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Internet Exchange Frequently Asked Questions

Internet Exchange Distribution List Manager
Automatic Mailing List Subscription

Introduction
When the DL Manager receives a subscription request, it first checks the type of list the sender is trying to subscribe to.  If it is an open list, the DL Manager activates automatic subscription and makes note of the email address of the sender.  A message is then sent to the prospective new member informing him/her that the subscription request has been received and requesting confirmation.  Upon receipt of the confirmation message back from the subscriber, they will be automatically added to the requested list.

Subscription Procedure
In order to subscribe to an Internet Exchange Distribution List, the potential subscriber sends a simple message to the list owner address.   By convention, the list owner is list-request@domain.com, where list@domain.com is the mailing list submission address.  The potential subscriber sends a message to this address, with a Subject specified as subscribe.

If the distribution list is an open list, the Distribution List Manager will record the request and send a confirmation message back to the potential subscriber.    This is done to verify the identity of the sender, so that improper or bogus subscription requests are not processed. 

The confirmation message that is sent back to the requestor looks like the following:

To complete the subscription process, the requestor simply replies to the above message using their preferred email client as follows:

When the Distribution List Manager receives the confirmation from the new subscriber, it will then automataically add the new subscriber to the requested list.   In addition, it will send out a confirmation message similar to the one below informing the new subscriber of the status of the request:

Custom Subscription Text
The examples shown above represent the default messages sent to new list subscribers.   Each of the automatic messages that are sent out by the Distribution List Manager can be customized by the list owner.    To modify the settings for a given list, select the Distribution List Manager through the Internet Exchange Messaging Server Web-based administrative interface, and then selet "Modify Mailing List" and then the appropriate list.  The location of the text files used for the above messages is set here, and can be changed if necessary.   If the files exist, they will be used instead of the default message(s).

The customization of the subscription messages sent to new members can be very useful in introducing new members to the nature or culture of a list, as well as letting them know how to unsubscribe to the list should they ever decide to leave the forum.