From: joe@retina.anatomy.upenn.edu (Joe Panico)
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux
Subject: How to subscribe to mailing list
Date: 22 Jan 93 16:43:03 GMT
Organization: Dept. of Neuroscience, U. of Pennsylvania


Several people have asked me how to subscribe to SLIP mailing group
(channel). Here's the answer that Bill Bogstad was kind enough to
send to me.
>
>
>
>Thanks for the information. How does one join the SLIP mailing group.

	Actually it's the SLIP channel of the Linux activists mailing
list.  Here's some info about it...

				Bill Bogstad

Date: Sat, 19 Sep 92 08:19:14 +0300
Message-Id: <9209190519.AA02028@joker.cs.hut.fi>
From: "Mail-Net server request handler" <linux-activists-request@niksula.hut.fi>
To: bogstad@blaze.cs.jhu.edu
Subject: Your request to linux-activists-request



	READ AND SAVE THIS TO A FILE!!!!!!
	^^^^

	Linux-Activists list is now maintained
	with Mail-Net (automatic mailing list handling software).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

FAST way to subscribe or unsubscribe (read this chapter ONLY)

	Send mail to:

		linux-activists-request@niksula.hut.fi

	Subscribe (means JOINING etc):

		Your mail HEADER or FIRST line must contain the line:


			X-Mn-Admin: join normal

	Unsubscribe (means LEAVING,EXITING,SIGNING OFF, etc):

		Your mail HEADER or FIRST line must contain the line:

			X-Mn-Admin: leave normal

	Problems?

		SEE FIRST CHAPTER "USUAL ERRORS" ;-)

		Mail to:

			owner-linux-activists@niksula.hut.fi

		The current list admin can be reached through that
		address.

		THIS MAILING LIST SERVICE IS FREE, no $$$s needed.

		MANUAL MAILING LIST HANDLING IS DONE ONCE IN
		2 WEEKS or MONTH (that means owner-linux-activists
		mailbox is read and possible problems then solved).
		Because this is stated here you know it and agree
		totally to it ;-).

	-----
	arl

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why this system?

	I noticed people were asking questions like "who was porting
	SCSI driver to Linux?" or "what is going on with X?". This
	system tries to make contacts easier and possibly we avoid
	duplicate work.

	It saves time to admin mailing lists.

	Mail-Net gives for the user possibility to create his/her own
	mailing lists (here called channels). For other topics
	than Linux related, please send mail to arl@hut.fi.

	Requests do not usually (unless user error) come to
	the mailing list. When running LISTSERV or just
	bare mailing lists you'll see requests.

Linux-Activists mailing list // SENDING MAIL TO MAILING LIST:

	The former mailing list is just one channel (normal) on the
	system.

	Send your linux-activists mail to:

		linux-activists@niksula.hut.fi

	and remember to have at your mail header or first line:

		X-Mn-Key: normal

	IF YOU SEND REQUESTS, PLEASE NO KEYING !!!!!!!

How to use mail-net software:

	You send mail to the server defining what you want. Now
	I do have only commands sent within mail header lines
	or the first text line of your mail.

	I hope, that the admin and mail goes to the same address,
	if it won't work - I have to make other e-mail address 
	for requests.

	Channel names are case insensitive that is name 'normal',
	'Normal', and 'NORMAL' are all the same channel.

Request commands:

	X-Mn-Admin: create channel_name

		The system creates a channel for your discussion
		interests, like

			X-Mn-Admin: create SCSI

		would create channel SCSI (where you could speak
		about SCSI w/o taking "looser mail"/"line noise").

		Join is automatically done for the channel creator.

	X-Mn-Admin: delete channel_name

		;-) Channel deleting is not needed now ...

	X-Mn-Admin: join channel_name

		Join to some discussion channel. The channel must
		exist prior joining ...

	X-Mn-Admin: leave channel_name

		You leave the channel.

		Like leaving the main channel i.e. Linux-Activists list

			X-Mn-Admin: leave normal

		you can still use other channels ... naturally.

	Admin commands can be sent to the mailing list
	(linux-activists@niksula.hut.fi) or to the
	request address (linux-activists-request@niksula.hut.fi).

Mailing to the Linux Activists list (TO ALL USERS ON A CHANNEL):

	The e-mail address still is:

		linux-activists@niksula.hut.fi

	You need to have definer 'X-Mn-Key: <channel_name>' if you would
	like you mail to go to some channel. You need to have key for the
	default channel too, that is:

		X-Mn-Key: normal

	This filters out the multiple error messages I managed to make
	having sender as the whole list (and all the mailers sent
	and are sending error messages to the whole list).

	Need to send mail to the SCSI channel:

		X-Mn-Key: SCSI

Getting information

	Mail to linux-activists-request@niksula.hut.fi with the following
	key on the header or first line of your mail.

	Channels

		X-Mn-Info: channel

		Sends you the current channel list.

	Users

		X-Mn-Info: user [username]

		Sends you with [username] grepped channel lists
		output, showing the channel user is on.

