F I D O N E W S -- | Vol. 9 No. 25 (22 June 1992) The newsletter of the | FidoNet BBS community | Published by: _ | / \ | "FidoNews" BBS /|oo \ | (415)-863-2739 (_| /_) | FidoNet 1:1/1 _`@/_ \ _ | Internet: | | \ \\ | fidonews@fidonews.fidonet.org | (*) | \ )) | |__U__| / \// | Editors: _//|| _\ / | Tom Jennings (_/(_|(____/ | Tim Pozar (jm) | | | Newspapers should have no friends. | -- JOSEPH PULITZER ----------------------------+--------------------------------------- Published weekly by and for the Members of the FidoNet international amateur network. Copyright 1992, Fido Software. All rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances, please contact FidoNews. Electronic Price: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . free! Paper price: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10.00US For more information about FidoNews refer to the end of this file. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents 1. EDITORIAL ..................................................... 1 Editorial: Remotely yours ..................................... 1 2. ARTICLES ...................................................... 3 How To Find That File ......................................... 3 Netmail the same as Echomail .................................. 4 3. LATEST VERSIONS ............................................... 7 Software Versions List ........................................ 7 4. FIDONEWS INFORMATION .......................................... 8 FidoNews 9-25 Page 1 22 Jun 1992 ====================================================================== EDITORIAL ====================================================================== Editorial: Remotely yours My electronic world is deteriorating. I have to call in at 300 baud to edit this rag (sic) due to problems with the phone line here at my (new) boyfriends house here in the Pacific NorthWest. I have to admit that I'm not doing a particularly good job this week; I've fallen terribly in love with a wonderful punk boy, and won't be back at the end of the month like I said. Don't worry, I wont inflict lovey-dovey garbage on FidoNews readers. People in love are sooo disgusting to be around (just ask his roommate). This issue contains more on the lost-mail subject. Amazing what a strong interest it has generated... I hope budding FidoNet investigative journalists consider documenting chronic netmail dead ends. I received an interesting message on FidoNews policy, that I think is worth including: > From: Alan Powell, 1:240/1 > Subj: BIZYNET IN FIDONEWS? [regarding: CAUCUS echo announcement in last week's Snooze.] > Greetings Tom, > I'm just a lowly FidoNet user who, > amongst other things, enjoys reading > FidoNews regularly. > While you may get a number of > different responses to this FidoNews > announcement (above), mine is simply > to question your acceptance of other > nets announcements through FidoNews? To tell the truth, I hadn't given it any thought. While FidoNews is a component of the FidoNet, I think there's other factors. It's not "us vs. them" situation. The notice-author is a also FidoNet member. Promoting communications is a good thing in general, and modem/BBS/FidoNet technology more specifically. If the percentage of non-FidoNet oriented stuff grew large, I'd have to reconsider. FidoNews 9-25 Page 2 22 Jun 1992 Besides, I wasn't even aware of BIZYNET, so probably others are not either. It probably serves some peoples needs better than FidoNet. The more the merrier, I say; by cooperating we can only gain. Genuinely, thanks for the message Alan. The parameters of this thing are not fixed, and there are a lot of unspoken assumptions. Dialog is always good. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 9-25 Page 3 22 Jun 1992 ====================================================================== ARTICLES ====================================================================== by John A. Vink 1:250/318 JVArcServ - a server to locate specified archives. JVArcServ V1.00 is now under beta testing and seems to be running well with a release version to be out soon. JVArcServ eliminates your woes in trying to find a certain file, and eliminates the "does anyone have such and such for file request" questions in the echos. JVArcServ is based on the InterNet utility Archie designed at McGill University in Canada. This utility allows users to locate programs available via anonymous FTP from sites around the world. Since there are thousands of anonymous FTP sites around the world, each one holding several gigabytes of software, this utility was a great sigh of relief. There are now eight Archie servers in operation today. FTN networks can sometimes give operators the same problems. There is lots of software out there available via file requests. The question is just "where?". The server keeps a specially formatted version of each system's file list in the network. Users can then ask questions such as "Where is