[LISTSERV - the mailing list management classic]

LISTSERV Top 20 statistics – June 2007


There are many possible ways to measure the relative "importance" or "size" of LISTSERV sites: number of lists, number of subscribers, number of messages delivered, etc. In most cases, the number of messages delivered is used to rank mailing list managers, because it is the most accurate measurement of the amount of activity on the server. But, depending on what you are looking for, other variables may be more appropriate. There are currently three LISTSERV "Top 20" lists, ranking the various servers according to:

In addition, you can view a list of the Top 20 lists in the network (by number of subscribers).

What do these numbers mean exactly?

The statistics are gathered daily by a monitor at L-Soft which polls all the LISTSERV sites that participate in the "open" LISTSERV network over the worldwide Internet. Corporate servers operating in a "closed" environment are not included.

The statistics are organized in monthly reports. The message volume figures are a flat average of the accumulated traffic for the entire month. Thus, a server that delivers 300,000 messages per month will show a daily average of 10,000 messages. In practice, there is a lot less traffic during the weekend, and even during business days there can be significant fluctuations (~30%). The list statistics (number of lists, number of subscribers, largest lists in the network) are measured as of the last day in the month.

For the current month, the message volume figures are averaged based on the number of days that have elapsed. In practice, the figures are not very meaningful in the first few days, especially if the month starts on a weekend. In that case it is best to refer to the previous month for more accurate figures.

A fourth "Top 20" list is available for the more technically oriented: Number of messages generated by the server. This corresponds to the number of mail messages created by the server while processing postings to its mailing lists. LISTSERV delivers its mail using an intelligent mail delivery function called DISTRIBUTE, which improves mail delivery times and reduces bandwidth usage by spreading the delivery chore over scores of participating servers. Each of these servers processes the recipients for its service area (typically its organization or campus). In most cases, DISTRIBUTE simply alters the manner in which the mail is delivered, and the number of messages forwarded to other sites for optimized delivery is roughly equal to the number of messages received by other sites for the same purpose. In some cases, however, this is not the case, either because the server elected to serve a much wider service area than its own organization, or because it is explicitly forwarding all its deliveries to another machine (for instance, many mainframe-based servers forward their mail to a workstation or PC for delivery).


Top 20 sites by volume delivered daily (JUN07, 1-30)

Pos Recipients  Site
--- ----------  ----
  1     742275  LISTSERV.FOXNEWS.COM (Windows 2000 Server + LSMTP V1.1b)
  2     379747  MAILSENDER2.ZOOMERANG.COM (Windows 2000 Server + LSMTP V1.1b)
  3     357348  LS.TIMEINC.NET (Solaris 2.8)
  4     344305  LISTSERV.ICORS.ORG (Windows Server 2003)
  5     332240  APPLE.EASE.LSOFT.COM (Windows Server 2003 R2 x64 Edition)
  6     328195  LISTSERV.UGA.EDU (Linux 2.6.9-55.ELsmp)
  7     299110  H-NET.MSU.EDU (Linux 2.4.29)
  8     281124  MAILER.SYR.EDU (Windows 2000 Server + LSMTP V1.1b)
  9     278260  HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM (Windows Server 2003)
 10     234474  LISTS.PSU.EDU (AIX 5.2)
 11     233458  DTIC.MIL (Solaris 2.9)
 12     213164  EMA3LSV01.CNN.COM (Windows 2000 Server + LSMTP V1.1b)
 13     204347  LISTS.CAMPMOR.COM (Windows NT 4.0 + LSMTP V1.1b)
 14     202601  LISTSERV.REDIRIS.ES (Solaris 2.8)
 15     202028  LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU (Solaris 2.9)
 16     191344  LISTS.AIESEC.ORG (Linux 2.4.27-2-686-smp)
 17     185983  PEACH.EASE.LSOFT.COM (Windows Server 2003)
 18     184476  LISTSERV.ACOR.ORG (Windows 2000 Server)
 19     161251  LSV.UKY.EDU (Windows Server 2003 + LSMTP V1.1b)
 20     157407  SPECIALNEEDS.HOSTING.LSOFT.COM (Windows Server 2003)

