buyno@voder.UUCP (Matthew Buynoski) (05/12/86)
Here is an idea for a reorganization of the net in order to more equitably share the burden of net overhead. Take the sites and divide them into two classes (possibly three) called: peripheral sites, center sites, (super-center sites). Center sites serve as news collector stations. That is, each peripheral site phones the center site(s) to deposit news. Each batch of news will have a "bundle" tag or identifier on it. Also, each periphereal site will call the center site(s) in order to absorb news bundles. (If necesary, there may be a cluster of super-center sites to absorb and act as source of larger news bundles traded among the center sites). That's it. Note that the center sites have NO phone bills because everyone else calls them. They contribute by the expense of computing time. Every other site controls its own costs at its own whim without in any way influencing "downstream" sites as now. That means each system manager has the option to restrict his site to whatever list of newsgroups he feels is appro- priate without affecting anyone else on the net. The nunber of center sites for optimum system cost is moot and might be a regional set-up (attempting to limit system long-distance costs). If the number is too large, then the center sites might have to trade some bundles, by way of a super-center site. I am guessing that some 30 center sites is enough. I might add that I am not the system manager here, just a user. I hope this idea is of some use to the system managers out there who are struggling with the net costs, etc.