PCFA.org is changing mail servers. Our old server's mail system dates back to the style used in the mid-1990s. It's time for a change to help stop SPAM and server abuse and purge accounts that are no longer used. Check this page often to see if there is new information. The last update of this page was 2/24/2007 at 4:30pm.
When we change servers, existing e-mail will NOT be moved, so move it to your computer NOW! If you routinely POP your e-mail by using a program such as "Outlook Express", your e-mail is already on your computer and you don't need to be concerned with this step. If you use the PCFA.org shell prompt and 'pine' to retrieve your e-mail, install a POP or IMAP client such as "Outlook Express" and retrieve your messages and folders NOW! If you use IMAP and leave messages on the PCFA.org server, move the messages and folders to your computer NOW!
Here's what will happen to the e-mail on the server at the time we make the change: If your mailbox has only a few current messages, the messages will be left on the old server and you will be sent instructions how to retrieve the messages. If your mailbox has non-current messages, mostly mailing lists or mostly SPAM, we will assume you do not use your mailbox and the e-mail and your account will be deleted from the old server. Your account will be created on the new server, but see the notes, below, concerning deletion from the new server.
Your mailbox will continue to be YOUR_PCFA_USER_NAME@pcfa.org. The account is still free and subject to PCFA.org appropriate use policy as well as IOCC.com's terms and conditions. The new server has a mailbox limit (quota) of 20MB. If you let the mailbox get to quota and stay there, the mailbox will be deleted without notice. Also, any e-mail message older than 90 days will be deleted. If your mailbox is forwarded to another account, a new mail box will NOT be created. We will preserve the @pcfa.org address and forward the mail to the address we have on file. If the mail bounces regularly, the forward will be deleted. The new server handles POP3 or IMAP. It does NOT have shell access, so 'pine' will no longer be available. If you have POSTINI SPAM and virus filtering for your e-mail, it will automatically move to the new server. If you do NOT have POSTINI filtering for your e-mail, you are encouraged to contact IOCC.com and subscribe to it for about $15.96 per year.
Your USERNAME will be the same. Your PASSWORD will change to one we generate and e-mail to you. If you want to select your own password (or use your current one), e-mail your account name and password to dstewart @ pcfa.org BEFORE February 28, 2007. If you no longer want or need a PCFA.org e-mail address, or if you want your PCFA.org e-mail delivered to another mailbox, please send a note to dstewart @ pcfa.org with what you would like done.
If you have a specific problem, you may call Danny's cell phone between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The number is 870 904 2131. Remember, Danny is an unpaid volunteer. Expect a quick response. Do NOT expect step-by-step problem solving. Most likely, you will be instructed to check this web page to see if your question is answered.
Here is a list of questions and answers. Q1. When will the change be made? A1. The accounts are being created on the new server when Danny has time. Most of the accounts will be created by March 3 or 4. The cutover to the new server will likely be the following weekend, March 10 or 11. Everything depends on Danny's schedule. Q2. Why won't e-mail be moved or migrated to the new server? A2. Time. Most mailboxes contain thousands of junk mail and mailing list messages that are ignored by their users. When the time comes, Danny will decide if he want to (a) leave the old mail server running for a few days and send e-mail to users with instructions of how to get their mail, or (b) migrate the mail to the new server and take down the old server immediately. Q3. Is the server moving? A3. The mail accounts are moving to IOCC.com's mail server in Arkadelphia where there is more bandwidth to handle incoming e-mail. The PCFA.org web server is staying at the Bank of Prescott. We're hoping to raise money for a new server (about $1,000), so if you'd like to contribute, please contact Eddie (edaniel @ pcfa.org)! Q4. How about web pages? A4. No change. Still http://www.pcfa.org/~YOUR_PCFA_USER_NAME See the note about shell accounts, below. Q5. How about the shell account? A5. The shell accounts (actually secure shell or SSH) will be eliminated for all non-administrative users AFTER all the e-mail has been changed to another server. Users with personal web pages will be switched to FTP only access. Users who do not have web pages will have their account deleted on the old server. Q6. What are the alternatives to this change? A6. Turn off the server.
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