Top 20 sites by number of subscribers (30 Jun 2007)

Pos Subscribers  Site
--- -----------  ----
  1     3768980  LS.TIMEINC.NET (Solaris 2.8)
  2     2622630  LISTSERV.ND.EDU (Solaris 2.8)
  3     1977214  LISTES.ULAVAL.CA (Linux 2.4.21-47.0.1.ELsmp)
  4     1736778  LISTS.PSU.EDU (AIX 5.2)
  5     1539921  LISTSERV.CMICH.EDU (Windows Server 2003 + LSMTP V1.1b)
  6     1202129  CLEMSON.EDU (Solaris 2.9)
  7     1019922  LISTSERV.UGA.EDU (Linux 2.6.9-55.ELsmp)
  8      938246  LISTSERV.GSA.GOV (Windows Server 2003 + LSMTP V1.1b)
  9      835594  LISTS.UFL.EDU (AIX 5.3)
 10      832125  LSV.UKY.EDU (Windows Server 2003 + LSMTP V1.1b)
 11      801835  CUVMC.AIS.COLUMBIA.EDU (VM/SP 1.0)
 12      795127  LISTSERV.CC.KULEUVEN.AC.BE (Linux 2.6.19.7-grsec2.1.10-vs2.2.0)
 13      773499  LISTSERV.VT.EDU (Linux 2.6.9-55.ELsmp)
 14      747889  GUAVA.EASE.LSOFT.COM (Windows Server 2003)
 15      736471  LISTSERV.TAU.AC.IL (Linux 2.6.9-42.0.10.ELsmp)
 16      731437  PUBLISHER.SSRN.COM (Windows 2000 Server + LSMTP V1.1b)
 17      730440  LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU (Windows Server 2003 R2)
 18      714494  LISTSERV.ACM.ORG (Windows 2000 Advanced Server + LSMTP V1.1b)
 19      679299  LISTS.WAYNE.EDU (Solaris 2.9)
 20      679135  LISTSERV.TEMPLE.EDU (Linux 2.4.21-20.ELsmp)

Top 20 sites by number of lists (30 Jun 2007)

Pos Lists  Site
--- -----  ----
  1 70030  LISTSERV.ND.EDU (Solaris 2.8)
  2 24877  LSV.UKY.EDU (Windows Server 2003 + LSMTP V1.1b)
  3 19335  CLEMSON.EDU (Solaris 2.9)
  4 19243  LISTES.ULAVAL.CA (Linux 2.4.21-47.0.1.ELsmp)
  5 10235  LISTSERV.TAU.AC.IL (Linux 2.6.9-42.0.10.ELsmp)
  6  9697  LISTSERV.CC.KULEUVEN.AC.BE (Linux 2.6.19.7-grsec2.1.10-vs2.2.0)
  7  7956  LISTS.UFL.EDU (AIX 5.3)
  8  7909  LISTSERV.UH.EDU (Linux 2.4.21-47.0.1.ELsmp)
  9  6918  LISTSERV.VT.EDU (Linux 2.6.9-55.ELsmp)
 10  6301  TECHUNIX.TECHNION.AC.IL (Solaris 2.9)
 11  6003  LISTS.PSU.EDU (AIX 5.2)
 12  5306  LISTSERV.TAMU.EDU (Solaris 2.10)
 13  5054  LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU (Solaris 2.9)
 14  4969  MARIST (VM/SP 2.0)
 15  4861  LISTSERV.UGA.EDU (Linux 2.6.9-55.ELsmp)
 16  4709  LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU (Windows Server 2003 R2)
 17  4674  HERMES.GWU.EDU (Solaris 2.7)
 18  4112  LISTSERV.MILLERSVILLE.EDU (Solaris 2.10)
 19  4060  LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU (Solaris 2.9)
 20  4031  LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU (Windows 2000 Advanced Server + LSMTP V1.1b)

Top 20 sites by volume generated daily (JUN07, 1-30)

