Dear Patient EAD list subscribers,
We seem to have stopped the problem we were having over the last
two days with messages getting sent back to the list address
([log in to unmask]) by the host for one of our subscribers. Every day
I receive numerous delivery error messages from mail servers that
are down for some reason or another. Usually all it means is
that one of the EAD messages is not getting delivered to a
subscriber whose has either changed address, ceased to exist
(as far as the email server is concerned), or some other problem.
This was the first time we had a mail server send messages back
to the mail address in this way. You may remember a slightly
different problem we had with a reply line containing
a reply address a couple of months back. Interestingly, we
experienced a similar problem to yesterdays double messages
on our USMARC list as well. Fortunately, since that is a
moderated list, we simply didn't release the duplicate message
to the list each time a new message was submitted.
The only way we were able to solve the problem was to manually
unsubscribe the person whose server was causing the problem
(Sorry, Holly!--but of course, she may never know since her
server was down...). We also unsubscribed all those whose
servers were not delivering mail yesterday. We did that just
to eliminate all the other delivery errors that were arriving
each time a message and its duplicate went out.
This experience serves as another reminder that electronic
list require some care in setting up "while-I'm-away" software
or in preparing for Internet address changes. Changes to
a subscription, including temporary suspencions, should be
sent to the list maintenance address:
[log in to unmask]
This is the address you use to originally subscribe or unsubscribe.
Only message intended for everyone's eyes should be sent to
[log in to unmask] If you mail system is down, it normally reflects
back to [log in to unmask] automatically, but (I realize) all things
are not under your control.
Many thanks, again, for your understanding and patience. We are
able to shield you from this kind of thing most of the time.
The daily flow of "undeliverable mail" messages I receive from
some of the 546 subscribers' systems out there usually go only
to my personal mail box (sigh...). As I (we) experience these
problems, we will hopefully get better at fixing them FAST!
--Randy Barry (your tired but releaved list moderator)
P.S. Special thanks to Ken. The support was appreciated!
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* Randall Keigan Barry LL *
* Senior MARC Standards Specialist LLL *
* U.S. Library of Congress LLL *
* Network Development and MARC Standards Office LLL CCCCC *
* 101 Independence Avenue, S.E. LLL CCC CCC *
* Washington, DC 20540-4102 U.S.A. LLL CCC *
* TEL: +1-202-707-5118 LLLLLLLLLL *
* FAX: +1-202-707-0115 CCC CCC *
* NET: [log in to unmask] CCCCC *
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* NOTE: The ideas and opinions expressed in this communication *
* are personal and do not necessarily reflect the position of *
* the Library of Congress or any other U.S. government agency. *
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