The F I D O N E W S Volume 21, Number 31 02 Aug 2004 +--------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ | |The newsletter of the | | | | | FidoNet community. | | Crash netmail articles to: | | | | | Editor @ 2:2/2 (+46-31-944907 | | | ____________| | | | | / __ | Routed netmail articles to: | | | / / \ | Bjorn Felten @ 2:203/0 | | | WOOF! ( /|oo \ | | | \_______\(_| /_) | Email attach to: | | _ @/_ \ _ | bfelten @ telia dot com | | | | \ \\ | | | | (*) | \ ))| | | |__U__| / \// | Editor: Bj”rn Felten | | ______ _//|| _\ / | | | / Fido \ (_/(_|(____/ | Newspapers should have no friends. | | (________) (jm) | -- JOSEPH PULITZER | +--------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Copyright 2004 by Fidonews Editor for Fidonews Globally. Table of Contents 1. FOOD FOR THOUGHT ......................................... 1 2. EDITORIAL ................................................ 2 3. GENERAL ARTICLES ......................................... 3 To fidonet.net or not to fidonet.net? .................... 3 4. BEN RITCHEY'S FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING ................... 6 FIDONet Software References .............................. 6 5. SPECIAL INTEREST ......................................... 11 Nodelist Stats ........................................... 11 6. FIDONEWS INFORMATION ..................................... 13 How to Submit an Article ................................. 13 Credits, Legal Infomation, Availability .................. 15 FIDONEWS 21-31 Page 1 2 Aug 2004 ================================================================= FOOD FOR THOUGHT ================================================================= As youth fades and time brings changes, we may change many of our present opinions. So let us refrain from setting ourselves up as judge of the highest matters. -- Plato ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 21-31 Page 2 2 Aug 2004 ================================================================= EDITORIAL ================================================================= My apologies to the readers in general, and Frank in particular, for not finding the time to write the promised comment on the submitted article this week. Important private matters have occupied my time entirely, I was lucky to even find the five minutes to get this week's Snooze going. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 21-31 Page 3 2 Aug 2004 ================================================================= GENERAL ARTICLES ================================================================= To fidonet.net or not to fidonet.net? From Frank Vest 1:124/6308(.1) For some time, there has been a debate about the "fidonet.net" method of listing or contacting Fidonet Nodes and other methods. I suppose one would have to be following the thread in the "IC" echo to fully understand the below conversation, but let's go for it anyway. :) The conversation was between Carol Shenkenberger and Bj”rn Felten. The below is two replies that I made to Bj”rn. The first shows the questions that I asked in reply to Bj”rn's comments. The second is where I answered his question about "prepping" for an article". :) CONVERSATION 1: BF> This is NOT about having a DNS listing, period. This is about BF> using the only safe way for a binkp mailer to AUTOMATICALLY (as BF> opposed to manual cut&paste or similar intervention) connect to BF> another binkp BF> mailer, that has never been connected to BF> before. How is is safe? How is it more automatic than listing the IP number or domain in the Nodelist? BF> This is about using a connectivity method, that obsoletes all BF> the different kludges and work-arounds, always ending up bloating BF> the real nodelist with more or less ego-boasting garbage. What kludges and work arounds? What ego boosting garbage? CONVERSATION 2: FV> How is is safe? FV> How is it more automatic than listing the IP number or domain in FV> the Nodelist? FV> What kludges and work arounds? FV> What ego boosting garbage? BF> Are you prepping me for a Snooze article? :) Not at all. I suppose I could write one, but I'm not really inclined to do so. Of course, if you wish to write something, go for it. :) Starting from the top: FIDONEWS 21-31 Page 4 2 Aug 2004 How is it safe?: "fidonet.net" is no more safe than any other method. I think this comes down to the fact that there is no standard place in the SLF Nodelist for IP information. How is it more automatic than listing the IP number