Pos Recipients  Site
--- ----------  ----
  1     359974  LS.TIMEINC.NET (Solaris 2.8)
  2     328907  LISTSERV.ICORS.ORG (Windows Server 2003)
  3     319322  LISTSERV.UGA.EDU (Linux 2.6.9-55.ELsmp)
  4     301225  LISTSERV.SYR.EDU (Windows 2000 Server + LSMTP V1.1b)
  5     294553  APPLE.EASE.LSOFT.COM (Windows Server 2003 R2 x64 Edition)
  6     291167  H-NET.MSU.EDU (Linux 2.4.29)
  7     273887  HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM (Windows Server 2003)
  8     236247  DTIC.MIL (Solaris 2.9)
  9     233168  LISTS.PSU.EDU (AIX 5.2)
 10     204347  LISTS.CAMPMOR.COM (Windows NT 4.0 + LSMTP V1.1b)
 11     200940  LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU (Solaris 2.9)
 12     197160  LISTSERV.REDIRIS.ES (Solaris 2.8)
 13     191339  LISTS.AIESEC.ORG (Linux 2.4.27-2-686-smp)
 14     178631  PEACH.EASE.LSOFT.COM (Windows Server 2003)
 15     166327  LISTSERV.ACOR.ORG (Windows 2000 Server)
 16     159799  BAMA.UA.EDU (Solaris 2.9)
 17     158466  LSV.UKY.EDU (Windows Server 2003 + LSMTP V1.1b)
 18     150046  LIST.SENIORWEB.NL (Windows Server 2003)
 19     146573  LISTSERV.UIC.EDU (Linux 2.6.9-42.0.2.ELsmp)
 20     143126  LISTS.LDS.ORG (Windows 2000 Server + LSMTP V1.1b)

Top 20 lists by number of subscribers (30 Jun 2007)

Pos Subscribers  Site
--- -----------  ----
  1      378965  SSA_ENEWS@LISTSERV.GSA.GOV (Windows Server 2003 + LSMTP V1.1b)
  2      122840  POSTMITA@LISTSERV.NIC.IT (Solaris 2.9)
  3      120835  SOCIALSECURITY_W2NEWS@LISTSERV.GSA.GOV (Windows Server 2003 + LSMTP V1.1b)
  4      118868  COMPUTING@LIST.MSU.EDU (Linux 2.6.18.8-0.3-default)
  5       83382  TEMPLETODAY@LISTSERV.TEMPLE.EDU (Linux 2.4.21-20.ELsmp)
  6       80234  RFP-BULLETIN@LISTS.FDNCENTER.ORG (Solaris 2.9)
  7       74038  E-ARTACADEMY@LISTSERV.DFN.DE (Solaris 2.9)
  8       73896  ARTINFO-L@LISTSERV.DFN.DE (Solaris 2.9)
  9       68368  L-ADMISSIONS-WIRE-A@LISTS.PSU.EDU (AIX 5.2)
 10       67074  FEDINFO@LISTSERV.GSA.GOV (Windows Server 2003 + LSMTP V1.1b)
 11       65713  PND-L@LISTS.FDNCENTER.ORG (Solaris 2.9)
 12       61976  EDUCATION_FUNDING@LISTS.FDNCENTER.ORG (Solaris 2.9)
 13       60973  MEDPROS-L@DTIC.MIL (Solaris 2.9)
 14       56363  ALUMNI@LISTSERV.CC.KULEUVEN.AC.BE (Linux 2.6.19.7-grsec2.1.10-vs2.2.0)
 15       52811  FDNCENTER-L@LISTS.FDNCENTER.ORG (Solaris 2.9)
 16       51977  ARTS_FUNDING@LISTS.FDNCENTER.ORG (Solaris 2.9)
 17       49712  VTNETLETTER@LISTSERV.VT.EDU (Linux 2.6.9-55.ELsmp)
 18       45385  JOB-ALERT@LISTS.FDNCENTER.ORG (Solaris 2.9)
 19       44854  L-SMEALZINE@LISTS.PSU.EDU (AIX 5.2)
 20       43163  HEALTH_FUNDING@LISTS.FDNCENTER.ORG (Solaris 2.9)