MXSERV (MX/MLF) 4.1

Section-Update: 28 Nov 94

MX (for "Message Exchange") is a free mail system for VMS, designed to work with VMS Mail. Its architecture is that of a central "router" surrounded by independent delivery agents--one for UUCP, one for SMTP, one for DECNET, etc. One delivery agent you can choose to install is MLF, the "Mailing List/File Server" package, giving you free MLM capabilities under VMS. (MX also includes hooks to LISTSERV, if you choose to use that MLM instead.)

Unusual features

Features for users

The mailing-list portion of MX/MLF is usually reached at the address MXSERV or MXSERVER, but is also reachable at "listname-request." It supports basic user commands including subscribe, unsubscribe, review, help, and "query" (i.e. "which lists am I on"), as well as a "set" command by which users can control whether they are sent copies of their own postings and whether they are listed in a review of subscribers. The file server portion, usually reached at the address FILESERV, supports directory and get commands as well as an "address" directive to redirect output to another user.

Features for administrators

MX/MLF supports open and closed subscription, reviewable and and private subscription lists, and open as well as owner-moderated posting, all configured through the same interface used to set up the rest of MX's functions.

Mailing lists and other information resources

MX's user discussion list is MX-List@WKUVX1.BITNET; subscribe by sending "subscribe" in the body of a message to MX-List-Request@WKUVX1.BITNET. The MX distribution includes extensive Postscript-format documentation.

System requirements

MX runs on OpenVMS VAX (VAX/VMS) versions 5.0 and up, and on all versions of OpenVMS AXP. To act as an Internet MTA, MX requires prior installation of one of several vendors' TCP/IP packages.

Cost and licensing

How to get it

Get MX at ftp.spc.edu://pub/mx/.