Document: FSC-0042 Version: 001 Date: 03/25/90 Proposed Modification to the Gateway Agreement Between WWIVnet and FidoNet(r) via the "NetSEX" Program Steven Furber 1:105/50@fidonet Information This FSC is being distributed to members of the FidoNet(r) community in order to solicit their reactions to the proposals contained in it. While the issues discussed may not be directly relevant to the problems of FidoNet, they may be interesting to implementers. Distribution is unlimited. --- 0.0) A QUICK INTRODUCTION AND STATEMENT OF INTENT The request for a gateway between WWIVnet and FidoNet through a program called NetSEX was sent in to Randy Bush (1:105/6) approximately a month ago. During that time there have been many questions pertaining to NetSEX that I feel are relevent to the proposed gateway between WWIVnet and FidoNet. The major questions that I feel needs to be dealt with are: Will it be possible for WWIV Technology Networks to use the NetSEX gateway, and if so: will a seperate gateway agreement be necessary? Will it be possibile for WWIV BBSes that are not in WWIVnet or WWIV Technology Networks to use NetSEX to interface their BBS with FidoNet? The current gateway proposal that I have sent in pertains only to WWIVnet and FidoNet. What I would like to do is have that policy be between FidoNet and a "NetSEX-Project" that will keep a list of who's using NetSEX, what their FidoNet address is, what their WWIV Technology Network addresses are (for the NetSEX node and BBS node), and if they gateway to a WWIV Technology Network: which one. To support my reasoning I will discuss each question a bit and explain my proposal. 1.0) WILL IT BE POSSIBLE FOR WWIV TECHNOLOGY NETWORKS TO USE THE NetSEX GATEWAY, AND IF SO: WILL A SEPERATE GATEWAY AGREEMENT BE NECESSARY? There have been several proposed-alternatives to WWIVnet that be WWIV Technology Networks. Various planners from these networks have asked whether or not they would be able to use NetSEX to gateway between FidoNet and their proposed networks, and if so what steps would need to be taken. These proposed networks would be using BBSLIST.NET (a list of all nodes in the network, similar to FidoNet's NODELIST) and CONNECT.NET (a listing of all nodes in the BBSLIST.NET file and how they connect to one another-- a topology map) files that are independent of WWIVnet. They would be using their own nodenumbering schemes (however still be restricted to the 65k maximum). There were various possible things offered by these people that would possily work, but in the end my response has been that the current proposed policy between WWIVnet and FidoNet is between those two networks, and if they were to gateway between their non-WWIVnet WWIV Technology Networks they would need to approach the FTSC for an agreement. 1.1) WILL THERE BE ANY POSSIBILITIES FOR WWIV BBSes THAT ARE NOT IN WWIVnet OR WWIV TECHNOLOGY NETWORKS TO USE NetSEX TO INTERFACE THEIR BBS WITH FidoNet? There are several WWIV BBSes that are interested in connecting with FidoNet but are not interested in joining WWIVnet (which is the only network currently operating with WWIV Technology). Of the several people who have asked, all of them are running FourDog but would like to get the speed of NetSEX and the correct placing of Netmail into mailboxes as opposed to the method FourDog uses. It is possible to run NetSEX on a non-WWIVnet BBS by creating the data files for a WWIV Technology Network that contain their NetSEX node and their "WWIVnet" node. They would essentially be faking out the software by running a network consisting of two nodes. This question I have been unable to sufficiently answer. While this situation would involve someone that only belongs to FidoNet, it would still be using software designed to gateway and it would be gatewaying messages from FidoNet to a WWIV Technology Network that consisted of one node. 2.0) MY PROPOSED AGREEMENT What I would like to do is provide all sides with the best possible solution that will privide all sides with that same solution. As it stands now, the proposed gateway is between FidoNet and WWIVnet. What I would rather see is a policy between FidoNet and an entity called "The NetSEX Project" that would keep track of where NetSEX is being used to interface and/or gateway with FidoNet. To be more specific, and entity that would do the following: a) keep track of all WWIV-BBSes running NetSEX simply to interface with FidoNet. These would be systems that are not in WWIVnet or any other WWIV Technology Network. A listing of their FidoNet address, node number used for the BBS, and node number used for the NetSEX address would be kept. b) keep track of all WWIV-BBses running NetSEX that are connected to a WWIV Technology Network. A listing of their FidoNet address, the name of the WWIV Technology Network they belong to, what address they use in the WWIV Technology Network, and the address in the WWIV Technology Network they are using for their NetSEX node would be kept. c) do monthly or bi-monthly tests of all NetSEX nodes and create a conference (EchoMail for FidoNet, Sub for WWIV systems) to support and discuss NetSEX. d) have a reserved range in the WWIV Technology Network for NetSEX (and/or other gateways) nodes, and have someone in that network serve as a liason between the "NetSEX Project" and the WWIV Technology Network. e) upload all of the files on one or more FidoNet systems where the various members of the FTSC who work with gateways can track down information they may need. Given these actions, the following is hoped to be accomplished: a) permit non-WWIV Technology Network systems to use NetSEX while being covered by an agreement between FidoNet to do so. b) permit non-WWIVnet yet still WWIV Technology Networks to use NetSEX while being covered by an agreement between FidoNet and the "NetSEX Project" to do so. c) keep an index of all systems using NetSEX, and keep a listing of what WWIV Technology Networks are accessable through FidoNet. d) offer an easy-access place for people to get information pertaining to NetSEX, FidoNet, and WWIV Technology Networks. This proposed entity, the "NetSEX Project" would be an entity existing off of FidoNet. I offer to do all of the data collection and send the information to the people who would like it (providing it is of reasonable cost phone the phone connections). There are many benefits, and no drawbacks that I can see. 3.0) AN END NOTE I am expecting that this will be approved, or even if it is it will not be without some form of modification. It seems to me that this would be the best way to handle the NetSEX gateway without spending a great deal of time approving individual networks that are based around the same network technology. This proposal was made from the point of view of someone that are working from within FidoNet. ---- Steven Furber, FidoNet 1:105/50 WWIVnet 1@5300 UUCP ..!uunet!m2xenix!legion!n5300.u1 ---