Repository Replication Using NNTP and SMTP

TL;DR

This paper explores using existing email and Usenet infrastructure to replicate digital repositories, leveraging current policies for long-term data preservation without addressing migration or emulation challenges.

Contribution

It demonstrates the feasibility of piggybacking repository data on email and Usenet traffic for preservation and dissemination purposes.

Findings

Repository contents can be disseminated via email and Usenet.

Long-term persistence is supported by existing policies.

The approach offers a simple method for refreshing content with unknown partners.

Abstract

We present the results of a feasibility study using shared, existing, network-accessible infrastructure for repository replication. We investigate how dissemination of repository contents can be ``piggybacked'' on top of existing email and Usenet traffic. Long-term persistence of the replicated repository may be achieved thanks to current policies and procedures which ensure that mail messages and news posts are retrievable for evidentiary and other legal purposes for many years after the creation date. While the preservation issues of migration and emulation are not addressed with this approach, it does provide a simple method of refreshing content with unknown partners.