From: bert@medley.ssdl.com (Bert Medley)
Newsgroups: houston.general
Subject: Re: News Feed (LONG)
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 92 23:43:55 CST
Reply-To: bert@medley.ssdl.com
Distribution: houston
Organization: Medley's Homestyle Waffle

peter@taronga.com (Peter da Silva) writes:

> In article <1992Nov11.060812.3486@limbic.ssdl.com> gil@limbic.ssdl.com (Gil K
> >In article <X10LPQL@taronga.com> peter@taronga.com (Peter da Silva) writes:
> >>The two big problems with Usenet today are the Internet and the Domain Name
> >>System.
> 
> >Usenet != UUCPnet
> >(news)    (transport mechanism)
> 
> [stuff deleted]
> 
> >1.  There is too much news.  We need to reduce the quantity.
> 
> No, we don't. We need to balance the flow better. We need to keep people
> from saying "I've got a 760M disk, so I can carry everything". You should
> only feed the groups you and sites you're feeding want. Duplicating feeds
> is useful, up to a point, but the main problem is balance.
> 

But if you examine the numbers the "root" systems will be getting a primary
full feed and backup feed/downstream feed with *A VERY FEW LIMITED NUMBER
OF PARTIAL FEEDS*.  The problem isn't balance it's volume!

> >3.  If we distribute different newsgroups among different sites, everyone
> >    will want the groups they don't get.
> 
> So give everyone all the groups they want. If they want something different,
> then change what you're feeding them. If that's done fast enough you won't
> get people getting everything "just in case".
> 

And if everyone wants all the news?  You still have a volume problem.  By the
numbers, a heavy news day (40MB compressed is NOT unreasonable) for a site that
receives and passes three full feeds will consume around 24 hours of modem
time during which NO ONE CAN CALL IN!

Again, the problem IS volume.

> >5.  If we had only certain sites acting as archive sites and keeping
> >    *.sources.* there, it would be an administrative headache, and
> >    everyone would clog the mail system requesting source code.
> 
> Within the local area that shouldn't be a problem... just call the archive
> site directly and uucp the files you want.
> 

Works only if the site has a dedicated line for anonymous UUCP and BBS-type
logins as the other modem will be totally tied up pushing news and mail around.

> >6.  No matter how much you emphasize responsiblity, there will still be
> >    a site on the net that is admin'd by a user who can not and will not
> >    learn how to properly deal with mail/news/etc, and will also be the
> >    person who will post a map that has all their connections in the
> >    maps as LOCAL, because, of course, it's a LOCAL call.
> 
> Publish a new map that lists them as dead.
> 

I would feel veeeerrryyyy unhappy if someone messed around with my map or
site connectivity.  So will most sysops.  This will lead to general discontent
and flames...you kiled my site so I'll kill yours.

> >7.  We need dynamic rerouting of mail.
> 
> Keep the maps up to date.
> 

An admirable idea with no way to enforce it.  also was quoted slightly out of
context.  The need arises from an incorrect map maintained by a newbie or
SOB sysop.  Again, enforcement will be difficult.

> >8.  We need a reliable mail gateway to the Internet that isn't already
> >    clogged with news feeds
> 
> There's quite a few of them. What we need is some reliable second-level
> mail distributors. I'm trying to be one... subject to getting my system
> back up to the level needed.

Let's look at those INTERNET mail gateways for a second.  I think that there
are at most 4 reliable INTERNET mail gateways with fast modem connections and
two of these are pay sites.  All other INTERNET connections have not 
volunteered to act as contributing members of the UUCPnet community to any 
large degree.  How many "free" INTERNET sites can you name that will connect
any site in for mail and a limited news feed (or even a full one)?  You get
an attaboy for each one that will be up and running 1 year from now as a 
non-pay site with 9600 or better modem connections and is ON the INTERNET.

Newsgroups: houston.general