2. EZMLM/IDX MODERATOR'S AND ADMINISTRATOR'S MANUAL2.1 Introduction.This chapter describes how to be a moderator (message and subscription) and remote administrator for a mailing list run by ezmlm/idxmailinglist@comp.org,
send mail to mailinglist-help@comp.org.
2.2 Message moderation(*).Ezmlm lists may be set up with message moderation. When ezmlm receives a message for the list, it saves it, sends a moderation request with the message enclosed to the moderator(s). The subject of moderation request is ``MODERATE for ...''. If you would like to approve the message, just reply to the ``Reply-To:'' address of the moderation request. Usually, this is the default for the ``reply'' function of your mail program. Alternatively, click on the ``accept'' address or copy and paste it into the ``To:'' field of a new message. To reject the message, reply to the ''From:'' address, click on the ``reject'' address, or copy and paste the ``reject'' address into the ``To:'' field of a new message. You can also just replace the ``accept'' in the accept address with ``reject''. Optionally, type a comment between two lines starting with ``%%%''. The sender of the message will receive a message from ezmlm explaining that the message was rejected. If you typed a comment, it will be put into the rejection notice. The third alternative is to ignore the request. If no moderator has replied within 5 days, the message is returned to the sender with an explanation. To minimize mail to busy moderators, ezmlm does not confirm moderator actions. More than one moderator may reply. The message will not be duplicated. The first valid reply to be received will decide the fate of the message. Ezmlm will send an error message only if if a later reply requests an action different from the one already taken. Thus, if you decide to accept the message, but another moderator has already rejected it, ezmlm will notify you. If instead the message had been previously accepted, ezmlm would log your request, but not send you a notification. If a message is send by a moderator, it is sent for approval to that moderator only. The approval is necessary since anyone can claim to be a moderator, but only the moderator will be able to receive the moderation request. This feature is very useful for announcement lists where any moderator can make an announcement without bothering the others, while at the same time non-moderators cannot post without permission.2.3 Remote administration(*).A remote administrator is an address that can add/remove addresses from the subscriber list. To subscribejohn@home.net to the list
mailinglist@comp.org, send mail to
mailinglist-subscribe-john=home.net@comp.org. Normally,
john@home.net will be asked to confirm. However, if you are a remote
administrator, you will receive the confirmation request. Thus,
john@home.net does not need to participate. When you've successfully
added the address, john@home.net will receive a message acknowledging
his subscription.
You can unsubscribe addresses (-unsubscribe) or determine if an address
is a subscriber (-query).
You may also -list subscriber addresses
list and/or -edit list text files, such as the one sent in reply to
the -help command (see below). You can use all these functions to
help users subscribe or unsubscribe to the list.
2.4 Adding subscriber aliases(*).Ezmlm lists may be set up to only allow subscribers to send messages to the list. This is less secure than moderation, but still keeps most ``garbage'' off the list. Occasionally, a user may wish to send messages from an address other than the subscription address. As a remote administrator, you can add the user's alias to a special ``allow'' database. To addjohn@home.net
as an alias to the mailinglist@comp.org, send mail to
mailinglist-allow-subscribe-john=home.net@comp.org.
-unsubscribe
and other commands work the same way. The messages ezmlm sends talk about
the mailinglist-allow@comp.org mailing list, but of course you know
that this is just a figure of speech.
On lists that do not have subscription moderation, users can add themselves
to the ``allow'' database in the same way. This is
not documented in the USER'S manual.
Archive access may also be restricted to subscribers. Like subscribers
of the list or the digest list, addresses in the ``allow'' database are allowed
to access the archive.
2.5 Preventing an address from posting(*).Just as you may want to allow some non-subscriber addresses to send messages to the list, you may want to (temporarily) prevent an address from posting. This is easily defeated, but very useful if some defective mail robot or other mailing list sends messages to the list address. The system works just like the ``allow'' list, but is called ``deny''. To preventrobot@druga.su
from posting to mailinglist@comp.org, send mail to
mailinglist-deny-subscribe-robot=druga.su@comp.org and reply to the
confirmation request, respectively.
You can do this only if you are a remote administrator and the list is
set up to support this option.
You can use -unsubscribe, -query, and other commands with
this address collection, just as for the normal subscriber database.
Normal users cannot access the database. This database
does not affect archive access.
2.6 Listing subscribers(*).The list may be configured to allow remote administrators to obtain a list of subscriber addresses. Ifmailinglist@comp.org is set up with
this option and you are a remote administrator, mail to
mailinglist-list@comp.org will get you the list. If you are sending
from another account, you can use mailinglist-remote=admin.net@comp.org
to get the list to remote@admin.net. Of course, this will work only
if remote@admin.net is a remote administrator.
Subscriber lists for the ``digest'', ``deny''
and ``allow'' databases are obtained in a
similar manner by a message to
mailinglist-digest-list@comp.org,
mailinglist-deny-list@comp.org, or
mailinglist-allow-list@comp.org.
2.7 Subscription moderation(*).If the list is set up for subscription moderation, a moderator has to approve the user's subscription request. The process starts with a user -subscribe request, followed by the normal user confirmation. After this, ezmlm sends a second confirmation request to the moderator(s). If any moderator replies to this request, the user is accepted as a subscriber. You may send the user a message to request further information. However, this will reveal your address/identity to the user. Users may unsubscribe at any time without moderator assistance.2.8 Editing ezmlm administrative messages(*).If configured, remote administrators may edit (via E-mail) ezmlm text files, such as the one sent in reply to the -help command. A list of editable files, their use, and instructions for editing may be obtained with the -edit command. Thus, for the listmailinglist@comp.org, send a message to
mailinglist-edit@comp.org and follow the instructions. With or without
ezmlm-idx, the messages can be modified locally with a text editor.
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© Copyright 1997, 1998, 1999 Fred Lindberg, lindberg@id.wustl.edu & Fred B. Ringel, fredr@rivertown.net This page was last built on 10/3/99; 1:25:47 PM on the MacOs Comments/Suggestions: webmaster@ezmlm.org |