		Like:

			X-Mn-Info: user arl

			usernames where string "arl" matches,
			and the channels they are on.

Notice

	"X-Mn-Key:" etc definers are supported, Mn-Key, and Mn-key
	are valid definers.

	"X-Mn-Key:" field not needed soon now if mail send to "normal"
	channel .. that is "normal" channel is the default channel.

		The previous is _bad_ idea, I'm not going to
		release normal channel .. one needs to have
		X-Mn-Key: message. Why? I noticed there are people
		who add the key message and wants to join ... aaargh.

	-----------------------------

USUAL ERRORS	- WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG 

	Sending mail to mailing list without "X-Mn-Key: <channelname>" field

		You did not specify the channel you want to send mail,
		so your mail is returned back to you and you can send
		it again with the proper header.

	Subject: X-Mn-Admin: list channels

		Did this guide say you should be able to send
		your request with the "Subject:" field ???? ;-)
		No, "X-Mn-Admin:" field should be ON YOUR MAILS
		HEADER i.e. like

			Subject: fiifoo
			X-Mn-Admin: join fiifoo

		OR ON THE FIRST LINE OF YOUR MAIL BODY (body is the
		text area of your mail - and is separated from the
		mail header by one empty line).

		Did this guide say there's a command 
		"X-Mn-Admin: list channels" ????? ;-)
		No, the command is "X-Mn-Info: channel"

	Subject: X-Mn-Info: channel

		Check this guide again ...
		
	From: "AAAAA YYYY"  <AAAAA@BB.CCCCCCCCC.edu>
	Subject:      SUBSCRIBE AAAA@BB.CCCCCCCCC.edu

	SUBSCRIBE AAAAA@BB.CCCCCCCCC.edu

		How nice, that you're able to use LISTSERV ;-), but
		MAIL-NET is not LISTSERV. We have multiple channels
		(different mailing lists) here, and you should
		select which one to use. So we have different
		commands than LISTSERV has.

		The proper way is to put "X-Mn-Admin: join <channelname>"
		to your mail header or body.


	X-Mn_admin: join X11
	    ^
	    Should be '-'.


	Subject: join channels

	X:Mn-Admin:  channels

		Please read this guide again.

		Especially the first section "Fast way to subscribe or
		unsubscribe" - it's only FEW lines long ;-) so it would
		not take longer than a minute to read. ;-)


	When I want to leave a channel and the system sends me a mail
	I'm not on the channel. What's up?

		My address is foo@fii.faa.edu

		Check out what address you gave to Mail-Net sending
		mail with "X-Mn-Info: user foo"

		You'll get all channels where user "foo" is on.

		Try to use the same site you joined for leaving.

		For your sysadmin: It is much easier and simpler when
		site "cs.hut.fi" hosts "sauna", "cardhu", and "laphroaig"
		all have unified "From: arl@cs.hut.fi", as we do have ;-)
		It's even easy to configure sendmail to do it ...

	-----------------------------

Going-to-be						[priority level]

	info service to find out channels, their topics,
	users.							[1] DONE

	info service mail traffic generally.			[3]

	address change handling not implemented yet ..
	going to be real soon now.				[2]

	multiple commands in one mail not implemented (rsn).	[3]

	multiple parameters for a command not implemented
	yet (rsn).						[3]

	channels other than "normal" are not logged to a file,
	i.e. not available at nic.funet.fi:/pub/OS/Linux/doc	[2]

	user should be give some information of himself, like
	areas of interest etc.					[4]

	commands should be allowed to put to mail
	body (heard that on VMS it's not allowed to change
	mail headers?)						[2] DONE

	commands should allow the user to define himself
	also otherwise that From: fields, as some sites
	change From: fields ;-(					[2]

	changing Mail-Net to compromise RFC822
	i.e. using Sender: and Reply-To: fields instead
	of From: field alone					[1]

	managing utility for the 'admins' .. persons having
	admin rights and getting admin post. authentication.
	for admins possibility to "kick" users out of channels	[2]

	if Mn-Key: not mentioned (when needed, soo not for
	"normal") or sending mail to a nonexisting channel, the
	error/status mail should contain the mail sent to
	the channel.						[1] DONE

	channel names case insensitive				[1] DONE

	Mn-Key: field sent by user converted to X-Mn-Key	[1] DONE

	channel new_channels should be notified when
	a new channel is created. I.e. when user is on that
	channel he gets the information all new channels
	created.						[3]

	should have '*' as parameter for leave command,
	when user wants to leave all channel he's on.		[3]

	mail spooling for day/week/2week period for user	[4]

	a software tool to clue Mail-Net to other posting
	lists so that they can send to a different address,
	and the tool puts X-Mn-Key: to the mail sent.
	After that there will be gateway between Mail-Net
	and news (digests).					[1]


Ideas?		[the previous list contains user ideas! I need
		your comments!]

	Send your ideas to:

		arl@cs.hut.fi		// if there's any problems with
					// this software I try to correct
					// them instantly.

>
>
>

JP

Newsgroups: comp.os.linux