Duplicate ietf-smtp messages ...

[Einar Stefferud <stef@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Suddenly we are getting duplicate copies of each message, each
duplicate with a new date with a GMT time zone.  I suspect that
someone has added a USENET feed, and now we are getting messages
returned from some USENET sites where they do not detect that they are
feeding a message back to the main list when it comes through the
USENET feed from the main list.  This is a "broken newsfeed software"
problem out there where we cannot seem to do anything about it, even
when we can identify the offending site.

I have encountered this problem with usenet feeds for lists that I
administer at ICS.UCI.EDU, such as IFIP-GTWY.  We solved the problem
there by subordinating the internet mailing list to the newsgroup,
(versus the other way around).  This puts the UCI newsfeeder in line to filter duplicates out as they come back from these offending sites.

If anyone wants help with curing this problem, I will arrange for the
ICS.UCI.EDU postmaster to explain the problem and the solution.

In any case, I hope we can do something about it soon, cause with the
ietf-SMTP volume, doubling it with new dates on each additional
duplicate message will make life entirely miserable out here in the
SMTP trenches.

A scan listing of some duplicates is included below.  Cheers...\Stef

  02/22 21:35+02 Risto Kankkunen    Re: A proposal<<> B. Mandate that the t
  02/22 19:35GMT Risto Kankkunen    Re: A proposal<<> B. Mandate that the t
  02/22 16:29EST John C Klensin     SMTP and FTP<<I want to take seriously,
  02/22 21:29GMT John C Klensin     SMTP and FTP<<I want to take seriously,
  02/22 16:29EST John C Klensin     Re: Reviewing philosophies and assumpti
  02/22 21:29GMT John C Klensin     Re: Reviewing philosophies and assumpti
  02/22 16:29EST John C Klensin     Making secret SMTP changes<<On 20 Feb 9
  02/22 21:29GMT John C Klensin     Making secret SMTP changes<<On 20 Feb 91

Here are the verbatim headers of one duplicate.  Sure looks like it
came back from USENET to me.

 Received: from dimacs.rutgers.edu by ICS.UCI.EDU 
        id aa06492; 22 Feb 91 23:11 PST
 Received: by dimacs.rutgers.edu (5.59/SMI4.0/RU1.4/3.08)
        id AA11334; Sat, 23 Feb 91 01:20:23 EST
 Received: from RUTGERS.EDU by dimacs.rutgers.edu (5.59/SMI4.0/RU1.4/3.08)
        id AA11329; Sat, 23 Feb 91 01:20:20 EST
 Received: by rutgers.edu (5.59/SMI4.0/RU1.4/3.08)
        id AA25073; Sat, 23 Feb 91 01:19:53 EST
 To: systems-ietf-smtp@rutgers.edu
 Path: rutgers!infoods.mit.edu!KLENSIN
 From: John C Klensin <KLENSIN@infoods.mit.edu>
 Newsgroups: systems.ietf.smtp
 Subject: Making secret SMTP changes
 Message-Id: <>
 Date: 22 Feb 91 21:29:57 GMT
 Sender: pleasant@rutgers.edu
 Lines: 60

Here are the headers from the first copy of the same message.

 Received: from dimacs.rutgers.edu by ICS.UCI.EDU 
        id aa19615; 22 Feb 91 16:27 PST
 Received: by dimacs.rutgers.edu (5.59/SMI4.0/RU1.4/3.08)
        id AA10549; Fri, 22 Feb 91 16:52:44 EST
 Received: from INFOODS.MIT.EDU by dimacs.rutgers.edu (5.59/SMI4.0/RU1.4/3.08)
        id AA10545; Fri, 22 Feb 91 16:52:37 EST
 Date:    Fri, 22 Feb 1991 16:29:57 EST
 From: John C Klensin <KLENSIN@infoods.mit.edu>
 Message-Id: <>
 Subject: Making secret SMTP changes
 To: ietf-smtp@dimacs.rutgers.EDU
 X-Vmsmail-To: smtp%"ietf-smtp@dimacs.rutgers.edu"

End of headers ...