or domain in the Nodelist?: Since some IP/FTN mailers decided to default to "fidonet.net" as the domain, it appears that automation would be more automatic. On the other hand, Fidonet is defined by the Nodelist and all connection information should be in the Nodelist. To assume that all IP Nodes can be contacted via "fidonet.net" is not in keeping with the "defined by the Nodelist" concept. What if one Zone decides to use "fidonet.net" and some other Zone decides to use a different "default" domain? Who decides what the default domain is? Who controls/owns the default domain? Who pays for the default domain? I've brought up the above to some extent before. The problem is not so much with the Nodelist as the method of listing IP information in the Nodelist. What Kludges and work arounds?: The only kludge that I see is the "PVT/-Unpublished-" problem. The "I" flags will work if they are used in some standard way. The domain or IP can go in the "system_name" field. Put the IP number or domain in the "system_name" field. Put the port number, if not standard, after the "I" flag. "Fix" the requirement of having PVT with -Unpublished-. Even with the "PVT/-Unpublished-" requirement, putting the IP or domain in the "system_name" field and the port after the "I" flag(s) would "clean up" the Nodelist considerably. What ego boosting garbage?: I can only assume this to mean the "system_name" field. The Sysop name, location and other information is needed in the Nodelist to identify the person who operates the Node and how to contact/connect to him/her. Further comments: The current problem with the Fidonet Nodelist is that there is no standard method of listing IP Nodes. The IP number might be found in the phone field, unless there is a real phone number there. The domain might be after the "I" flag. There might even be a port number after the domain after the "I" flag. The domain might be in the "system_name" field. The IP number might be in the "system_name" field, or after the "I" flag. Then again, one might find the IP number and/or domain in all of the above mentioned places. The above wasn't a problem when the SLF was first developed. There were no IP numbers or domains to deal with. The SLF was worked out by FIDONEWS 21-31 Page 5 2 Aug 2004 Tom Jennings and some "Good Old Boy" friends. The software authors made money on the software that used the Nodelist and, therefore, wanted things to work. They followed the "standard" set forth because it was in their best business interest. Fidonet needs the ZCC to get together and decide which/what method is to be used. The decision needs to be written in a standard and the FTSC needs to publish that standard. Until that happens, Fidonet will continue to be a disjointed mess. Now, if you, or someone, wants to write an article, go for it. If the above is quoted in the article, quote it all. Regards, Frank ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 21-31 Page 6 2 Aug 2004 ================================================================= BEN RITCHEY'S FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING ================================================================= -=:{ FIDONet Software Reference }:=- Type: M=Mailer T=Tosser B=BBS D=Door C=Comm/Terminal P=Points E=Editor I=Internet U=Utility ?=Info .- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -. |Software: Author |Type |URL, Contact, Ver, Notes Help Node| `- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -' Argus |M |http://www.ritlabs.com/argus/ 2:469/84 | | argus@ritlabs.com Tel: 373-2-246889 | | v3.210 on Mar 20th 2001 BeeMail: |M |http://beemail.gexonline.net 1:105/10 Stephen Proffit | | beemail@gexonline.net BinkleyTerm XE |M |http://btxe.sourceforge.net 1:1/102 | | v2.60XE/Gamma-6 on Nov 11th 1998 BinkD |MI |http://2f.ru/binkd/ | | maloff@corbina.net | | v0.94 on Jul 24th 2000 FIDO-Deluxe IP |MPUI |http://www.fido-deluxe.de.vu 2:2432/280 Michael Haase | | m.haase@gmx.net | | v2.4 on Sep 26th 2003 Fidonet to Internet: |MI |http://www.terminate.com Bo Bendtsen | | sales@terminate.com | | v2.00 on Mar 23rd 1997 FrontDoor, FD/APX: |MTPC |http://www.defsol.se 2:201/330 Definite Solutions | | sales@defsol.se 1:1/101 | | v2.26SW & v2.33ml FD, v1.15 APX Husky Project |MTPUI|http://sf.net/projects/husky/ | | v1.4 RC2 on Sep 22nd 2003 Radius (based on |M |http://radius.pp.ru 2:5012/38 Argus) | | fido5012@zaural.net Tel: 7-3522-469463 | | v4.009 on Jan 2nd 2003 Terminate |MBP |http://www.terminate.com | | v5.00 on Aug 