this filename," "Find this description," and "Does anything match this keyword?". Some other interesting commands are also available such as "List nodes and zones covered by this server" and other such questions. JVArcServ is as automated as possible. It will allow new nodes to join automatically through netmail, and new file lists will be automatically requested each month. The sysop running the server will only have to set it up once and then forget that it exists. The idea behind JVArcServ is that one node in each network will run the server and maintain file lists from every other node in the network. The server will only be useful with the cooperation of all the sysops in the network to register with the server and keep undated versions of the formatted file lists. JVArcServ and the file compiler also implements a routing system in the event that a node is long distance from the server. When the node registers, it can ask that its file list be requested from a different node. In this case, the node creating the file lists would send its file lists to this second node where it is to be requested from. FidoNews 9-25 Page 4 22 Jun 1992 An echo for beta testers and technical support for JVArcServ has been created and it is available from 1:250/318. JVArcFC, the program which creates the specially formatted file lists, is now available as a general release. It can be file requested from 1:250/318 as JVARCFC. If you are interested in JVArcServ, if you have any questions, or if you want to set it up for your network, just send me netmail and I'll be happy to help you out. The server is now running at 1:250/318. To try it out, send netmail to "JVArcServ", and in the body of the text include the line "HELP". ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul J. Henry 1:221/279@fidonet.org A reply to Glenn Caleval's article in Fnews 9-24 None is more timely than Mr. Caleval's article. Recently my NEC decided to go on a holiday, and forgot to give us all keys to his house (understandably). About a week ago all mail stopped. The NEC's system is dead, and he's somewhere, out there. NO MAIL. Nada. Nihil. None. Mr. Caleval's article therefore struck a cord. I know why my mail isn't being delivered, but Mr. Jennings, as he said in his editorial, doesn't. I therefore disagree with the article on several points. I hate to quote Policy (Lord knows Policy has its limits), however the following sections of Policy4 are applicable in this situation: === cut here === 2.1.7 Not Routing Mail If you do not forward a message when you previously agreed to perform such routing, the message must be returned to the sysop of the node at which it entered FidoNet with an explanation of why it was not forwarded. 9.9 Echomail Echomail is an important and powerful force in FidoNet. For the purposes of Policy Disputes, echomail is simply a different flavour of netmail, and is therefore covered by Policy. === cut here === Echomail, to me then, entails the same responsibilities as netmail. They are the same thing. When netmail enters a routing point it is separated from echomail. It IS NOT simply part of the package. It goes into a different area (for less than a minute mind you) before being packaged up again for delivery, but it is the same thing. Par example, if "Fred" on InterNet sends me a message, it enters the world at 1:114/15, gets packaged up with the days echomail, and gets transferred to 13/13. It is then unpacked, and packed up again for transfer to 12/12. From 12/12 it is picked up by my NEC who unpacks it, and packs it up again for FidoNews 9-25 Page 5 22 Jun 1992 transfer to my hub, who does the same thing, and voila, it gets picked up by my system and I read it and reply, which effectively begins the process again. While they are separate things to my Routing Software (in this instance Squish) they are the same 'kind' of thing and deserve the same kind of respect. While it is assumed that netmail is 'free' when packaged up with echomail, it is actually being covered by the cost of the echomail. I believe it is estimated that a months netmail going through 13/13 costs around a dime. It is not an add-on, it is and was the original purpose of FidoNet. (To send messages to people in other areas of the world.) It costs in the same fashion as echomail costs. While the time for delivery of a piece of netmail may vary it is to be assumed that it WILL be delivered. If it is not, as Mr. Jennings said, something is rotten in Denmark. (Or STEREO (()) WHERE AVAILABLE -- take your pick.) If it is not, it is the responsibility of those who are in the routing structure to let the sysop who sent the message (so long as they are still in the nodelist) know WHY it was not sent. It is hoped that the problems, with time, will disappear. Routing problems, I've found, have a tendency to work themselves out. But if we are all doing our jobs, they shouldn't appear in the first place. