Simple Introduction to LISTSERV Conferencing Center for Academic Computing The Pennsylvania State University What is LISTSERV? LISTSERV is a computer program that, among other things, facilitates the creation and management of electronic-mail-based conferences. The conference participants may be located anywhere in the world -- as long as they have electronic mail access to the LISTSERV server that hosts the conference of interest. This means that a LISTSERV conference is available to hundreds of thousands of people on the Internet, Bitnet, Comp- U-Serve, MCI-Mail, and any other electronic mail service with an Internet/Bitnet gateway. The LISTSERV program was written for the Bitnet network by Eric Thomas. Another program, which functions in a way similar to LISTSERV and obeys many of the same commands, was written for Unix computers by Anastasios Kotsikonas. Both programs support electronic-mail-based conferences. There are also other list processing conference programs such as the Unix Majordomo program. These various list processor programs all work in pretty much the same way. This simple introduction is intended to help people in the Penn State academic community get started with LISTSERV conferencing. This document will discuss the most important LISTSERV commands and will refer the reader to other available LISTSERV documentation for the complete set of commands. How does LISTSERV work? Basically, LISTSERV functions like a secretary in the management of conferences. When people want to join a conference they send a message to the relevant LISTSERV server to subscribe them to the intended conference. Once subscribed, they will receive conference postings via electronic mail. They respond to the conference, or initiate their own postings, also by electronic mail. In general, two electronic mail addresses are used, that of the LISTSERV server and that of the conference. Requests to join a conference, leave a conference, obtain LISTSERV documentation, etc. are sent to the LISTSERV server. An example server address is LISTSERV@PSUVM.PSU.EDU. Conference postings are sent to the conference itself. An example conference address is AIKIDO-L@PSUVM.PSU.EDU. LISTSERV servers also can serve as libraries of files, including conference archives and LISTSERV documentation. Many LISTSERV servers can also process simple database requests against conference archives. These topics will not be covered in this simple introduction. What LISTSERV Conferences are available? There are currently thousands of LISTSERV conferences on subjects ranging from Astronomy to Zoology and everything in between. Some conferences focus on academic subjects and others on hobbies or special interests. Some conferences are public and others are private. Some conferences are open and others are moderated. Some conferences generate at most a few postings per week while others generate dozens of postings each day. There are two easy ways to find out which LISTSERV conferences are available. One way is to ask a LISTSERV server by sending the command LIST GLOBAL. This will cause the LISTSERV server to email you a file containing a list of every available LISTSERV conference and a brief description. The second way is to examine a catalog of LISTSERV conference information. A number of these catalogs exist, some focusing on specific subject areas. Many of these catalogs are stored on the Penn State Internet Information disk. The file 00-index contains a Table of Contents for the Internet Information Disk with abstracts for the files available. As an introduction the following files are recommended: ACAD.LISTS ACADEMIC.LIST1 ACADEMIC.LIST2 ACADLIST.FILE1 through ACADLIST.FILE8 INTEREST.GROUPS LIBRARY.CONFEREN PUBLIST.PART1 through PUBLIST.PART4 About the Internet Information Disk The Internet Information Disk contains catalogs, manuals and other informative files gleaned from Internet servers around the world. Current versions of these files are stored here for easy access by the Penn State academic community. The Internet Information Disk may be accessed in one of two ways: (1) Via anonymous FTP to ftp.cac.psu.edu. The subdirectory pub/internexus contains the Internet Information Disk files. (2) Via the PSUVM command PRODUCT INTERNET. This is a convenient method for people with PSUVM accounts. Sending Commands to a LISTSERV server There are two ways to send commands to a LISTSERV server. The method you use will depend on (a) whether the server is on the Bitnet network or not, and (b) whether you will be using a PSUVM account or not. If the LISTSERV server is on Bitnet and you are using a PSUVM account you may send commands to the LISTSERV server via the TELL command. The command is then immediately sent to the LISTSERV server as in the following: TELL LISTSERV@UBVM HELP Otherwise you are better off sending the command to the LISTSERV server in the body of an electronic mail note. Send the note to the LISTSERV server address (ie, LISTSERV@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL or whatever) and place the command or commands in the body of the note. Multiple commands may be processed this way. Any response from the LISTSERV server will be in the form of electronic mail. Important LISTSERV Commands Following are the most important LISTSERV commands. HELP - This command sends you a quick LISTSERV reference card listing the more important LISTSERV commands for this server. SUBSCRIBE - This command subscribes you to a conference. Example: SUBSCRIBE AIKIDO-L Alfred E. Neuman UNSUBSCRIBE - This command removes you from a conference. Example: UNSUBSCRIBE AIKIDO-L LIST GLOBAL - This command gets you a list of all available conferences. SET - This command sets personal distribution options. Example: SET AIKIDO-L DIGEST GET - This command requests LISTSERV to send you a file via electronic mail. Example: GET INFO REFCARD LISTSERV Conference owners LISTSERV conferences and servers may be set up in a number of ways. For that reason you may occasionally need to communicate with the human who manages the conference. That person is typically referred to as the conference 'owner.' The conference owner should know the specifics of the conference and the LISTSERV server on which it is based. Among other things they can tell you if the conference is moderated, if archives are available, if digests are available and if database commands may be used to search the conference archives. Typically, when you join a conference you will be mailed an introductory letter explaining the purpose of the conference, any rules for the conference and the name and electronic mail address of the conference owner. Getting more information about LISTSERV One of the best ways to find out about the commands supported by a particular LISTSERV server is to ask that server for information. The HELP command is one place to start. A useful presentation of LISTSERV for new users, and some general information about the Bitnet LISTSERV are available by sending the following commands to LISTSERV@PSUVM.PSU.EDU: GET LISTPRES MEMO GET LISTSERV MEMO Users of PSUVM may issue the command HELP LISTSERV and examine these informative files (and more) from there.