🚀 go-pugleaf

For several years, I have run small networks with /var/spool/mail
NFS-mounted from a single server to a bunch of workstations.  I have
yet to have a problem doing this.  Most of these machines have been
Sun's running a recent version of SunOS.

However, as I understand it, due to various bugs in various vendors'
rpc.lockds, this is running the risk of getting one's mailbox
thoroughly hosed if more than one process tries to write the mailbox
at once.

I am now working with a network of Sun SPARC's running SunOS 4.1.2 as
well a few DECstations runing Ultrix 4.2a.  We are using IDA Sendmail
5.65c. 

I'd be curious to know how many folks have actually had this kind of
problem -- if it turns out to be very few, NFS seems like it would be
worth the convenience.  Specific experience about the reliability of
the SunOS and Ultrix lockd's would also be interesting.

Also, where do the Elm lockfiles fit into all this?  Would they
prevent this problem (if everyone were to use Elm, that is), or do
they merely keep multiple copies of Elm from manipulating the same
mailbox simultaneously.

All discussion, thoughts, and email are welcome...

Thanks in advance,
Dan Mosedale

mosedale@genome.stanford.edu