IEEE 802.1 Email Lists
Email from the Lists

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Updated June 13, 2009

for Subscribers

General

Sending

Received mail

valid mail

junk mail

Missed mail?

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Signing off

Options

Other changes

Web interfaces

Email commands

Archive

FAQ

Help

Format for list email

The list software adds an identifying tag to the email subject, unless subscriber options prevent it. Of course, other email may also carry the tag, particularly if someone sends a reply or forwards a copy of a previous message directly to you, with the subject unchanged. The tag formats are:

  • "[802.1 - seq#]" for the 802.1 list, where seq# is a posting sequence number;
  • "[802.1_ballot - seq#]" for the ballot list;
  • "[802-ARCH]" for the Architecture list.

Note: If subscriber options are set to block tagging, mail sent in reply to earlier posts may still carry subject tags. In that case, the seq#, if present, reflects the previous message.

If you need a filter to identify list email, the most reliable indicator (if your software can use it) is the Sender header field. Formats are:
for 802.1 and ballot lists: Sender: "IEEE 802.1 list HELP only" <user-name@domain>
for the Architecture list:   Sender: IEEE 802 Architecture list HELP only <user-name@domain>
where user-name@domain varies. (It’s a throwaway address used by the list administrator.)

List messages preserve the original sender's "From:" and "Reply-To:" header fields.

List email frequently contains URLs for documents or other information. Sometimes a URL may be broken into two lines by either the sending or receiving email tool. If that happens, you may need to reassemble the parts of the URL to use it. Extended discussion of broken URLs is unnecessary.

Server email

Any server notice regarding your subscription will show "IEEE LISTSERV Server (V.R)" as the source, where V.R represents the version/release designation of the IEEE's current ListServ®.

Junk mail apparently “from” the list or owner

Any mail with a "From:" header field containing the list address, or any of the addresses related to the list (e.g., owner-listname), is either

  • spam, or
  • the result of address spoofing (probably by Internet worms propagating via email).

Viruses

List email is checked for viruses by the IEEE. Typically, a virus is removed before the message reaches the list, and the mail is blocked. The list also refuses many types of attachments that carry viruses. However, there is no guarantee that all will be caught. If the subject or purported author looks questionable, handle it with caution.

Most blocked viruses have been Microsoft Windows based and recognized by virus detectors for some time. Windows users in particular are urged to use virus detection software and keep it up to date.

Unsolicited commercial email (UCE, or “spam”)

"Spam" describes any email sent to the list which is

  • not related to the list's work, operation, or communications, and
  • sent (apparently) by a nonparticipant.
Spam is unwelcome and usually blocked. If any reaches the list, the administrator can be assumed to be improving the defenses.