








            Files in /usr/lib/news (aka NEWSCTL)


                       Henry Spencer

                      Dept. of Zoology
                   University of Toronto





The following files can appear in /_u_s_r/_l_i_b/_n_e_w_s (or wherever
the  site's  ``NEWSCTL''  directory-see _D_i_r_e_c_t_o_r_y _L_a_y_o_u_t _a_n_d
_P_A_T_H _i_n _C _N_e_w_s-is).  There may be others  for  the  sake  of
local  news  readers,  etc.,  but  these are the ones C News
knows about.

active         Major control file: list of newsgroups recog-
               nized at this site, including current maximum
               and minimum article  numbers  and  moderation
               status.  Updated by _r_e_l_a_y_n_e_w_s and _u_p_a_c_t.

active.old     Previous _a_c_t_i_v_e.  Created by _u_p_a_c_t.

active.times   List of created newsgroups and when they were
               created, aimed at making it possible for news
               readers to be smarter about  knowing  when  a
               group  is new.  Not yet supported by standard
               news readers.

batchlog       Latest batcher log, created  by  _s_e_n_d_b_a_t_c_h_e_s,
               showing backlogs.

batchlog.o*    Previous batcher logs.

batchparms     Control file for _s_e_n_d_b_a_t_c_h_e_s, specifying  how
               to feed other sites.

bin            Master  override  directory   for   programs,
               searched  before  any  other  by  all  C News
               software.  Normally contains only the  _c_o_n_f_i_g
               shell  file  specifying  where to find every-
               thing else.

errlog         Error log from _r_e_l_a_y_n_e_w_s.

errlog.o*      Previous _e_r_r_l_o_gs.

explist        Control file for _e_x_p_i_r_e, specifying what gets
               expired,  and  when,  and  what  archiving is



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               done.

history        List of  articles  currently  known  at  this
               site,  with  reception  dates  and pathnames.
               Updated by _r_e_l_a_y_n_e_w_s and _e_x_p_i_r_e.

history.dir    Part of the _d_b_m index for _h_i_s_t_o_r_y.

history.pag    Other part of the _d_b_m index for _h_i_s_t_o_r_y.

history.o      Previous _h_i_s_t_o_r_y.  Created by _e_x_p_i_r_e.

localgroups    List of local groups  and  descriptions,  for
               use  by  _c_h_e_c_k_g_r_o_u_p_s  control-message handler
               (which uses it to decide what groups are leg-
               itimate  even  though the _c_h_e_c_k_g_r_o_u_p_s message
               did not mention them).  Each line is a  group
               name,  a  tab, and a terse description of the
               group.  The descriptions  are  read  only  by
               humans.

log            Log file from _r_e_l_a_y_n_e_w_s, reporting  what  was
               received and when.

log.o*         Previous _l_o_gs.

mailname       Name of the site for purposes of mail,  typi-
               cally  a  domainized  name.  Used in building
               ``From:'' lines in newly-posted news.  If not
               present, ``_h_o_s_t_n_a_m_e.uucp'' is assumed.

mailpaths      Mailing routes for submissions  to  moderated
               newsgroups.

newsgroups     File created by _c_h_e_c_k_g_r_o_u_p_s processing,  with
               names  and  descriptions  of newsgroups.  For
               human reading only.  Format identical to that
               of _l_o_c_a_l_g_r_o_u_p_s.

newsgroups.bac Previous _n_e_w_s_g_r_o_u_p_s file.  Created by  _c_h_e_c_k_-
               _g_r_o_u_p_s processing.

organization   Name of the organization, for _i_n_e_w_s's use  in
               creating   the  _O_r_g_a_n_i_z_a_t_i_o_n:  header  for  a
               posted article.

postdefltdist  Default   distribution   (if   any;   default
               ``world'') for _p_o_s_t_n_e_w_s.

postdefltgroup Default newsgroup  (if  any;  default  is  to
               insist  on  the user supplying one) for _p_o_s_t_-
               _n_e_w_s.

replyusepath   This file should exist if  and  only  if  the



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                           - 3 -


               local  ``mail''  command  is unable to handle
               `@' addresses, meaning that replies  to  con-
               trol  messages  (etc.) must use the ``Path:''
               line instead of ``From:''.  The contents  are
               ignored.

server         Host name  of  the  news  server,  where  all
               operations  (posting,  etc.)  should be done.
               If file  does  not  exist,  current  host  is
               assumed.

setnewsids     Set-uid-root program to get  user  and  group
               ids  correct  for  _r_e_l_a_y_n_e_w_s.  Needed only if
               the system is old  enough  to  refuse  to  do
               _s_e_t_u_i_d(_g_e_t_e_u_i_d()).    Included   in   NEWSCTL
               rather than NEWSBIN because its presence is a
               significant  policy issue for the administra-
               tor, i.e. it is, sort of, a control file.

sys            Major control file specifying what groups are
               legitimate  here,  and what groups are fed to
               other sites.

watchtime      Last time _n_e_w_s_w_a_t_c_h was run.

whoami         Name of the system  for  news  purposes,  for
               _n_e_w_s_h_o_s_t_n_a_m_e.   If file does not exist, other
               sources (_h_o_s_t_n_a_m_e etc.) are consulted.





























                       9 June 1989


