Re: [cobalt-users] upgrade RAQ2 to RAQ4 or XTR?

["Steve Werby" <steve-lists@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Linuxman" <linuxman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I need to upgrade my RAQ2, and I have a few desires, what's best? The
sales
> folks told me that both the RAQ4 and XTR will do what I need and even
water
> the plants and walk the dog, so I come to you for the truth.

The XTR was recalled several months ago.  Research whether the problems with
it have been resolved.  Unless you *need* the extra speed and functionality
that the XTR offers, consider whether it's worth the hefty $ premium over
the RaQ4.  My professional opinion is to go with the RaQ4 if your only
concerns are those you point out below.

> 1) I need a better mailing list manager so people can subscribe and
> unsubscibe themselves from lists. I cant do that on the RAQ2.

You can, but you just don't have the right tools.  You just need the MLM
(mailing list manager) which happens to be majordomo to be configured for
each list to allow unverified (un)subscriptions.  In /usr/local/majordomo
find the listname.config file and set:

subscribe_policy = open
unsubscribe_policy = open

You can also change the config file by sending email commands directly to
majordomo directly.  See www.greatcircle.com majordomo section, list
archives, support list, google for it, etc. to find out how.

> Will the RAQ4
> do this, or do I need to do to the XTR? Is there a simple add on that even
a
> dummie like me can put on the RAQ4?

The RaQ4 uses the same MLM, but with a little more control of the lists via
the GUI.  It's not much more control so I doubt you'll be happy with it.
Other choices are to install a 2nd copy of majordomo on your server (RaQ2,
RaQ4, doesn't matter) and do so properly.  Cobalt's install is somewhat
broken.  You can then install tools like majorcool (a web interface for
managing majordomo) or other tools and custom scripts to help manage the
lists.  I use a PHP script I wrote to allow people to (un)subscribe to lists
through a standard web page and have installed majorcool for clients with
RaQs, though I don't use it myself.  I'm quite comfortable managing my own
majordomo lists via ssh and email commands runnning on my own installation
on RaQ2s and RaQ4s I manage.

> 2) I need working digests for mailing lists. RAQ2 or XTR? Can this
perhapps
> be added easily to teh RAQ4 if it's not native?

I don't know about the Cobalt install, but I do so on my own mj lists on my
custom install.  I also use MHonArc to create web-based archives of the
lists and mnoGoSearch for a dedicated search engine for each list's web
archive.  You may want to consider mailman as a replacement for majordomo.
It's the MLM Cobalt uses for cobalt-users.  I've installed it on a RaQ4, but
had no such luck a couple of years ago when I tried on a RaQ2.  Not to say
it can't be done, just that I couldn't 2 years ago or decided it wasn't
worth the effort.

> 3) I would like to, but not required, be able to set administrator right
to
> parts of a domain. RAQ2 or XTR?

I take it you mean for a directory within a site?  That's not native to any
of the RaQ GUIs so you'd need 3rd party software.

> 4) My RAQ2 gives me CPU overload messages once a week at 23 domains. What
> can I expect from a RAQ4 or XTR?

Those messages in themselves aren't meaningful?  If you don't want them to
be sent to 23 domains, the code that sends them can be modified.  If you
think it means your server is overloaded, you really need to investigate
what is causing the CPU load to get so high once a week.  Once you know,
it's likely that automated events can be rescheduled, scripts can be
replaced, etc. to handle the problem, if there is in fact a problem that is
causing server performance to degrade.  If not, I wouldn't be concerned.

HTH,

--
Steve Werby
President, Befriend Internet Services LLC
http://www.befriend.com/