From: schnoebe@convex.com (Eric Schnoebelen)
Subject: Re: A different approach to sendsys.
Followup-To: news.admin
Organization: USENET news support, CONVEX Computer Corp, Richardson, Tx. USA
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 20:55:26 GMT
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

reggers@julian.uwo.ca (Reg Quinton) writes:
- In article <1992Apr8.232810.3841@news.eng.convex.com>, 
- 	schnoebe@convex.com (Eric Schnoebelen) writes:
- |> - 1. If you want to flood the net with sys files why not have everyone post
- |> -    a monthly article in news.config that gives their sys file. This can
- |> -    be at the system managers discretion -- in the same way that disabling
- |> -    sendsys is. Someone might choose to archive those postings.
- |> 
- |> 	Surely this is overkill for the few people who really need the
- |> data.  And it is certain to be out of date at any time.  
- 
- Overkill? Are the UUCP maps overkill? If it is useful information then
- it's not overkill and should be provided to the net at large. If it
- isn't useful information then why are we concered at all?

	The UUCP maps aren't overkill, since they contain routing
information that everyone makes use of at least once a week (or at
least everyone who is UUCP connected).  The sys file information is
something that is only occasionally needed by anyone other than the
administrator of the site.

	When it is wanted, it is wanted in a timely fashion.

	Another thing against regular posting of sys files is that
there is a lack of a standard format, unlike the UUCP maps, which have
a very well defined format.

- In any case, who are these few people who need the data? If we knew who
- needed this (in the same way that I know who needs arbitron and
- pathsurvery data) then we could mail them our sys file. They could
- collate and make a monthly posting -- if they're not willing to do
- that, then I'm not willing to give them my sys file.

	If you are in Dallas/Ft Worth, I want to see your sys file
about once a quarter.  I might periodically also do a sendsys for all
of Texas as well.

	I know that Brad Templeton (I hope I got that spelled
correctly) periodically does one for his Clarinet customers, and I seem
to recall that Rick Adams at UUNET occasionally does one as well.

	As to a standardized report/monthly posting, It would end up
being about as useful as Brian Reids (I think) monthly maps of news
links and traffic density, although my maps (when I find some software
to generate them) would be much more to the logical map side of things,
and less for a real, physical map.  But, I am after the logical news
map for dfw..

- |> - 2. If someone wants to know the network topology why not just scan all
- |> -    the Path: records that you have on your system and leave everyone else
- |> -    alone? Surely all the information is already on your system.
- |> 
- |> 	I think I already answered this one once. :-)
-
- I understand that this doesn't cover everything, my claim is more "what
- do you need this for?" I.e the distincition between theory and
- practice.

	Because it doesn't accurately display the topology of the news
region, since there are many read-mostly leaves in any given region,
especially on the modern USENET.  And Path: headers just aren't going
to contain information about data sinks such as these read-mostly
sites.

	What I need the information for is outlined below.  Basically,
to determine news connectivity within the region, and help folks find
feeds.

- |> 	Nor is the path line going to provide information on which
- |> newsgroups and distributions a site might get.  And this is useful
- |> information for someone who is trying to help manage a region of the
- |> net, and assure that every one gets all the news they want (I am doing
- |> just such a task for Dallas/Ft Worth, Tx, USA.)
- 
- Uh... you decide that I get what I want by a sendsys message? I don't
- understand how that could work -- I would have thought it's a decision
- I make since I know what I want and you don't.

	What I have been asked to do is to act some what like the old
backbone cabel did, ie, make sure that news is flowing around the area
in a reasonable and reliable fashion.  Keep in mind that I have been
_asked_ to do this, so folks have already given me the authority to
refer new connections to them, and suggest new connections to provide
better news connectivity.

	We are trying to prevent a situation where one of the major
news transports into the region cutting off all external connections
would cause a major news and mail connectivity problem.  But that is an
internal regional problem.

-- 
Eric Schnoebelen		eric@cirr.com		schnoebe@convex.com
    If cars want to kill themselves, that's their problem: what I can't
	understand is why they keep doing it with people inside.
						(Mafalda (Quino))
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