Rensselaer User Access

ListProc's web interface provides simple access to list archives, and to user and list management options.

To access ListProc's Web Interface, you will need to verify your identity by entering your RCS userid and password. The RCS interface allows you to:

• Subscribe to and unsubscribe from lists
• Access private list archives for lists to which you are subscribed
• Manage subscriptions for any lists on which you are an owner, subscription manager, or delivery error recipient.
• Approve or discard messages to any lists for which you are a moderator.
• Change list configurations for list you own.

How to request a list.

Lists and Spam

Update: January 2007

If you are having difficulties posting to a list that is managed by the default listproc spam trap, you can ensure the message gets through by including "N0+$pam" (`N' `Zero' `plus' `dollar sign' `pam') in the body of the message. This is a general list ``password,'' which gives the message a -10 point bonus (lower scores means less spammy). This password will not work for spam traps managed by list owners, unless they choose to add the password to the trap's custom rules themselves. (Alternatively, they can turn spam management over to RESPITE, by opting the list our of it's personal trap.)

If you are a list owner using the email interface from off-campus, put the password "N0+$pam" (again, `N' `Zero' `plus' `dollar sign' `pam')in the subject of the email when sending list commands to listproc@lists.rpi.edu. (Putting the password in the body would not only not work in this case, but would cause a "command unknown" response from listproc.)

Update: December 2006

To avoid having messages blocked, it is best to send postings from campus machines. Respite reduces the spam score for machines on the RPI campus, using the VPN or sent via Webmail or Outlook Web access (for those on Exchange).

Note: All lists must be opted into Respite---this is not optional.

If you as a list owner or moderator require more fine-grained control of spam to your list send email to listmgrs@lists.rpi.edu and we will set up a separate spam trap you can monitor via Respite. Please include the incident IDs for problem messages. A separate trap may be necessary for lists with substantial off-campus membership. Or, it may be that particular members are having problems. Without the incident ID we cannot examine the message, to determine why it is being trapped.

For those with an RPI account the recomended fix is to use the VPN, Webmail, OWA (for Exchange accounts) or send from an on-campus machine.

Controlling spam on list

Listproc includes several features to prevent unwanted email to lists.

• If the list does not need to allow posting by non-subscribers, then set it to only allow posting by subscribers. This can be done on the List Options page. (This page can also be used to change the list owner, add and remove moderators, and change other list configuration options).

• If non-subscribers are allowed to post, then list owners and moderators can have Respite scan postings for spam. (This is the default setting for all lists. Opting the list out of Respite will cause it to be opted into the default listproc trap.)

  To opt-in a list log on to Respite using your RCS username and password. Lists are opted in on the "Options"/"Opt-in/Out" page. This page will display an opt-in button for each list you own, or moderate, under your RCS user id.

  If your RCS id is not listed as a list owner or moderator an existing owner can add it. List owners are synchronized with Respite each morning. (Accessing Respite requires an RCS id. If you are managing the list for an RPI organization, find a member of the RPI community to be a co-owner, or ask the organization to sponsor a guest account.)

  Note, if your list does not show up on the "Opt-in/Out" page, it means the list is being filtered by the default trap. If this is not good email (spam is still getting through, or legitimate messages are being trapped) send email to listmgrs@lists.rpi.edu. Spam filtering, however, is not optional.

• Even closed lists (those that allow postings from owners or list members only) must use Respite. Spam processing and storage consumes system resources. Attempted spam sends a notices to the list owners. By using Respite to trap spam before it is sent to the list you help yourself, the listproc administrators, and others who use listproc to post messages.

  If only owners can post the trap level can be set to 0, and the owners and moderators white-listed. This will trap nearly all spam to the list, but allow legitimate postings through. (Alternatively, the owners and moderators can post from machines on the RPI networks. RPI machines are automatically whitelisted---but, not RPI email-addresses.)

• Finally, there are two tricks you can use to block nearly all list spam in Respite:
  • If most list members are posting from machines on the RPI network, using the VPN or via Webmail the lists' spam trap levels can be set to 0 trapping virtually all spam. RPI-hosted machines receive a local bonus from Respite, which reduces the spam score for messages to -1, allowing them through even when trapped at 0. List members posting from non-RPI machines can be white-listed in Respite. (This is easy to do from the spam trap if you select "Drop-Down list on the Options page. This option replaces the simple check-boxes displayed by default with a drop-down list. The drop-down list includes a "whitelist sender" option.)
  • Alternativly, the trap level can be set to 0, and list members told to use a special keyword in the subject. This keyword can be used in a Respite Custom rule (under Rules/Custom) to give negative spam bonuses to messages. For example, the RPI Curling team list members might use the keyword "ICEAAAA", and messages with "ICEAAAA" in the subject of give a -10 points bonus in a custom rule. If "ICEAAAA" starts being used in spam, the keyword can be changed to "ICEAAAB", or "ABCEICE". (The keyword should not be a comon word likely to be used in a real spam's subject.)