version 6.1 on a vax cluster
running VMS A5.5, with almost all newsgroups being served remotely from a
SUN via NNTP.  Anything that accesses the remote database seems to be taking
far longer than it should.  Defining a newsgroup as remotely served (using
UCX tcp/ip) takes between 1 and 3 minutes _per_newsgroup_.  Also, a skim
command (I'm using skim/nofilecheck, although I don't know if that matters
in this case) takes about a minute per group.   With about 1600 groups, this
will literally take all day to update our database.
 
  I have been told that it has been putting a considerable load on the
server machine, so it doesn't seem to be any strange delay on the client end
of things.  Can anyone offer any advice?
 
Thanks in advance,
Rich
 
Ibbotson@nsrl.rochester.edu      (Nuclear Structure Research Lab)
Ibbotson@uornsrl.bitnet
(716) 275-8961
From: sloane@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (Bob Sloane)
Newsgroups: news.software.anu-news
Subject: Re: When to prevent users running ANU-NEWS
Date: 14 Dec 92 16:39:08 CST
Distribution: world
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services

In article <1992Dec11.141046.491@hpb.hwc.ca>,
 mgoddard@ehd.hwc.ca (Michael Goddard) writes:
> I'd like to know for which regular NEWS tasks one should bar users
> from reading or posting news.

You need to lock users out of NEWS to CONVERT the database, but not
for SKIM operations.

> p.s. As skim and convert are all part of the big command file, I never
> NNTP_XMIT while a skim or convert is running...does NEWS_STOP affect
> any other aspect of the service?

The theory is that NEWS_STOP shuts down any process accessing
HISTORY.V60, NEWS.ITEMS and NEWS.GROUPS.
-- 
USmail: Bob Sloane, University of Kansas Computer Center, Lawrence, KS, 66045
E-mail: sloane@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu, sloane@ukanvax.bitnet, AT&T: (913)864-0444
From: sloane@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (Bob Sloane)
Newsgroups: news.software.anu-news
Subject: Re: More help setting up outgoing NNTP feed
Date: 17 Dec 92 09:49:21 CST
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services

In article <1992Dec16.222756.1@ube.ub.umd.edu>, easmwei@ube.ub.umd.edu writes:
> Thanks, that was part of the problem. NNTP_XMIT now appears to be
> communicating with the remote system, but all IDs "offered" are now being
> logged as "failed". Could this be a problem at the remote NNTP server or
> do I have something configured wrong.
...
> X> Try open channel to remote node
> X> IHAVE <1992Dec15.212616.23@ube.ub.umd.edu><500>

500 is supposed to be "command not recognized."  Ask the administrator
of the remote system to look at the log files and see what command the
server doesn't like. You could also try:

$ TELNET haven.umd.edu 119    ! (or use NNTP_CLIENT)
...
ihave <1@test>

and see what happens.  If you get 500 ... back, then there is a
problem on the remote server, and there should be some text with the
message that will give you some information about what is going on.
-- 
USmail: Bob Sloane, University of Kansas Computer Center, Lawrence, KS, 66045
E-mail: sloane@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu, sloane@ukanvax.bitnet, AT&T: (913)864-0444
From: connelly@iscsvax.uni.edu (Ken Connelly)
Newsgroups: news.software.anu-news
Subject: Re: Spreading News over multiple platters
Date: 15 Dec 92 09:31:11 -0600
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

In article <1992Dec14.164132.686@totaltec.com>, mark@totaltec.com writes:
> Hello everyone,
> 
> Is there anyway to spread the actual news files over more than one disk?
> Any replies would be appreciated.

Probably *not* what you had in mind, but disk striping or bound volume sets
come to mind.  I know of no way to split the database using logical names
or something similar.  If you have not moved the index files (NEWS.ITEMS,
NEWS.GROUPS, HISTORY.V60) off the disk with the news database, you should
do that, i.e., NEWS_ROOT and NEWS_DEVICE should point to different devices. 
Performance will improve significantly.

