NAME

       mod-active - Batch processing of newsgroups creation and removal commands

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 script must be run as the news user.

       The input to mod-active can come either from one or more ctlinnd-command-file 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".

       Please note that no syntax checking is performed on group names by mod-active.

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 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.  Note that such scenarios are very unlikely to happen.

HISTORY

       Written by David C Lawrence <tale@isc.org> for InterNetNews.  Converted to POD by Julien
       Elie.

SEE ALSO

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