The DragonFly mailing lists use BestServ to handle mailing list administration.  This document describes how to interact with BestServ to subscribe and unsubscribe to the mailing lists, and other ways to interact with the lists.

## For the impatient

Mail ***listname-request@dragonflybsd.org***, where ***listname*** is the name of the mailing list you want to subscribe to.  You will get a confirmation email.  Reply to this email after changing "REJECT" to "ACCEPT" in the subject.

If you want to test your subscription, use the test@dragonflybsd.org list.


## Synopsis of BestServ list aliases

      listname - post to the list
      listname-response - authentication responses sent here
      listname-request - send subscribe/unsubscribe/etc...
      listname-command - send moderator command requests
      listname-errors - (error return for bounces, invisible)
      listname-owner - send mail to the moderator of the list

      bestserv-owner - moderator of the whole mailing list manager
      bestserv-errors - (error return for bounces, invisible)

## Getting This Help File

Email a message to the request address of the list. For example, if the list is called 'test', you would email a message to 'test-request@hostname.domain'. On this server, it would be 'test-request@lists.dragonflybsd.org'.

The body of the message should contain a single line, left justified, containing the keyword 'help' in lower case.

The list server will generally respond with this help file.

##  Authentication

Many of the requests you make to the list server requires authentication. The list server authenticates a request by emailing a message back to you with a special Subject: line. The message contains complete iunstructions. You normally Reply the message (such that the original Subject is still in the Subject: header, possibly with an Re: in front of it). You must edit the REJECT clause in the Subject line to say ACCEPT if you want to go ahead and run your original command.

You must be sure to leave the ID clause intact or the list manager will not be able to authenticate your request.

The purpose of authentication is to ensure that a valid return email address exists and to disuade spammers from crashing the list. The moderator has the ability to turn on authentication AND moderation for any request, so you may not get an immediate response.

## Subscribing

To subscribe to a list you normally send email to the -request address of the list, as in 'test-request@hostname.domain'. The body of the message should contain the keyword 'subscribe' alone or, if you want to subscribe a third party address, the subscribe keyword may be followed by an email address.

      subscribe

or

      subscribe email-address

Unless the list is a digest-only list you will receive an email for each posting to the list. If you wish to receive a digest version of the list (which could be delayed by a few hours) use the subdigest command instead of subscribe. 

## Third Party Subscribes

A Third Party Subscribe occurs when person A subscribes person B rather then just himself. This is normally allowed. The list manager will most likely have recipient verification turned on, which means that person B will be sent an email asking him or her to acknowledge the subscription before that person is actually added to the list.

If you receive a third party verification request and you do not want to be on the list, simply ignore the mail. 

## Posting from multiple email addresses

By default, most lists only allow subscribed addresses to post to the list. You can add other addresses to the list with the 'alias' command.

      alias email-address

This allows you to post to the list from another email-address without the list distribution being sent to that address. You can add as many aliases as you like. 

## Unsubscribing

To unsubscribe from a list, send the 'unsubscribe' command. You can also unsubscribe third parties by adding an email address.

      unsubscribe

or

      unsubscribe email-address

Note that if you have several list aliases, you should unsubscribe from those aliases as well as the one you are receiving the list on. 

## List Information

You can request list-specific information with the 'info' command.