-- 
===========================================================================
Ken Connelly, Systems/Operations Manager         Internet: connelly@uni.edu
Information Systems and Computing Services
University of Northern Iowa                       USWestNet: (319) 273-2357
Cedar Falls, IA  50614-0121                             FAX: (319) 273-3509
As time goes on, it becomes more and more apparent that elected officials 
should be required to pass a competency test.  Then we wouldn't have any, 
and all would be right with the world!
===========================================================================
From: sloane@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (Bob Sloane)
Newsgroups: news.software.anu-news
Subject: Re: SET PROFILE/FASTLOAD Option
Date: 14 Dec 92 16:46:18 CST
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services

In article <1992Dec14.085635@ulci20.unil.ch>,
 dhenchoz@ulci20.unil.ch (Daniel HENCHOZ) writes:
> I've selected the SET PROFILE/FASLOAD Option in my
> NEWSRC. file to speed up the starting of the news program
> on my VAX system. But now how can I proceed if I want to
> see all the unregistered newsgroups to select a new one ??

NEWS> SET PROFILE/NOFASTLOAD
NEWS> EXIT
$ NEWS
-- 
USmail: Bob Sloane, University of Kansas Computer Center, Lawrence, KS, 66045
E-mail: sloane@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu, sloane@ukanvax.bitnet, AT&T: (913)864-0444
From: mark@totaltec.com
Newsgroups: news.software.anu-news
Subject: Spreading News over multiple platters
Date: 14 Dec 92 21:41:32 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Total Tec Systems, Inc.

Hello everyone,

Is there anyway to spread the actual news files over more than one disk?
Any replies would be appreciated.

Please e-mail me at mark@totaltec.com
Thanks
Mark Remeta
From: vcooper@pimacc.pima.edu (Vanya J Cooper)
Newsgroups: news.software.anu-news
Subject: Re: Spreading News over multiple platters
Date: 15 Dec 92 23:36:37 GMT
Distribution: usa

In article <1992Dec15.083654.45656@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>, sloane@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (Bob Sloane) writes:
> In article <1992Dec14.164132.686@totaltec.com>, mark@totaltec.com writes:
>> Is there anyway to spread the actual news files over more than one disk?
> 
> Yes. I do:
> 
> $ DEFINE/SYSTEM/EXEC              NEWS_ROOT        DUA4:[NEWSMGR.DATA]
> $ DEFINE/SYSTEM/EXEC/TRANS=(conc) NEWS_DEVICE      DUA4:[NEWSMGR.DATA.]
> $ DEFINE/SYSTEM/EXEC              NEWS_MANAGER     DUA6:[NEWSMGR.MANAGER]
> $ DEFINE/SYSTEM/EXEC/TRANS=(conc) NEWS_MANAGER_DEV DUA6:[NEWSMGR.MANAGER.]
> 

Don't forget SYS$SCRATCH.  NEWS seems to do LOTS of I/O to temporary files, in
fact if I had the time, I would probably set it up on a RAM disk.

Vanya J. Cooper, Pima Community College, District Computer Services
  Internet: vcooper@pimacc.pima.edu        Voice: 602 884-6809
    Paper: 2202 West Anklam Road, Tucson, Arizona 85709 USA
From: sloane@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (Bob Sloane)
Newsgroups: news.software.anu-news
Subject: Re: Can't set item retention periods
Date: 14 Dec 92 16:44:14 CST
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services

In <1992Dec10.084728.2851@abel.incstar.com>, lhotka@abel.incstar.com writes:
> The SET NEWSGROUP/ITEM_HOLD=5 command has no effect for instance,
> when I am applying it to a vmsnet newsgroup, or all the vmsnet
> groups via wildcard.

What happens if you do a SHOW NEWSGROUP after the SET NEWSGROUP? Is
there any error message from SET NEWSGROUP?  Have you checked the
articles for Expires: headers? What does SHOW NEWSGROUP DEFAULT show?
I have been running V6.0-3 for quite some time with problems of this
sort.
-- 
USmail: Bob Sloane, University of Kansas Computer Center, Lawrence, KS, 66045
E-mail: sloane@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu, sloane@ukanvax.bitnet, AT&T: (913)864-0444