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(gnus)The Server Buffer

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The Server Buffer
=================

   Traditionally, a "server" is a machine or a piece of software that
one connects to, and then requests information from.  Gnus does not
connect directly to any real servers, but does all transactions through
one back end or other.  But that's just putting one layer more between
the actual media and Gnus, so we might just as well say that each back
end represents a virtual server.

   For instance, the `nntp' back end may be used to connect to several
different actual NNTP servers, or, perhaps, to many different ports on
the same actual NNTP server.  You tell Gnus which back end to use, and
what parameters to set by specifying a "select method".

   These select method specifications can sometimes become quite
complicated--say, for instance, that you want to read from the NNTP
server `news.funet.fi' on port number 13, which hangs if queried for
NOV headers and has a buggy select.  Ahem.  Anyway, if you had to
specify that for each group that used this server, that would be too
much work, so Gnus offers a way of naming select methods, which is what
you do in the server buffer.

   To enter the server buffer, use the `^'
(`gnus-group-enter-server-mode') command in the group buffer.

Server Buffer Format

You can customize the look of this buffer.

Server Commands

Commands to manipulate servers.

Example Methods

Examples server specifications.

Creating a Virtual Server

An example session.

Server Variables

Which variables to set.

Servers and Methods

You can use server names as select methods.

Unavailable Servers

Some servers you try to contact may be down.

   `gnus-server-mode-hook' is run when creating the server buffer.