[DECtalk] Username and password for DECtalk archive

[Jayson Smith]

Hi,
I did look at Planetmirror and they have a request form to start a new
mirror.  However, not being the owner of the Dectalk archive I don't feel
right about asking them without Andre's permission.  Should someone Email
Andre about it or do you think he's had it up to here with DECtalk Archive
stuff?
One thing I'm surprised hasn't been done is a dynamic mirroring type of
thing.  E.G. files are mirrored at more places depending on how popular they
are.  This would take a server/client relationship, but if done right,
several people could host the archive on their own personal broadband
servers.  Then, when a file is requested, several low-bandwidth servers are
combined and send different parts of the file, such that one virtual
high-bandwidth connection is made so the file is downloaded quickly but no
one server gets left with the entire bandwidth bill for that request.
Also, one problem with somebody hosting the archive but making everybody use
the mirror is that disk space is still wasted on the part of the person
hosting the archive.  This is especially so when you consider that that
space is taken up by stuff that nobody except a mirroring server can access,
and that server's purpose is just to keep its own copy of the content up to
date.
Jayson.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony Baechler" <tony at baechler.net>
To: "DECtalk Discussions" <dectalk at jaybird.no-ip.info>
Sent: Monday, April 04, 2005 2:08 AM
Subject: Re: [DECtalk] Username and password for DECtalk archive


> Hi.  OK, I have also heard things about Andre which are not best discussed
> here, besides I was asked to keep them confidential.  This is not the
first
> time that the archive issue has come up.  I really do understand where he
> is coming from about donations.  I run two servers, so I do know how hard
> it is to set up.  One of them is having serious bandwidth issues because I
> did someone a favor.  It isn't that person's fault, but his files are too
> popular and people download them like mad.  I am lucky that I haven't got
> complaints from the particular provider.  My point is that whoever manages
> the archive needs lots and lots of bandwidth.  I'm sorry to say this, but
I
> really don't think Jayson qualifies.  For one thing, as he said, bandwidth
> is an issue for him right now.  For another, he is in the US so we will
> have copyright problems.  Again, I'm sorry, but we need to deal with
facts.
>
> So what do I suggest?  I do not suggest donating to Andre.  Why?  Because
I
> don't think he will ever be happy with the archive.  This is based on
> information that I have about him generally, and my own experiences with
> running servers.  I think the best thing to do is find a site in Europe
who
> has the bandwidth and is willing to host the archive.  My preference would
> be a UK site because of the Red Dwarf, but any European site would be
> fine.  I would stay away from Australia because they have just passed
> stricter copyright laws.  Canada would be fine also.  Asia would be OK but
> in general is very, very slow.  I just thought of something.  Someone,
> please visit these two sites and ask them to mirror the archive.  I think
> they would and our bandwidth issues would be over.  We would still need a
> main archive to mirror from, but that could still be handled by Andre
since
> everyone could be diverted to the mirrors.  In fact, just put on the index
> page that this archive is no longer accessible except through
> mirrors.  Look at these:
>
> http://www.mirror.ac.uk/
> http://www.planetmirror.com/
>
> I am sure one or the other would mirror the archive.  I think planetmirror
> is mirroring the asimov Apple II archive which is marginal in terms of
> copyright.  Any thoughts?  Either way, I think we should really move the
> main archive off Andre's site.  If someone could set up a server in
Canada,
> that might be best, or the UK.  Only let the mirror service access the
main
> site and make everyone use that mirror.  As I said, this would eliminate
> both Andre and the bandwidth issue.  Another reason to eliminate Andre's
> archive is because he doesn't care about it and would probably be happy to
> be done with it anyway.
>
> At 11:39 AM 4/2/2005 -0500, you wrote:
> >Hello folks.  Several changes have been made to the dectalk
> >archive.  First, the archive is now protected by a username and
> >password.  the username is dectalk, the password is donations.  IWhich
> >leads to the fact taht I've had to put a brand new Index page up there,
> >with the paypal button right at the top.  As Andre says "If ten people
> >donate one dollor, that 's ten dollors.  If two bucks, that twenty."
Make
> >a dude happy.  If we don't get donations, there will
> >Be!  No!  DECtalk!  Archive!  Search google for Andre Louis, and the
first
> >thing that comes up is the DECtalk archive.  Andre does not want to be
> >asociated with something he doesn't care about.
>
>
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