Re: [cobalt-users] [RAQ3] List server questions

[Jeff Lasman <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

the webthing wrote:

> Go on, groan.  I would.  It's another damn newbie with loads of
> questions that are probably covered in the archives.

I cheated, I read your whole post before answering, so I know where
you're going <smile>.  Yes, you can probably find everything in the
archives, but in such a hard-to-understand mixture of posts and replies
and more posts and replies, that I'm happy to answer ...

(And maybe even get a little business <smile>.)

> Well, let me start from the beginning.  (If you don't want to read the
> whole, sorry tale of how I wound up here, skip on down to
> THE QUESTIONS.)
> 
> Three months ago I approached DialtoneInternet about a dedicated server.
> I got lumbered with some idiot who decided that telling me to go
> elsewhere was a lot easier than working out how I was to get a signed
> form to her without a fax machine.  (Hey, I'm from England.  I'd never
> heard of Kinko's.)

Though we're in the U.S. we deal with England every day.  We even
telephone England with no problem.  We're the western hemisphere
distributor of a Windows-based mailserver from the UK, so we're very
happy to deal with the UK <smile>.

...<balance of problems skipped>...

> THE QUESTIONS

> 1) Is it fully featured majordomo?

It is standard majordomo.  Not crippled in any way.  But it's carefully
tied into their web-based interface, which as you've found out, cripples
it something awful.  I got a slightly different response from Cobalt
Tech Support.  They told me that they only supported it for the
functionalities available through the web-based interface.

Not wanting to break the web-based interface, I installed another copy
of majordomo in a different directory.  I documented all the
installation "gotchas".

> 2) Is there another front end for majordomo that's been tried on a RAQ,
> since the server holding MajorCool has been unavailable for two months?

Do you want a copy of MajorCool?  Just ask <smile>.

> 3) If not, is majordomo easy to learn?  I've only used it with MC.

It's got a lot of gotchas, and the support group at
<majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> is often a lot less than friendly.  (The
list runs on majordomo, so now you know how to subscribe if you wish to
do so.  You'll often find me on it as well.)

> 4) Does anyone have any experience with webmin on a RAQ?  This has a
> passable front end for majordomo, although it's no MajorCool.

Sorry, no experience.  I'd be afraid to use webmin if I were using the
RaQ's web-based gui interface, they use completely different management
paradigms.

>  It also
> has a few other useful bits, like a file manager.  I've not been able to
> find a file manager on the RAQ.

I seem to remember a product called "Midnight Commander" or something
similar that should go easily onto a RaQ3 from the Red Hat RPM, if I'm
not mistaken.  On the 2?  I don't have a clue; you'd have to compile it
from source.

> This question was asked a while back; I never found the answer:
> 5) What are the pros and cons of mailman over majordomo?  Apart from the
> front end, which is a good point, but I do want a good server and not
> just a good interface.

Not sure; I've never used mailman; Majordomo has done the job for me and
for my customers.

> Answers to even one or two of the above questions might help me to
> decide whether I can use a RAQ.  I do like it, it seems to have
> everything I require.  Or it will have, once I get Python on it.  And
> PHP if it's not already.  And a list server.  Let's not forget the list
> server.

We're in the list-serving business.  I've got lists running on generic
linux and unix systems.  I've also got it running on my RaQ2 from my own
separate installation.

I also support RaQs, as a consultant.  I also colocate RaQs, in several
different colocation points around the U.S.  I also rent out RaQs.

I also help out as much as I can on this list, as time permits.

I can put a working majordomo on your RaQ.  I can install majorcool for
you.

Contact me offlist.  If you give me your phone number and the best time
to call (your local time), I'll be happy to call you and discuss this
with you.

(Ask onlist for recommendations and especially as to whether or not I do
what I'm doing.

> Trust me, I'm a doctor

After almost a year of complaining at the clinic I go to, I've finally
gotten a doctor I can trust.  A resident actually. Unfortunately he's
finishing up his residency in June.

Nobaloney.net.

Our name says it <smile>.

Jeff
-- 
Jeff Lasman <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
nobaloney.net
P. O. Box 52672
Riverside, CA  92517
voice: (909) 787-8589  *  fax: (909) 782-0205