7th 1997 Tmail |MI |http://www.tmail.spb.ru v2608 WildCat! Interactive |MTBEI|http://www.santronics.com Net Server, Platinum| | sales@santronics.com Xpress: Santronics | | Tel: (305) 248-3204 Software, Inc. | | AUP 450.2 on Jul 9th 2002 +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ FIDONEWS 21-31 Page 7 2 Aug 2004 Fidogate |TUI |http://www.fidogate.org | | Martin_Junius@m-j-s.net v4.4.4 FMail |T |http://fmail.nl.eu.org 2:280/1076 | | wijnstra@fmail.nl.eu.org v1.60 JetMail: JetSys |TU |http://www.jetsys.de js@jetsys.de (ATARI ST only) | | v1.01 on Jan 1st 2000 Squish |T |http://www.lanius.com | | sales@lanius.com v1.11 | |http://www.vector11.com/maximus/ Watergate |TUI |http://www2.sbbs.se/hp/ramon/ | | ramon@sbbs.se | | v0.93p9 on Dec 14th 1998 +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ BBBS |BI |http://www.bbbs.net b@bbbs.net | | v4.00MP on Oct 25th 1999 2:22/222 ELEBBS: The Elevator |B |http://www.elebbs.com Software Production | | elebbs@elebbs.com | | v0.10.RC1 on Jun 9th 2002 EZYCom BBS |BT |http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~dcbbs/ | | pjs@optushome.com.au 3:633/104 | | v2.0 on 3 May 2003 Falken BBS |B |http://falkenbbs.com | | v12.0 on Feb 2nd 2002 Hermes II Project |B |http://www.hermesii.org | | info@HermesII.org v3.5.9 Beta Final Maximus BBS |B |http://www.lanius.com | | sales@lanius.com v3.01 | |http://www.vector11.com/maximus/ MBSE BBS: |BI |http://mbse.sourceforge.net 2:280/2802 Michiel Broek | | mbroek@users.sourceforge.net | | v0.33.21 on Jun 4th 2002 Mystic BBS |B |http://www.mysticbbs.com | | v1.07.3 on May 13th 2001 Nexus BBS |B |http://www.nexusbbs.net | | groberts@nexusbbs.net | | v0.99.41.001 beta on Jun 10th 2001 Proboard BBS |B |http://www.proboard.be | | v2.17 on Jun 9th 2002 RemoteAccess BBS: |B |http://www.rapro.com 1:1/120 Bruce Morse | | bfmorse@rapro.com | | v2.62.2SW FIDONEWS 21-31 Page 8 2 Aug 2004 Spitfire BBS: Buffalo|B |http://www.angelfire.com/ia/buffalo/ Creek Software | | MDWoltz@aol.com 1:1/150 | | v3.6 on Aug 20th 1999 Synchronet BBS |BT |http://www.synchro.net | | sysop(at)vert(dot)synchro(dot)net | | v3.10L Beta Telegard BBS |B |http://www.telegard.net | | support@telegard.net | | v3.09g2 SP4 +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ Atlantis Software |D |http://www.jimmyrose.com/atlantis/ | | last update: Jun 2002 BBS Central |D |http://www.rpcomputers.com Bentstone |D |http://www.srupc.com/mall Capabilities Group | | info@stonebenders.com Cheepware: |D |http://www.midnightshour.org/cheepware/ Sean Dennis | | hausmaus@midnightshour.org 1:11/200 DDS (Doorware |D |http://www.doorgames.org 1:2404/201 Distribution System)| | ruth@doorgames.org Ruth Argust | | DoorMUD |D |http://www.dmud.thebbs.org | | v0.98 Jun 1st 2002 Elysium Software |D |http://www.elysoft.com | | mpreslar@mailcity.com Jibben Software |D |http://www.jibbensoftware.com | | scott@jibben.com | | 1995-99 Release dates JNS Software: |D |http://www.geocities.com/jnssoftware/ Rusty Johnson | | rustyjohnson57@hotmail.com | | Tel: (304) 733-0113 John Dailey Software |D |http://www.johndaileysoftware.com | | support@johndaileysoftware.com LORD (Legend of the |D |http://www.lordlegacy.org Red Dragon) Reborn | | mike@lordlegacy.org | | v4.06 on Feb 5th 2001 Lord-II IGMs |D |http://www.shelby.net/wizards/lord2igm/ PC Pursuits |D |http://www.pcpursuits.com | | brucep@pop.kis.net | | Tel: (301) 240-6653 Shining Star |D |http://www.shiningstar.net/bbsdoors/ FIDONEWS 21-31 Page 9 2 Aug 2004 | | nannette@shiningstar.net Sunrise Doors: |D |http://www.sunrisedoors.com Al Lawrence | | al@sunrisedoors.com | | Tel: (404) 256-9518 The Brainex System |D |http://www.brainex.com/brainex_system/ | | stanley@brainex.com 1994-99 Releases Trade Wars |D |http://www.eisonline.com/tradewars/ | | jpritch@eisonline.com | | v3.09 (DOS-32) in 2002 Vagabond Software: |D |http://www.vbsoft.org 1:124/7013 Bryan Turner | | vagabond@vbsoft.org | | last update: Jul 17th 2002 (various) |D |http://www.webnexus.com/users/etow/ +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ APoint |PI |http://www.apoint-mail.de | | dirk.pokorny@apoint-mail.de | | v1.25 2:2426/1210.13 CrossPoint (XP) |P |http://www.crosspoint.de | | pm@crosspoint.de v3.12d Dec 22nd 1999 FreeXP |P |http://www.freexp.de 2:2433/460 | | support@freexp.de | | v3.40 RC3 Aug 31st 2003 (Snapshot) OpenXP/32 |PI |http://www.openxp.com 2:248/2004 | | mk@openxp.de v3.8.7 beta Aug 3rd 2002 PPoint |P |http://www.alcuf.ca 1:249/114 | | v3.04 on Jan 10th 