Newsgroups

Subordinate to any NNTP virtual server node in the MMC is a Newsgroups node, as shown in Figure 5-2. Right-click the Newsgroups node, and you can select either of the following two actions:

• Limit Groups Enumeration Opens the Find Newsgroups window so that you can filter the newsgroups displayed in the right pane of the MMC.

• Create A New Newsgroup Starts the New Newsgroup Wizard.

Limit Groups Enumeration

Choose Limit Groups Enumeration, and the Find Newsgroup window opens, where you can filter the newsgroups shown in the right pane of the MMC. If many newsgroups are hosted in your NNTP virtual server, it could become difficult to manage the newsgroups because you cannot find the proper newsgroup or because you are running the MMC over a limited bandwidth network connection. To help reduce the burden of listing hundreds or thousands of newsgroups to locate the one you need, you can filter using a query string that is compared to the newsgroup name. The default value for this selection is an asterisk (*), which shows all newsgroups. The maximum number of newsgroups listed can also be limited. By default, list limiting is turned on and is set to 100 newsgroups.

Create a New Newsgroup

Newsgroups may be added to the NNTP virtual server by selecting the Create A New Newsgroup command and starting the New Newsgroup Wizard.

1. Right-click the Newsgroups node in the left pane of the MMC and choose New | Newsgroup.

2. The New Newsgroup Wizard will open, prompting for the name of the newsgroup being added. Enter the name and click the Next button to continue.

3. The next screen prompts for the Description and a Pretty Name for the new newsgroup. The values you enter in these text boxes will be displayed in the respective column, identified in the right pane of the MMC. Click the Finish button and the new newsgroup will be added to the NNTP virtual server.

Newsgroups are displayed in the right pane of the Computer Management MMC when the Newsgroups node is selected for a given NNTP virtual server. Each newsgroup is identified by a newspaper icon. Fields across the top of the right pane of the MMC reflect the properties for the newsgroup and provide an easy means for checking the newsgroup’s status, as shown in Figure 5-2.

Configuring Newsgroup Properties

At any time, any of the properties for a given newsgroup may be edited by right-clicking the newsgroup in the MMC and choosing Properties. In the Properties window, you can set or edit the following configurations:

• Description Text box that contains optional description of the newsgroup

• Pretty Name Text box that contains another name for the newsgroup that some news readers will display

• Read Only Checkbox that sets the newsgroup as a read-only newsgroup; the moderator is the only person who can post messages

• Moderated Checkbox that sets the newsgroup to use a moderator specified in the Moderator text box

• Moderator Text box that contains the e-mail address for the moderator; if the Set Default button is clicked, the default moderator e-mail set for the NNTP virtual server will be reset

After the settings have been edited, click OK and the changes will be made to the newsgroup immediately.

Administering Newsgroups

Newsgroups may be renamed, deleted, and refreshed. To perform any of these functions, right-click the specific newsgroup node in the MMC and select the respective action. Choosing to Rename a newsgroup will enable you to edit the name displayed in the MMC. The Delete function deletes the newsgroup after you are presented a confirmation prompt. The Refresh function will cause the MMC to query the NTPP service to get the latest configurations and newsgroup status to ensure that the newsgroup is displayed with the latest status in the MMC.