Subscribing to E-mail Lists

Over the past decade, e-mail distribution lists have proven to be very effective communication tools. In past years, MSU-Bozeman has used the Digital VMS Mail software almost exclusively. VMS Mail allowed users to construct and share mailing lists easily. The campus now uses many different e-mail programs (mailers), all of which deal with mailing lists differently, and nearly none of which allow those lists to be shared. In this more complicated environment, the use of a centrally maintained mailing list server provides mailer-independent e-mail distribution lists. A list server is an e-mail message management system that distributes e-mail messages to a list of addresses. The ITCNEWS list to which this newsletter is distributed is an example of such a list. These lists often require subscription by e-mail.

This article will guide you through the subscription process and help you avoid some of the problems that are often encountered. The examples here are specific to lists maintained by ITC under the MX Server software. Other departments on campus and other entities outside MSU use other list server products, such as "Majordomo" or "List Processor." While specific instructions for using lists managed under those products will vary, the concepts are similar to those discussed here.

How to subscribe:
The subscription request should be sent from the mailer that you typically use. If you are using a PC client mailer (Eudora, Netscape, Microsoft Exchange, etc.), make sure that the mailer configuration shows your correct e-mail address. If you are using a mailer at work and a mailer at home and want to receive your messages on both, ensure that the mailers on both computers are configured with the same e-mail address.

All subscription requests should be sent to:

listserv@listserv.montana.edu

Note that there is no "e" at the end of listserv. The full host name, listserv.montana.edu, should always be used.

The subject line should be left blank as it is always ignored by the list server.

The body of the message must contain only the following text on the first and only line, where listname is the name of the list you are subscribing to, and Firstname Lastname are your actual names:

subscribe listname Firstname Lastname

For example, for John Bozeman to subscribe to the FOUNDERS list, he would send this command:

subscribe founders John Bozeman

There must NOT be any other text in the body of the message. A common problem is to include an automatic signature. If there is a signature, it should be removed or the inclusion should be suppressed before the message is sent. If a signature is included, the subscription is usually successful, but you will receive an error message from the list server by e-mail.

A successful subscription request will be confirmed by an e-mail reply from the list server with additional instructions including how to remove yourself from the list. It is a good idea to retain the confirmation message for future reference.

To receive a listing of the publicly available mailing lists from ITC's list server, send an e-mail message to "listserv@listserv.montana.edu." Include only the command "list" in the body of the message. You will receive an e-mail message containing an index of available lists.

For related information about list services, please see the articles "Posting to E-mail Lists" and "Replying to E-mail Lists".

Please contact Allen Porter (ahporter@montana.edu) for additional assistance.

Updated December 1, 1997