2000 +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ GoldEd+ |E |http://mik.nu/golded-plus/ 2:203/6600 | | v1.1.5 Snapshot on Feb 28th 2003 SqEd32 |E |http://www.sqed.de | | v1.15 on Dec 15th 1999 TimEd |E |http://blizzard.dnsalias.org/fidonet | | mail@ozzmosis.com /timed | | v1.11.a5 in March 2003 3:633/267 +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ GiGo |UI |http://www.gigo.com | | v0109 on Jan 9th 1997 Internet Rex: |UI |http://members.shaw.ca/InternetRex/ Charles Cruden | | telnet://xanadubbs.ca 1:342/806 (Khan Software) | | v2.29 on Oct 21st 2001 PeopleComm Terminal |CUI |http://www.peoplecomm.org 1:128/148 (BBS & Telnet w/ | | edward.williams@adelphia.net FIDONEWS 21-31 Page 10 2 Aug 2004 ZModem) | | v1.01a on Feb 11th 2003 TransNet |UI |http://www.ressl.com.ar/transnet/ | | transnet@ressl.com.ar | | v2.11 on Jul 18th 1998 TransX: Multiboard |UI |http://www.multiboard.com/software/ Communications, Inc.| | support@multiboard.com 1:2401/305 | | v3.5 +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ National BBS List |? | http://www.usbbs.org Hispanic FIDO/BBS's |? | http://www.conecta2.org/pucela_bbs/ (in Spanish only) | | (Extensive software & BBS Listings) +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ File Archives: http://archives.thebbs.org http://www.filegate.org http://sysopscorner.thebbs.org http://www.juge.com http://www.dmine.com/bbscorner/ http://garbo.uwasa.fi http://www.simtel.net http://wuarchive.wustl.edu http://hobbes.nmsu.edu Note: most also provide FTP access (use ftp:// vice http:// above) *=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=* Note: Please send corrections & additions to: Ben Ritchey, 1:393/68 ( or FReq Magic INFO direct for E-mail address ) WildCat! BBS at +1-337-232-4155 24/7 33.6kBps,8,N,1 Internet: http://bellsouthpwp.net/c/m/cmech617/fidosoft.txt Emeritus: Todd Cochrane, Frank Vest, Peter Popovich ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 21-31 Page 11 2 Aug 2004 ================================================================= SPECIAL INTEREST ================================================================= Nodelist Stats Input nodelist nodelist.212 size 877.6kb date 2004-07-31 The nodelist has 7361 nodes in it and a total of 10102 non-comment entries including 6 zones 56 regions 415 hosts 518 hubs admin overhead 995 ( 13.52 %) and 1096 private nodes 297 nodes down 353 nodes on hold off line overhead 1746 ( 23.72 %) Speed summary: >9600 = 620 ( 8.42 %) 9600 = 6371 ( 86.55 %) (HST = 132 or 2.07 %) (CSP = 1 or 0.02 %) (PEP = 11 or 0.17 %) (MAX = 0 or 0.00 %) (HAY = 1 or 0.02 %) (V32 = 3339 or 52.41 %) (V32B = 293 or 4.60 %) (V34 = 4287 or 67.29 %) (V42 = 3642 or 57.17 %) (V42B = 292 or 4.58 %) 2400 = 69 ( 0.94 %) 1200 = 6 ( 0.08 %) 300 = 295 ( 4.01 %) ISDN = 589 ( 8.00 %) ---------------------------------------------------------- File Req Flag Applicable software Number of systems ---------------------------------------------------------- XA Frontdoor <1.99b 2417 Frontdoor 2.02+ Dutchie 2.90c Binkleyterm >2.1 D'Bridge <1.3 TIMS Xenia -------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 21-31 Page 12 2 Aug 2004 XB Binkleyterm 2.0 8 Dutchie 2.90b -------------------------------------- XC Opus 1.1 9 -------------------------------------- XP Seadog 6 -------------------------------------- XR Opus 1.03 40 -------------------------------------- XW Fido >12M 294 Tabby KittenMail -------------------------------------- XX D'Bridge 1.30 3285 Frontdoor 1.99b Intermail 2.01 T-Mail -------------------------------------- None QMM 1302 -------------------------------------- CrashMail capable = 2245 ( 30.50 %) MailOnly nodes = 4103 ( 55.74 %) Listed-only nodes = 567 ( 7.70 %) Other = 446 ( 6.06 %) [Report produced by NETSTATS - A PD pgm available from 1:106/100] [ Revised by B Felten, 2:203/208] ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 21-31 Page 13 2 Aug 2004 ================================================================= FIDONEWS INFORMATION ================================================================= How to Submit an Article If you wish to submit an article for inclusion in the Fidonews, here are some guidelines, if you send it as an attached file; the preferred method if you want reasonable control over how the published article will appear in the Fidonews: a) Plain ASCII text. If you could type it on your keyboard, it's probably quite OK. No line may be longer than 70 characters. b) Put a title to the article. Put the title