mod-active    -   batch   processing   of   ctlinnd   new­
       group/rmgroup/changegroup


SYNOPSIS

       mod-active [ ctlinnd_command_file ]


DESCRIPTION

       mod-active is a perl script that updates the  active  file
       based  on its input lines of ctlinnd newgroup, rmgroup and
       changegroup commands.  It pauses the server briefly  while
       the  existing active file is read and rewritten, which not
       only keeps innd from updating the  active  file  but  also
       locks against other instances of mod-active.

       The  input  to mod-active can come either from one or more
       files named on the command  line,  or  from  the  standard
       input.   Typically  its  input  is  the  output  from  the
       docheckgroups or actsync commands.  Every line which  con­
       tains  the string "ctlinnd newgroup", "ctlinnd rmgroup" or
       "ctlinnd changegroup", optionally preceded  by  whitespace
       and/or  the  path  to  ctlinnd,  is  noted for the update.
       Redundant commands, such as a  newgroup  directive  for  a
       group  that  already  exists,  are  silently ignored.  All
       other lines in the input are also silently ignored.

       After the new active file has been generated, the existing
       one is renamed to active.old and the new one is moved into
       place.  The script then displays the  differences  between
       the two files.

       Any  groups  that  were  added to the active file are also
       added to the active.times file  with  the  string  "check­
       groups-update".


BUGS

       Though  innd  is  paused while mod-active works, it is not
       inconceivable that there could be a conflict if  something
       else tries to update the active file during the relatively
       short time that mod-active is working.  The two most real­
       istic ways I can think of for this to happen are either by
       an administrator concurrently doing a manual ctlinnd  com­
       mand,  or  by  innd receiving a control message, then mod-
       active pausing the server, then the control  message  han­
       dler  script that innd forked running its own ctlinnd com­
       mand while mod-active is working.  I've  been  using  mod-
       active  regularly for several years, though, and never had
       either problem.


HISTORY

       Written by David C Lawrence <tale@isc.org>.


SEE ALSO

       active(5), actsync(8), ctlinnd(8), innd(8).


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