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MOD-ACTIVE(8)
NAME
  mod-active - batch processing of ctlinnd newgroup/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
  contains 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 "checkgroups-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
  realistic ways I can think of for this to happen are either by an
  administrator concurrently doing a manual ctlinnd command, or by innd
  receiving a control message, then mod-active pausing the server, then the
  control message handler script that innd forked running its own ctlinnd
  command 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), active.times(5), actsync(8), ctlinnd(8), innd(8).

Index for Section 8

Alphabetical listing for M

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