in two times. The first time, on the first line, with an * before it. The second time, on the second line, without the * and centered. This will help in the format since the title with the * is removed and used in the index, the second line will become the headline. On the third line, put your name and FidoNet address, present or former. If former, you may want to add some other address where you can be reached for personal comments. c) Deadline for article submission is Sunday, 12:00 UTC. Help the Editor by following the above guides. Below are some subjects and the file extension for the article as set in the configuration file for the making of the Fidonews. Please help by putting the file extension of the correct subject on the file name if known.. Ideas for Subject areas: Subject File | Subject File ----------------------------------|---------------------------------- From the *C's *.css | Rebuttals to articles *.reb Fidonet Regional News *.reg | Fidonet Net News *.net Retractions *.rtx | General Fidonet Articles *.art Guest Editorial *.gue | Fidonet Current Events *.cur Fidonet Interviews *.inv | Fidonet Software Reviews *.rev Fidonet Web Page Reviews *.web | Fidonet Notices *.not Getting Fidonet Technical *.ftc | Question Of The Week *.que Humor in a Fido Vein *.hfv | Comix in ASCII *.cmx Fidonet's Int. Kitchen *.rec | Poet's Corner *.poe Clean Humor & Jokes *.jok | Other Stuff *.oth Fidonet Classified Ads *.ads | Corrections *.cor Best of Fidonet *.bof | Letters to the Editor *.let If you don't know or are not sure, send the article anyway. Put a .TXT on it and I'll try to figure out where it should be in the Fidonews. If you follow these simple guidelines, there should be little problem in getting your article published. If your submission is too far out of specs for the Fidonews, it will be returned to you and/or a message sent informing you of the problem. This DOES NOT mean that your article is not accepted. It means that there is something in it that I can not fix and I need your help on it. FIDONEWS 21-31 Page 14 2 Aug 2004 Send articles via e-mail or netmail, file attach or message to: Bj”rn Felten Fidonet 2:2/2 E-Mail bfelten @ telia dot com IMPORTANT! If you send the article via e-mail, make sure you put the word "fidonews" somewhere in the subject line! That way it will always pass the spam filter, ending up in the proper folder. Please include a message, telling me that you have sent an article. That way I will know to look for it. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 21-31 Page 15 2 Aug 2004 Credits, Legal Infomation, Availability + -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- FIDONEWS STAFF - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- + | | | Editor: Bj”rn Felten, 2:2/2 | | Crash mail attached: Editor@2:2/2 | | E-Mail attached: bfelten @ telia dot com | | Webmaster: Jim Barchuk, jb@fidonews.org | | Columnist: Frank Vest - Frank's Column | | | + -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- + + -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - EDITORS EMERITI - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- + | | | Tom Jennings, Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell, Vince | | Perriello, Tim Pozar, Sylvia Maxwell, Donald Tees, | | Christopher Baker, Zorch Frezberg, Henk Wolsink, | | Doug Meyers, Warren D. Bonner, Frank L. Vest | | | + -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- + Fidonews is published weekly by and for the members of Fidonet. Fidonews is Copyright (C) 2004 by Bj”rn Felten, though authors retain rights to their contributed articles. Opinions expressed by the authors is strictly their own. Noncommercial duplication and distribution within Fidonet is encouraged. Authors are encouraged to send their articles in ASCII text to the Editor at one of the addresses above. The weekly edition of Fidonews is distributed through the file area FIDONEWS, and is published as echomail in the echo FIDONEWS. These sources are normally available through your Network Coordinator. The current and past issues are also available from the following sources: + -- -- -- -- -- -- - FIDONEWS AVAILABILITY - -- -- -- -- -- -- + | | | File request from 2:2/2: | | current issue FIDONEWS | | back issue, volume v, issue ii FNEWSvii.ZIP | | http://felten.dyndns.org/fidonews | | http://www.fidonet.ca/fidonews | | | + -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- + -----------------------------------------------------------------