Sympa for Listmasters

The University of Zurich’s mailing list server offers departments and organizational units the option to host their mailing lists under their own domain. 

Example: 

• <department_abbreviation>.lists.uzh.ch (e.g., zi.lists.uzh.ch)

• This domain uses the same subdomain structure as UZH email addresses, extended by the level lists.uzh.ch.
• The domain can be requested by the IT administrators of the respective organizational unit and subsequently managed independently (Listmaster role). 
• Listmasters can create, manage, and delete new lists.

Application Process

Applications are submitted via a support ticket to the UZH Service Desk.
The following information is required:

1. Institute domain name
2. List of listmasters: Names and email addresses of all individuals who will serve as listmasters in the future
3. Official name of the institute (at least in German and English, French optional)

After setup by the Central IT Department, listmasters can create, edit, and delete email lists at

• https://<institute>.lists.uzh.ch/sympa/

Listmasters are designated by the IT administrators of the organizational unit.
Requests for changes can be submitted via a ticket to the Service Desk.

Listmasters are authorized to administer the entire domain and log in to the list server’s web interface using their personal UZH account.

IT administrators have the role of Privileged Listmaster and can create any lists. This is done via the «Create list» button in the header of the SYMPA web interface. The button is only visible if you are authorized to create lists. After clicking it, you can select the desired list type.

List Types

• Authorization list:
  Defines a group of senders for an existing list <listname>. Name: <listname>_auth. Members of this list are allowed to send messages to <listname> if the sender configuration is set to byauthorizedlist.
• Discussion ML:
  Public discussion list. Anyone can subscribe, read, and post messages.
• Hotline mailing list:
  Anyone can send messages; contributions are read by hotline staff.
• HTML newsletter:
  Public, moderated list. Messages can be accessed via the web.
• Mailing list for intranets:
  Only users with an email address from the domain <institut>.uzh.ch can subscribe.
• Mailing list for UZH:
  Only members of UZH (email domain “uzh.ch”) can participate.
• News Letter ML:
  Public, moderated list. Messages are published on behalf of the list.
• Personal distribution ML:
  Hidden list. Only the list owner can send messages and manage members.
• Private working group:
  Hidden list. Membership is controlled by the list owner.
• Web Forum ML:
  Publicly visible discussion list mainly used via the web. Summaries (digests) are sent by email.

Configure Lists

As a listmaster of a domain, you act as a privileged list owner. You can create, configure, and delete lists.

Rename Lists

To rename a list, please contact the IT Services.

Delegate Lists

Under «Admin» → «Configure List» → «List Description», you can add additional owners. These owners will be assigned the role of regular list owner.

Delete Lists

Select «Admin» → «Delete List».

The list is first closed, not immediately removed.
Two weeks after deletion by the IT administrator, it is permanently deleted from the server.

Select «Admin» → «Delete list».

• The list is initially closed and not removed immediately.
• It is permanently deleted on the server two weeks after deletion by the IT administrator.

Define Owners

Under «Admin» → «Edit List Config» → «List definition» → «Owner», enter the list owners.

If you assign the Privileged attribute to the delegated list owner, that person will receive full rights to the list — including the ability to designate additional owners.