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- by Joshua Lewis, 1:163/505 The Introduction of two nets looking for expansion. Of course there is FIDO net, SIGNet, EchoNet and EggNet. And many more, to numerous to name here. All well respected nets who's size is not quite as big as FIDO but still as good. I live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. I represent two nets which you have probabbly never heard of. The Homeboy Net, and the Digital Net. They are both looking for expansion outside of Ottawa. We are looking for any system located any where in Canada, U.S. or the world. And one note of importance: All mail/files will be at our expense. You will not have to make any long distance calls. We feel you are doing us a favor by joining, not the other way around. This is why we have accepted that policy. Let me explain each net. The Homeboy Net (THBNet) is deicated to music, and the weird and unusual things that other nets didn't quite seem to offer. We have discussions and message traffic is quite heavy for our current size. There are polictal echo's,talk about dating echo's and chatting echo's. Suggestions for new echo's are always welcome. FidoNews 9-25 Page 6 22 Jun 1992 The Digital Net (DIGINet) was formed to help people with problems. Any kind of problems, not nesscerily computer realted however this is our main focus right now. There are echo's for help with general computing, programming, bbs software, mailers and echo mail tossers. We also have a shrink echo for those who are feeling down. Suggestions for new echo's are always welcome. If you are wishing to join either net, please contact 1:163/505 ,50:5613/104 or 102:613/3. If you apply, your connection will be setup ASAP and if no one else is active in your area you will more than likely become the new network host for your region. And remember, all of this mail will be at our expense. You can't do better than that. If you need more information, please do not hesitate to contact those addresses above or file request THBN for the Homeboy Net information or DIGI for the Digital Net information from 1:163/505. Thank You FIDO for coming up with the technology which allows us all to be free. Until Later, Joshua Lewis (1:163/505, 50:5613/104, 102:613/3) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 9-25 Page 7 22 Jun 1992 ====================================================================== LATEST VERSIONS ====================================================================== Software Versions List Please refer to the article in this issue... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 9-25 Page 8 22 Jun 1992 ====================================================================== FIDONEWS INFORMATION ====================================================================== ------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION ---------------- Editors: Tom Jennings, Tim Pozar Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell, Vince Perriello "FidoNews" BBS FidoNet 1:1/1 Internet fidonews@fidonews.fidonet.org BBS (415)-863-2739 (9600 HST/V32) (Postal Service mailing address) FidoNews Box 77731 San Francisco CA 94107 USA Published weekly by and for the Members of the FidoNet international amateur electronic mail system. It is a compilation of individual articles contributed by their authors or their authorized agents. The contribution of articles to this compilation does not diminish the rights of the authors. Opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of FidoNews. FidoNews is copyright 1992 Fido Software. All rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances, please contact FidoNews (we're easy). OBTAINING COPIES: FidoNews in electronic form may be obtained from the FidoNews BBS via manual download or Wazoo FileRequest, or from various sites in the FidoNet and via uucp. PRINTED COPIES mailed may be obtained from Fido Software for $5.00US each PostPaid First Class within North America, or $7.00US elsewhere, mailed Air Mail. (US funds drawn upon a US bank only.) BACK ISSUES: Available from the following sources (and possibly others), via filerequest or download (consult a recent nodelist for phone numbers). Back issues are *NOT* available from FidoNews 1:1/1. FidoNet 1:102/138 (All issues) FidoNet 1:216/21 (All but 18 issues) Internet ftp.ieee.org, in directory ~ftp/pub/fidonew/fidonews SUBMISSIONS: You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission requirements are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC, available from the FidoNews BBS, or Wazoo filerequestable from 1:1/1 as file "ARTSPEC.DOC". FidoNews 9-25 Page 9 22 Jun 1992 "Fido", "FidoNet" and the dog-with-diskette are U.S. registered trademarks of Tom Jennings of Fido Software, Box 77731, San Francisco CA 94107, USA and are used with permission. Asked what he thought of Western civilization, M.K. Gandhi said, "I think it would be an excellent idea". -- END ----------------------------------------------------------------------