Re: EMAIL != FTP

[Jim Mercer <jim () reptiles org>]

On Fri, May 25, 2001 at 06:32:48AM -0400, Mitch Halmu wrote:
> So what's a regular user to do? Email it! Hence the legitimate use of
> email for transmission of large files. Most ISPs know that if they start
> limiting this privilege, users will migrate to someone that allows it.

i regularly configure ISP's with a limit on the size of email messages.
(generally 10meg, although i think 100k is probably better).

when they get a complaint, i then point them to the fact that many of the
large email messages get stuck in the queue because the receiving side
is too slow or doesn't have enough disk, or the users quota is full.

and of course, the sending user hears that it wasn't received, and then
assumes it was lost and resends it.

file transfer by email is evil.

i've been saying that for literally 10 years now:

> Date:     Sun, 19 May 1991 17:38:33 EDT
> From: Melinda Varian <maint () pucc princeton edu>
> To: merce () iguana UUCP
> Subject:  Re: status of BITFTP for non-BITNET sites
>
> Yes,  BITFTP is currently restricted to users sending requests from
> sites on BITNET/EARN/NetNorth.  And, yes, this is the direct result
> of your complaints.

-- 
[ Jim Mercer        jim () reptiles org         +1 416 410-5633 ]
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