Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 13:53:27 -0800 (PST)

To: csac-nw@csac.org

Subject: Mail Loop Problem - Fixed


We apologize for the mail loop problem. Within a few minutes of its onset
we had it solved, but that is long enough for several loops. Why it began
hours after the original mail is still unknown.

It seems to be related to a mail configuration problem at skihood.com (Mt
Hood Meadows) which loops the mail back through us. We had a similar
problem on the utah list at the start of last year. 

The address from skihood.com has been removed from all csac/peak lists and
will not be permitted to be added again. It is related to gorge.net and we
may prohibit any addresses from that domain as well.

On one hand we are bothered by this problem because our lists are set up
well on this end. On the other hand when you run enough lists for long
enough this type of subtlety arises. It is a good example of why we are
not too keen on doing this for free any longer. I had to drop what I was
doing to track this down quickly, as did staff at our provider peak.org. 

We can't guarantee that this will never happen, mail loops can arise. But
in 4-5 years this is only the second time, the first on this list which is
our largest. In both cases it was solved within a few minutes.

Thanks for your patience.

Jim

--
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      Cyberspace Snow and Avalanche Center (CSAC)
      131 NW 4th St Suite 397, Corvallis OR 97330
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          (877) 457-0913  (530) 509-7840 Fax

       http://www.csac.org        snow@csac.org

              Jim Frankenfield; Director
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