LISTSERV Transition Continues

Bronna T. Cohen, Network Systems Branch

The NIH LISTSERV facility, a popular service that provides "mailing list" capabilities for E-mail users, is undergoing a major upgrade (see "LISTSERV Gets a Power Boost" in INTERFACE 195). When completed, the upgrade will shift mailing list processing at NIH from an aging, overtaxed IBM 9370 midframe computer to a new, more powerful and scalable Sun SPARC20 server.

The upgrade is already well under way, with more than 30 of the most heavily used lists already transferred. Lists on the new LISTSERVer are already benefiting from dramatically improved processing time: the new LISTSERVer generally completes the distribution of the NIH STAFF mailing list (more than 24,000 recipients) within an hour. For smaller lists, such as the popular PCIP and LANMAN-L, transfer of mail is virtually immediate. The lightened load has also resulted in improved responsiveness on the old, outgoing server, which was known to cause delays of up to several hours when under heavy processing loads.

Once the upgrade is complete, other enhancements are planned:

• Current NIH LISTSERV documentation will be replaced by updated documentation that can be downloaded via the World Wide Web.

• Web interface to basic LISTSERV functions will also debut. Previously, users had to rely on E-mail to perform such basic LISTSERV functions as subscribing and unsubscribing, viewing available lists, accessing archives, etc. The Web interface will provide friendlier, more intuitive access to these basic functions.

• Web interface for list owner functions is also being explored.

Special Web Site During the Transition

Transfer of all remaining lists to the new LISTSERVer is targeted for completion by July 1. As previously outlined in the INTERFACE article, the transition will be transparent for most subscribers and nearly so for most list owners. However, there will be some interim effects. In order to assist the NIH user community during the transition, a special Web site has been created. Point your Web browser to

http://www.net.nih.gov/listserv.htm

For further questions about LISTSERV or the planned changes to the LISTSERV platform, please call TASC at 594-DCRT.

Interface 196 (June 15, 1996)