[Mailman-Developers] MM3: list disabling/enabling?

[Lindsay Haisley]

On Tue, 2011-07-12 at 17:23 +0200, Patrick Ben Koetter wrote:
> Is disabling a list a temporary measure? If it is, should the server reply a
> temporary error?

In my humble opinion, an intentionally disabled list should cause the
mail system to generate a 500 class error (permanent error).  400 class
errors (temporary errors) are generally reserved for situations where
the _intention_ is that the mail should go through but is prevented from
doing so by problems for which a solution is in progress.  A 400 class
error causes the originating system to cache and re-try delivery, so if
a list returns a 400 class error, it's just "delayed", not truly
"disabled".  This may be a fine distinction, and if a list is disabled
for technical reasons with the intention of bringing it back up in short
order without losing traffic, then perhaps a 400 class error would be
more appropriate.

-- 
Lindsay Haisley       | "We have met the enemy, and it is us."
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