distributed mailing list? (Was Re: [SunRescue] Question...)

[Kevin Loch]

That reminds me of the Dilbert where the boss suggests saving
big bucks by runnin the database over the email system.

KL

Dan Debertin wrote:
> 
> On Fri, 25 May 2001, Tugrul Galatali wrote:
> 
> >       I actually agree with you, but some of the time. Its like one of those
> > damn wireframe cubes :-)
> 
> It seems to be an idea that everyone enjoys a brief dalliance with.
> There's a GUI email client which stores its mail in MySQL tables. I beat
> my head against the desk every time I see it on freshmeat.
> 
> "Why, why, WHY??"
> 
> > I was looking at the IMAP4 spec a while ago, and it
> > seemed god awfully rich, something that would be best left to a thin interface
> > to a proven SQL server. I like the idea of reorganizing hundreds of messages
> > into virtual mailboxes based on search criteria with a few SQL commands. I
> > haven't used IMAP in a while (used to speak it fluently), so my ideas about
> > it might have grown vague.
> 
> So ... the IMAP daemon is just a relay for SQL commands .... how strange
> ... I use IMAP, but haven't read the RFCs as much as you have. So I'll let
> that one lie.
> 
> >       Also, simplifies syncronization in a cluster on the mail server end,
> > and get to take advantage of all sorts of fun stuff like replication :)
> 
> I know about replication (and I use it in production. Livin'
> dangerously.... ;). That wasn't necessarily the failure point that I was
> referring to; rather, it's the DBMS itself. If your tables become
> currupted or data somehow becomes incoherent, and the corrupted/bad
> tablespace is replicated to your slave, you're still screwed.
> 
> Not to mention the fact that your admins have to learn yet another
> front-end (mysql>, SQL*Plus, whatever) just to look at and manipulate
> data. I hear the sound of wheels being re-invented....
> 
> You want a pair of loadbalancers, at least two mailservers, and a NetApp
> filer. Right tool for the job and all that.
> 
> But hey; it's your server. If you want to do it, go for it.
> 
> Dan
> --
> Dan Debertin
> airboss at nodewarrior.org
> www.nodewarrior.org
> 
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