[comp.os.vms] sending to INFO-VAX from BITNET

HAROLD@UGA.BITNET (Harold C Pritchett) (01/30/88)

>>      It seems that I am doing something painfully wrong when I post to
>>INFO-VAX. My mail gets sent to many other nets, but not BITNET.
>>I am sending from a VAX system with GMAIL to INFO-VAX@KL.SRI.COM.
>>Anyone know why this is wrong. Thanks for any help/flames in advance.
>
>I have seen several messages from people who use the INFO-VAX@KL.SRI.COM
>address instead of INFO-VAX@CEARN (CEARN is the closest BITNET node with
>an INFO-VAX list to my computer, it will be different for other locations
>since there are several INFO-VAX list servers).
>
>Trying to use GMAIL reply to people who use the KL.SRI.COM address
>causes problem in trying to reach BITNET by going outside and back.
>When asking some of these users why they were sending to KL.SRI.COM
>they said they could not reach ARPA and EDU otherwise.
>
>I have been using this address for quite a while and I get messages AND
>answers from ARPA and EDU so I do not understand this reason, Is there
>something different in their/your systems?
>
>I do not know enough about NETWORK trafic so:
>1. Am I missing something using INFO-VAX@CEARN?
>2. Is there any reason to use INFO-VAX@KL.SRI.COM?
>   If not I hope everyone will stop using it (this should save network
>   traffic AND make life easier for us).
>3. Can someone who knows explain the meaning of the differences?

The BITNET INFO-VAX lists are only re-broadcasting the messages sent to
the ARPA address, INFO-VAX@KL.SRI.COM.  If you send your message to
INFO-VAX@CEARN, or any other BITNET address, it will only be sent to those
subscribers on BITNET.  When you send to the ARPA address, it is distributed
in ARPANET, all other nets attached to ARPANET, and a copy is forwarded to
one of the BITNET INFO-VAX lists for distribution in BITNET.  If you have been
using the BITNET address and have been getting responses from persons with
ARPANET addresses, it must be because they have both BITNET and ARPANET feeds
and received the mail via the BITNET one, and then answered via the ARPANET
side, or someone on BITNET forwarded it to them on the ARPANET.

There are also some ARPAnet subscribers on the BITNET lists.  This is clearly
wrong, since they could get it faster if they were to subscribe to the real
list in ARPAnet.  One of these days, I am going to get all the lists, and
move these subscribers back to the list at KL.SRI.COM.

I am one of the owners of the BITNET INFO-VAX list, and originally helped set
it up, so I do know how it works.  To try to forward a copy back to ARPA
for distribution there would be asking for a never ending series of mail loops
and other problems.

If you do have problems in your mail not getting distributed in BITNET when
you send to the ARPA address, please contact me direct and we will see what
can be done, since this is clearly a problem of some sort...

Harold C Pritchett         |  BITNET:  HAROLD@UGA
BITNET TechRep             |    ARPA:  HAROLD%UGA.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU
The University of Georgia  |    BELL:  (404) 542-3135
Athens, GA 30602           |

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