| Objectives | Listserv Tutorial | Listserv Commands |
| About Listservs | Homework | References |
Listservs or mailing Lists are similar to newsgroups in how they facilitate mass or group communications but they are also quite different. Like newsgroups you subscribe to topics that interest you, but in a listserv the messages are mailed directly to your e-mail address. Listserves are highly automated and often deal in the hundreds of messages per day. Newsgroups compile message threads that subscribers can read when they are ready. These threads are maintained and often archived for the readers convenience on the UseNet Server. Listservs work a little differently. When you subscribe your name is placed on an automated list. Any message that is sent on this list is automatically sent to your e-mail address, until you unsubscribe to that list or all lists.
It is clear you will want to check your mail regularly. If you don't you may be shocked to find hundreds of messages waiting for you.
Listserv History- LISTSERV was originally devised by the BITNET Information Center (BITNIC) and was designed to act as a mailing list server whose function was to distribute electronic mail (also called e-mail) to users appearing in a mailing list. The server managed a huge number of mailing lists, each one addressing a specific area of interest for network users and each having an independent set of list members. . Those users from across the network who wished to subscribe to this list could then do so by having their e-mail address added to it. The LISTSERV server would then distribute a copy of any e-mail sent to this list to each of the list members. This service provided an extremely convenient means for the exchange of ideas and information between the members of any list since it was LISTSERV (and not individual users) who managed the distribution of e-mail to all final recipients. Users had only to send mail to the e-mail address of a list in order to communicate with any number of list members. This greatly simplified the task of sending e-mail to potentially very large audiences. The concept of mail distribution through a centralized server was termed mail explosion since a single piece of e-mail posted to a list resulted in multiple copies being sent out.
In addition to its mailing list functions, LISTSERV was enhanced to
maintain a database for each mailing list. These notebook
databases (also called list archives) held a copy of every
mail message that was distributed on a mailing list. Users could search
for and retrieve old mail messages by using the database functions of
LISTSERV.
For some background and a little history of how LISTSERV came to be click here.
| Listserv Commands | Command Functions |
|---|---|
| DIRECTORY/LIST | Sends a list of a specified subset of mailing lists this server provides access to. This command takes a single parameter thatspecifies a pattern to match the names of the mailing lists against. The pattern can contain wildcards. For example, the command DIRECTORY/LIST *A* will list the names of all lists containing the letter A. |
| HELP | Sends a help file (usually this file). This command takes no parameters. |
| LISTS | Sends a file containing a list of the OPEN mailing lists maintained by this server. The file includes an explanation of what each list is for and the moderators of the list. This command takes no parameters. |
| SEND/LIST | Sends the list of addressees on the requested mailing list. The name of the mailing list must be specified. Some examples of valid SEND/LIST commands are (given that the lists exist): SEND/LIST REN-STIMPY SEND/LIST PCS-GROUP |
| SUBSCRIBE | Subscribe to the specified mailing list. You specify the name of the mailing list. Some examples of valid SUBSCRIBE commands are (given that the lists exist): SUBSCRIBE REN-STIMPY SUBSCRIBE WINDOWS-NT An optional second parameter, the address to subscribe, may be specified with these commands. SUBSCRIBE WINDOWS-NT FENCE@FNAL.GOV |
| UNSUBSCRIBE | Unsubscribe to the specified mailing list. You specify the name of the mailing list. Some examples of value UNSUBSCRIBE commands are (given that the lists exist): UNSUBSCRIBE REN-STIMPY UNSUBSCRIBE WINDOWS-NT An optional second parameter, the address to unsubscribe, may be specified with these commands. UNSUBSCRIBE WINDOWS-NT FENCE@FNAL.GOV |
| SEND MLIST-REQUEST | If you would like to request the creation of a list then send mail to mailserv@fnal.gov with the body of the message reading: and the form will be mailed to you. After you fill out the request form mail it to postmaster@fnal.gov |
The homework for this class is to: