from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
Listserv
<messaging> An automatic {mailing list} server, initially
written to run under {IBM}'s {VM} {operating system} by Eric
Thomas.
Listserv is a {user name} on some computers on {BITNET}/{EARN}
which processes {electronic mail} requests for addition to or
deletion from mailing lists. Examples are [email protected],
[email protected].
Some listservs provide other facilities such as retrieving
files from {archives} and {database} search. Full details of
available services can usually be obtained by sending a
message with the word HELP in the subject and body to the
listserv address.
Eric Thomas, has recently formed an international corporation,
L-Soft, and has ported Listserv to a number of other
{platforms} including {Unix}. Listserv has simultaneously
been enhanced to use both the {Internet} and {BITNET}.
Two other major {mailing list} processors, both of which run
under {Unix}, are {Majordomo}, a {freeware} system, and
{Listproc}, currently owned and developed by {BITNET}.
(1995-02-22)