| Document: FSC-0076
| Version: 001
| Date: 03rd December 1993
| Author: Steve T. Gove
A Proposal for NetMail AreaTags.
Steve T. Gove
1:106/6.0@fidonet
Status of this document:
========================
This FSC suggests a proposed protocol for the
FidoNet(r) community, and requests discussion and
suggestions for improvements. Distribution of this
document is unlimited.
Fido and FidoNet are registered marks of Tom
Jennings and Fido Software.
General Introduction:
=====================
Within the FTN networks today is the ability to
belong to a variety of networks. These can include, but
are not limited to, FidoNet, RBBSNet, AlterNet, etc.
Within each of these specific networks is the ability to
pass "NetMail" both routed and direct. But what if
someone belongs to many of these networks? How does one
differentiate netmail between them? Currently, NetMail
does NOT allow for an AreaTag to allow for specifying
between different Domains. I propose that this change.
My proposal is to allow for the areatag, for netmail, to
be called "NETMAIL".
current netmail - none
current echomail - AREA:<echoname> ex. AREA:Binkley
This would allow for multi domain'd netmail to be
seperated into seperate sub-directories to allow our
netmail readers to differentiate between them and allow
for replying based on their originating Domain.
Compatability
=============
"Compatibility is a set of abilities which, when
taken as a whole, make it safe to list a net or node in
the FidoNet nodelist."
I believe that utilization of my proposal, will
allow for full backwards compatability with reguard to
netmail and will allow, at the same time, for forward
progress to be achieved, both, within the fidonet
community and with other FTN networks.
NetMail Definition:
===================
NetMail is a driving force behind FidoNet, and
allows for the communication between two individuals
anywhere in the world.
See FTS-0001.015 for details on netmail packet
structure.
Required Control Information:
============================
An "AREA:" tag is what makes the difference between
netmail and echomail. This would change the definition
between NetMail and EchoMail, as practiced today. This
proposal, however, would not effect EchoMail. NetMail
would now, simply, have an areatag named "NETMAIL".
The NETMAIL line must be the first line in an
netmail message's body. A NETMAIL line's format is
simply:
NETMAIL:<DomainName>
The NETMAIL tag is specifically _not_ preceded by a ^a.
Where <DomainName> is the unique name of the
NetMail's origin. Area names should not begin with the
plus or minus ("+" or "-") symbols. Area names must not
contain control characters (less than ASCII character
32, a space). Leading and trailing spaces on the area
name should be ignored (and preferably not produced).
Compares on the netmail name should be case insensitive.
NetMail <Domain> names are generally kept as short
as possible while still maintaining uniqueness and some
sense of which Domain the NetMail belongs to.
EchoMail Definition:
====================
Echomail, sometimes called broadcast or conference
mail, is netmail (ref. FTS-0001) containing additional
control information that allows it to be "echoed"
(forwarded) from node (site) to node. Echomail is
divided into areas, or conferences, with unique names.
Acknowledgements:
================
Tom Jennings who "created" Fidonet.
Jeff Rush who "created" echomail.
Mark Kimes - 1:380/16@fidonet (fsc-0068.a01)
Related documents:
==================
FTS-0001 (transport layer, packet format, various
kludge lines)
Policy4 (whether you agree or not...!)
For historical reasons, the term packet is used in
FidoNet to represent a bundle of messages, as opposed to
the more common use as a unit of communication, which is
known as a block in FidoNet.
An Inbound Mail packet arrives. (0000fff1.mo0)
The packet is unpacked and b498c880.pkt is found.
A "Tosser" looks at the *.pkt for an areatag,
IF AREA: THEN (EchoMail) toss to appropriate area,
IF NETMAIL: THEN toss to "Tosser" defined netmail area
according to domain,
IF NOT AREA: OR NETMAIL: THEN *.pkt is (old-style) netmail
toss to "Tosser" defined netmail area.
