July 24, 2000
 
Please Read...Site Upgrade

After several months of re-programming - it is time to perform a major version upgrade to three of the nine servers within Rennlist. Therefore, beginning at 06:00 EDT on 07/25 - you will notice that the primary e-mail server may be intermittently off line until approximately 09:35 EST. During this time, I will re-direct your messages to a 
secondary server for re-distribution back to the lists once the primary server as back on-line. (Please - while the mail server is being upgraded - please do not e-mail all my ADMIN accounts telling me the mail server is down - I'll probably know it;^)

During these periods - the main Rennlist Web Boards and site *will* remain on-line and functional.

Some of the anticipated benefits of this major upgrade include:
.. Much of the core programming has been transitioned from PERL to C++, offering improved mail post/send times;

.. With this, Rennlist should sustain a mail burst speed of over 900,000 messages per 
hour without any noticeable degradation of web interface services;

.. In system load tests, the NEWS server should then offer 5x-10x it's current throughput (depending on system loads and your connection scheme);

.. Along with the next version mail server that will be upgraded along side these other servers - Rennlist list subscribers will have the ability to select MIME formatted Digests;

.. The Web interface has also been programmed to offer better Browser contrast, making the forms easier to navigate;

.. Tighter admin control of killing SPAMMING to the lists;

.. Faster indexing of list messages/archives;

.. Faster mail queue processing; etc...

Alongside these two server upgrades - I will also be upgrading our RENNLIST.COM e-mail servers. Therefore, if you are a Member and have applied for your free RENNLIST.COM e-mail address recently - I will process these requests after this primary server is upgraded. You will be notified when your account is ready. Further, on this RENNLIST.COM server - I will also be programming some SPAM/HACKING filters against identified Open Relays.