Re: [cobalt-users] Qube2 Mailing Lists

[Jeff Lovell <jlovell@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Malcolm McLeary wrote:
> Thanks for taking the time to reply.

No problem.  I just hope I can help you out with the information
you are looking for.

> The "list" is actually a group (of 30 people) so all the mailboxes are
> local, although some users have redirected their mail as they work on-site
> with a client.
>
> The Qube has a permanent dialup connection to the internet.

Good, I just wanted to make sure that we aren't dealing with
any sort of delay with dialup or other negotiation problems.
 
> In my tests I've sent a message to the group from a machine on the LAN and
> then monitored my mailbox ... it regularly takes up to an hour for the
> message to appear even though the Qube2 is running with a light load.

Load isn't that much of a factor, but it does play into how
fast Sendmail can queue up and deliver the messages.  If you are
logged into the box, you can run 'mailq' to get a list of messages
that are being held for delivery.  If will give you a listing of
email that are waiting to be sent out.
 
> It may well be, but in my tests the Gateway Micro Server distributes
> immediately, the Qube2 waits ...
> 
> Some test messages from last week ...
> 
>     Sent:   Thursday, 2 March 2000 2:31 PM
>     Rec:    Thursday, 2 March 2000 3:00 PM
> 
>     Sent:   Thursday, 2 March 2000 4:07 PM
>     Rec:    Thursday, 2 March 2000 4:54 PM
> 
>     Sent:   Thursday, 2 March 2000 4:51 PM
>     Rec:    Thursday, 2 March 2000 5:32 PM
> 
>     Sent:   Friday, 3 March 2000  9:57 AM
>     Rec:    Friday, 3 March 2000 10:45 AM

Where are you getting these numbers from?
 
> I have just realised that my trials were not based on the same
> configuration.  On the Qube2 the group contains 30 users ... on the Micro
> Server (as I was just having a look at it) the group consisted on 1 user.
> 
> Retesting the Qube2 with a group containing only 1 user distributes the
> message immediately ...
> 
> Should the number of group members have such a dramatic effect?

It can, but it also depends on what users are getting the mail.  A
good test to run is have a user on the Qube2 and a user external to
the Qube2 and take a look at the headers and see what is taking the
time.  Most likely your box is queuing up the messages because us
SMTP errors on remote hosts, but I can't tell this for sure without
being on the box.  'mailq' should offer you some info.
 
> Don't you just hate it when a problem is not reproducable ... I ran another
> test with the problem group and it is now working as "expected".
> 
>     Sent:   Thursday, 9 March 2000 11:03 AM
>     Rec:    Thursday, 9 March 2000 11:04 AM

Doh!  I assume you are getting these number from the Received: headers
in the messages.  That is the best place to look.
 
> Sounds great!
> 
> Does anything need to be stopped and started before the change takes effect?

No, majordomo is simply a perl script that gets executed from the
/etc/aliases.majordomo file.  So there is no daemon to worry about
stopping and restarting.
 
> I guess its a big ask, but what would need to be changed so that all new
> groups (lists) behave with "reply-to" = sender?

Depends how comfortable you are with Perl.  It is a one or
two line change, but it isn't friendly to do, and is not
supported if you break it. ;)


HTH

Jeff