www/server/standards README.webmastering.html

[Dora Scilipoti]

CVSROOT:        /web/www
Module name:    www
Changes by:     Dora Scilipoti <dora>   15/01/17 14:27:31

Modified files:
        server/standards: README.webmastering.html 

Log message:
        More under 'mirrors'.

CVSWeb URLs:
http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewcvs/www/server/standards/README.webmastering.html?cvsroot=www&r1=1.178&r2=1.179

Patches:
Index: README.webmastering.html
===================================================================
RCS file: /web/www/www/server/standards/README.webmastering.html,v
retrieving revision 1.178
retrieving revision 1.179
diff -u -b -r1.178 -r1.179
--- README.webmastering.html    6 Jan 2015 07:20:17 -0000       1.178
+++ README.webmastering.html    17 Jan 2015 14:27:30 -0000      1.179
@@ -750,57 +750,76 @@
 
 <h3 id="mirrors">Mirrors</h3>
 
-<p><i>ftp mirrors:</i> we have <a href="/server/mirror.html">advice for
-mirrors</a> that explains what we ask mirror volunteers to provide.</p>
+<h4>GNU mirrors</h4> 
 
-<p>When we get a request to add, change, or remove a mirror of
-ftp.gnu.org, first ensure the mirror meets our criteria, as described on
-the above page.  If in <i>any</i> doubt, check with the mailing list
-and/or address@hidden before taking any action.</p>
+<p>When we get a request to add, change, or remove a mirror of ftp.gnu.org, 
+first ensure the mirror meets our criteria, as described on
+<a href="/server/mirror.html">advice for mirrors</a>; that page explains 
+what we ask mirror volunteers to provide.  If in <i>any</i> doubt, comment
+on the same ticket to ask other webmasters' opinion, or check with the 
+webmasters mailing list and/or address@hidden before taking any 
+action.</p>
 
 <p>After confirming the mirror meets our criteria for listing, do this:</p>
 
 <ol>
-  <li>Edit the file prep/FTP (in CVS); it's plain text, not HTML.</li> 
+  <li>Edit the file /prep/FTP (in CVS); it's plain text, not HTML.</li> 
   <li>Run <code>make</code> in the <tt>prep/</tt> subdirectory.</li>  
-  <li>cvs commit both of the files FTP and ftp.html. In the commit log message,
-  include the name of the mirror and its location, and the RT number if there 
-  is one.</li>
+  <li>cvs commit both files FTP and ftp.html. In the commit log message,
+  include the name of the mirror and its location, and the RT number if 
+  there is one.</li>
   <li>Update the file <tt>/gd/gnuorg/web/FTP.contacts</tt> on Fencepost, 
   keeping the pattern as explained at the beginning of the file.</li>
+  <li>See next entry about the status of mirrors.</li>
 </ol>
 
+<h5>Checking the Status of Mirrors</h5>
+
+<p>Mirrors are useful as long as they are kept up-to-date. Outdated mirrors
+can even be harmful, since downloading old versions of software may involve 
+security risks for users. Checking the status of mirrors is therefore an 
+essential part of the process of adding/modifying mirrors.</p>
+
 <p>A <a href="http://download.savannah.gnu.org/mirmon/allgnu/";>mirmon page</a> 
-tracker shows how up-to-date each mirror is (maintained by savannah). when a 
-mirror has gotten more than a week or two out of date, it is good to contact
-its maintainers and let them know about the problem so that they can fix it.
-If a mirror needs to be removed, please check to see if it is referenced 
+tracker (maintained by savannah) shows how up-to-date each mirror is. When 
+a mirror has gotten more than a few days out of date, it is necessary to 
+contact its maintainers and let them know about the problem so that they 
+can fix it. For examples on how to do this, search the RT system for 
+tickets with subjects containing &ldquo;[Mirror Status]&rdquo;.</p>
+
+<p>If a mirror needs to be removed, please check to see if it is referenced 
 on <tt>/server/mirror.html</tt> and remove that entry as well.</p>
 
 <p>The address <tt>http://ftpmirror.gnu.org/PKG</tt> (also maintained by 
 savannah) multiplexes between the mirrors, trying to choose one that is
 nearby and up to date.</p>
 
-<p><i>nongnu mirrors:</i> when we get a request to add, change, or
-remove a nongnu savannah mirror, email address@hidden
-with the information.  The reason to use -private is to avoid the
-contact address from becoming public. If the email address of a mirror 
-admin is not involved or there are no other privacy issues, it's better to 
-use address@hidden</p>
-
-<p><i>www mirrors:</i> we no longer recommend or list mirrors of
-www.gnu.org.</p>
-
-<p><i>Mirror contact information:</i> when we get a request relating to
-a mirror, please check the file <tt>/gd/gnuorg/web/FTP.contacts</tt> on
-Fencepost and add contact information if it's not there already.  We
-lack information for many older mirrors.</p>
-
-<p><i>Ibiblio URL changes:</i> if we are told or determine that the
-rsync URL for ibiblio, or the <a href="/server/mirror.html">advertised
-source mirrors</a> URLs, change, all mirror maintainers should be
-informed.  This requires hand-assembling a list of addresses from the
-<tt>FTP.contacts</tt> file based on the current mirror list.</p>
+<h4>nongnu mirrors</h4> 
+
+<p>When we get a request to add, change, or remove a nongnu savannah mirror, 
+email address@hidden with the information.  The reason to 
+use -private is to avoid the contact address from becoming public. If the 
+email address of a mirror admin is not involved or there are no other 
+privacy issues, it's better to  use address@hidden</p>
+
+<h4>www mirrors</h4> 
+
+<p>We no longer recommend or list mirrors of www.gnu.org.</p>
+
+<p><b>Mirror contact information</b></p> 
+
+<p>When we get a request relating to a mirror, please check the file 
+<tt>/gd/gnuorg/web/FTP.contacts</tt> on Fencepost and add contact 
+information if it's not there already, or update it, if necessary. We lack 
+information for many older mirrors, or the data we have is not up to date.</p>
+
+<p><b>Ibiblio URL changes</b></p> 
+
+<p>If we are told or determine that there is a change in the rsync URL or 
+the <a href="/server/mirror.html">advertised source mirror</a> URLs for 
+ibiblio, all mirror maintainers should be informed.  This requires 
+hand-assembling a list of addresses from the <tt>FTP.contacts</tt> file 
+based on the current mirror list.</p>
 
 <h3 id="thankgnu">ThankGNU/ThankCRM</h3>
 
@@ -1251,7 +1270,7 @@
 
 <p class="unprintable">Updated:
 <!-- timestamp start -->
-$Date: 2015/01/06 07:20:17 $
+$Date: 2015/01/17 14:27:30 $
 <!-- timestamp end -->
 </p>
 </div>