RoverNET History

The RoverNet is a mailing list for all Rover Car enthusiasts around the world.  It was started by me March 23, 1995 under the sponsorship of The Rover Car Club of Canada when I wanted to subscribe to such a mailing list after I developed Internet access at home.  I noticed that there were many mailing lists for every marque except the ROVER car. Even the Land Rover people had beautiful pictures to see and an active mailing list to join. It was by luck that I stumbled on to a supportive person named David Hwang who offered to provide space and opportunity for a Rover owners' list.  The server resided at first in Michigan, U.S.A. at the University where David was working. He set up part of the server using free software called Majordomo.  It required an active human component to deal with errors generated. The manager, me, lived on the Wet Coast of Canada, many miles away from the majordomo. I offered to do the tedious work so that David would not have to bother. This arrangement went on for some time.  Some frustrations developed when a person's email address was not correct.  For example, a person would obtain an email address at work.  He would change jobs but not unsubscribe from the RoverNet.  His company would disconnect the address.  Our majordomo still tried to send messages but their system rejected the message as no such user.  I would then get the error message.  If we had a heavy traffic day and 22 messages were sent out by subscribers, I would get 22 error messages.  In due course, things changed.  David moved to the eastern U.S.A. to set up a medical clinic.  He had a friend in Michigan assist from time to time.  The server in Michigan began to wear out and it crashed from time to time giving the subscribers unreliable service.  David found a new server opportunity close to where he lived and some prototype software called Lyris.  The Lyris software had its own error handling routine where IT cut off bad addresses on its own.  My problems dropped considerably.  Now, members could access the Rovernet both through email and a visual Internet site.  They could enter the site, subscribe, unsubscribe, and change their settings and preferences. The Lyris software worked well for a time.  We were pushing our luck, however.  As prototype software, it had some glitches.  The one that worked for us involved the maximum subscribers allowed.  It permitted only 200 members subscribing through the email route.  Our membership totaled 250 persons.  David noticed that the software permitted all those members if subscribed by him and me through the Internet browser site.  The software became unstable for us due to its experimental nature.  He could BUY the latest version but who would pay for that.  We entered a period of time where we considered that we would have to try to raise funds to help David purchase the software.   Luckily for us, Tom Kranz in the U.K. entered the picture.  He was a computer systems administrator where the organization used Lyris software and their licensed user capacity far exceeded their needs.  He discussed an idea with his employer and they were agreeable.  He would take over the membership list and run it from his organization's server in the U.K.  We tested the process and it worked!  Soon, the RoverNet address changed and the RoverNet surfaced in the U.K. but it is still managed by me in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada.

We have over 250 subscribers around the world (the U.K., Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the U.S.A., and many other countries).  The subscribers include owners of parts supply shops, owners of garages, mechanics, experienced owners, and enthusiasts with a broad base of experience and education.  The discussions can range from technical tips not found in any manual to philosophic and humourous threads on any topic.  Regular subscribers have developed a camaraderie with people they haven't met but whose contributions are enjoyed.

n In the late fall of 2002, the Rovernet encountered a server breakdown which put us offline for about a week.  During that time, I established a new site for the Rovernet at "Topica.com".  The original Rovernet was restarted using different software. We used "Rovernet-Topica" as a backup site for a while.  I renamed Rovernet as "Rovernet-UK" to show the difference. We started using an "Open Source" software called "Mailman".  The Rovernet main site is operating from Mailman software in the UK <rovernet@lyris.ccdata.com > although it *appears* as Lyris .  It is managed from North Vancouver, BC, Canada.  The<rovernet@topica.com>  list was used as a back-up but then the providers inserted an advertisement before and after each email message.  The main list crashed again in 2004 so I have moved the back-up list to:  http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Rover_net/    The "Rover_net" is managed by me.  There is a Yahoogroup "Rovernet" but that was started by someone else who directed main list messages there.  It seemed to be beyond control for most of the time so use the "Rover_net" group as back-up. (Rover "underscore"net)

In early May 2008, one of the technical support staff members in the UK suggested that we find a new computer host server for the Rovernet.  They wanted an opportunity to sell the domain "ccdata.com".  I have begun a search for a new location.  At the time of writing, it looks like a server that I rent has the ability to install "Mailman"   software.  If that becomes a viable option, then the UK staff can transfer all the files, the archives, and the membership database to the new location.  If that can happen then the looks and operation of the Rovernet will continue and people would just have to change the email address to send email to the group. In the interim, I established a test site.  A core group of Rovernet enthusiasts requested subscription to this test list.  To show this difference, I now show "Rovernet-UK" being the main list and "Rovernet-CANADA" being the test list.  Once we have established a new server location, I'd like the list to be renamed as "Rovernet-INTERNATIONAL".  More later.........

A year has passed since the RCCC bought a new domain<rovernet.ca>and I moved the old Rovernet to the new location. The archives are integrated into the Mailman program and so we could not find a way to install them easily.  I moved all the old archives to a new location on the Rovernet domain. The files were changed to another format and connected into a search engine which allows a subscriber to easily search the old archives. The hotlinks to the old and new archives are on the bottom of every Rovernet message.

In May 2010, we experienced observations by some members that they were not receiving Rovernet messages. An Internet savvy member discovered that our web host's "IP" address was found on a "SPAM" list. Our web host did not provide technical support - uncommunicative, actually. We decided that we must move. After deliberation and a tip from a webmaster in the UK who used another web host, we moved operations to that web host. Although we retained most things, we lost the search capacity of the old archives so we have had to suspend that function for now. Anyway, the people who reported stoppage in service now report the Rovernet service has picked up so we have soldiered on but at a greatly increased cost to the Rover Car Club of Canada for hosting the Rovernet and its own Club site. Oh,.... well..... the joys of the Internet :-(

We are now just "The original Rovernet..."

It is a great communication medium and we welcome any newcomers. If you have trouble connecting, then send a message to webmaster@roverclub.ca