Project - Usenet Retirement
On August 21, 2008, Information Technology Services (ITS) will retire the Usenet server newshost.cc.utexas.edu from service. As part of this retirement, ITS will no longer provide Usenet newsreading and posting services. The utilization of Usenet on campus has declined steadily since its peak popularity in the late 1990s. As part of a regular, ongoing evaluation of service offerings, ITS has elected to shift Usenet resources to newer technologies that promise greater benefits for the entire campus community.
If you currently use utexas.class.* newsgroups to host class discussions, you are encouraged to switch to Blackboard, which provides tools for sending announcements and holding online discussions. The following Web pages might be helpful in making the transition to Blackboard:
- General support page for UT Austin faculty using Blackboard
- FAQ about Blackboard communications tools
- Tutorial on Blackboard's Web site about setting up discussion boards
If you are a Usenet newsgroup reader or poster, you are encouraged to investigate the following options:
- Get an account with an Internet service provider (ISP) that offers Usenet service. If you already use an ISP with its own Usenet server, you should be able to change your newsreading/posting client to work with your ISP's server.
- If you read newsgroups but do not post messages, use Google Groups to search and read Usenet newsgroups.
- Purchase an individual Usenet newsreading and posting account from a commercial provider. Search the Web using the term "personal Usenet account" to find providers. Some common providers are Supernews and Giganews.
