Volume 7, Number 37                             10 September 1990
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    Editor in Chief:                                  Vince Perriello
    Editors Emeritii:                    Thom Henderson,  Dale Lovell
    Chief Procrastinator Emeritus:                       Tom Jennings

    Copyright 1990, Fido Software.  All rights reserved.  Duplication
    and/or distribution permitted  for  noncommercial  purposes only.
    For use in other circumstances, please  contact  Fido Software.

    FidoNews  is  published  weekly  by  the  System Operators of the
    FidoNet  (r)  International  BBS Network.  It is a compilation of
    individual articles  contributed  by  their authors or authorized
    agents of the  authors.    The  contribution  of articles to this
    compilation does not diminish the rights of the authors.

    You  are  encouraged   to  submit  articles  for  publication  in
    FidoNews.  Article submission standards are contained in the file
    ARTSPEC.DOC, available from node 1:1/1.    1:1/1  is a Continuous
    Mail system, available for network mail 24 hours a day.

    Fido and  FidoNet  are  registered  trademarks of Tom Jennings of
    Fido Software, Box  77731,  San  Francisco  CA 94107, USA and are
    used with permission.

    Opinions expressed in  FidoNews articles are those of the authors
    and are not necessarily  those of the Editor or of Fido Software.
    Most articles are unsolicited.   Our  policy  is to publish every
    responsible submission received.


                       Table of Contents
    1. ARTICLES  .................................................  1
       FidoNet Routing  ..........................................  1
    2. LATEST VERSIONS  .......................................... 13
       Latest Software Versions  ................................. 13
    3. NOTICES  .................................................. 16
       The Interrupt Stack  ...................................... 16
    FidoNews 7-37                Page 1                   10 Sep 1990


    =================================================================
                                ARTICLES
    =================================================================


    [This series of articles, which I am printing in its entirety
    in this week's FidoNews, was written by Ben Baker to describe
    the routing capability of Fido. To this day, much of what Ben
    described here works the same way on nearly all FidoNet s/w.

    So this isn't just history you're reading here. You'll be
    learning how to operate your system better. -- The Editor.]


                   FidoNet Route Files Explained
                Part 1 -- The Many Faces of FidoNet

                     by Ben Baker, Fido 100/76

         There  is  no  aspect  of FidoNet more universally mis-
    understood than routing.  It is the  intent  of  this  foru-
    part series to clear some of the fog.

         The   justification  for  nets  and  routing  has  been
    discussed many times and will NOT be  discussed again  here.
    Given  that  routing  is  good,  how is it done?  What's the
    meaning of the various statements that go into route  files?
    Indeed, what's the meaning of route files?

         Let's first take a look at "the network." But how do we
    do that?  In reality, there is no "the network." FidoNet  is
    a  different  thing when viewed by each different Fido!  The
    only formal definition of FidoNet is the node list,  and  it
    serves  as  an  adaquate  view  of  "the  network"  for most
    independent Fidos but only the members of some nets.

         Consider  the  hypothetical  node,  Fido 21/7.  He's an
    independent member of a "Region." To him, "the network" is a
    couple  of  hundred other independent nodes to whom he sends
    messages directly and another couple of hundred to which  he
    has  access  through  36  defined  "Hosts." If he receives a
    message not addressed to his node, his  Fido  "orphans"  it.
    He has no intention of forwarding someone else's mail.  They
    can pay their own phone bills!  When he sends a  message  to
    18/3,  Fido  knows  (from  the  node  list)  that is another
    independent and sends the message direct.  When he  sends  a
    message to 100/76, Fido knows (from the node list) that is a
    member of net 100 and sends it to 100/0.  Fido 21/7 executes
    only  schedule A during the national mail window.  He has no
    use for ANY route files.

    FidoNews 7-37                Page 2                   10 Sep 1990


         Another hypothetical node, Fido 201/4 is a member of an
    "inbound  only"  net.   Since  the  sysop  has  used the '4'
    command properly, Fido knows he is a member of net  201  and
    will  treat  other  members  of that net as though they were
    independent nodes.  When he sends a message to  201/5,  Fido
    will  send it direct and not to 201/0.  Messages headed out-
    side net 201 will be handled for 201/4 just as they were for
    21/7.   Fido  201/4  executes  two  schedules,  A during the
    national window followed immediatly by B when he  just  sits
    quietly  and  waits  for  201/0  to  send  him  any  mail he
    received.  He has no use for ANY route files.

         Everyone   else  has  a  view  of  "the  network"  more
    complicated than Fido can discover from just the node  list.
    If  you're a Southern California Hub, or a local node in the
    New York Megalopolis, or maybe the host of a modest  network
    in  Memphis  "the  network"  looks  different to you than to
    other sysops.  It is the function of route files  to  modify
    Fido's view of "the network" to conform to yours.

         If your Fido is executing any mail event and any  other
    Fido calls it up and offers it a mail packet, your Fido will
    graciously receive that packet and at the end  of  the  mail
    event,  he will unpack it into messages.  These actions have
    nothing whatever to do with route files!

         Reread  that last paragraph two or three times until it
    sinks in.  It is a very important, very misunderstood point.
    Route  files  do  not and cannot control the way you receive
    mail.  ROUTE FILES CONTROL ONLY THE  WAY  YOU  SEND  MAIL!!!
    After all, that's when you're paying the phone bill.

         Furthermore,  what  you  say  in ROUTE.B has absolutely
    nothing to do with how Fido behaves in schedule C.   I  will
    come back to this point later.

         Ever since we first began routing FidoNet  messages  to
    places  other than their final destination, route files have
    used three basic commands to mold Fido's view of FidoNet  to
    correspond  with  your  view.   In  part  2  we will look at
    SCHEDULE, ROUTE-TO and ACCEPT-FROM and  see  just  how  they
    influence Fido.

         Part  3  will  examine  a  bevy of new routing commands
    available with Fido V11 and see how they have made automatic
    distribution at last possible.

         LISTGEN  V2  is capable of generating route files auto-
    matically.  Part 4 will discuss how ROUTE.CTL statements map
    to route file commands.

    FidoNews 7-37                Page 3                   10 Sep 1990


         Stay  with  me  for the next few weeks and maybe we can
    burn off the fog and find a bright sky, a calm sea and clear
    sailing.   (And  don't  throw  away your newsletters, you'll
    want to refer back from time to time.)

    ------------------------------------------------------------



                   FidoNet Route Files Explained
                    Part  2 -- In the Beginning

                     by Ben Baker, Fido 100/76

         From the time he first began "routing"  messages,  Fido
    has  used  "route  files"  to tell him what messages to send
    where when.   Three  basic  route  file  commands  do  this;
    SCHEDULE  aka SEND-TO, ROUTE-TO and ACCEPT-FROM.  This week,
    we'll look at these commands in depth.

         Before  going  farther,  I  need  to define a couple of
    terms.  A "target" is a node to which your Fido will connect
    and directly send a message.  An "addressee" is the ultimate
    destination node  for  a  message.   This  is  an  important
    distinction.   Because  of  routing,  the  addressee and the
    target for a particular message are often different nodes.

         A "packet" is a collection of messages all to  be  sent
    to  a single target (though perhaps several addressees).  At
    the beginning of each schedule Fido builds all  the  packets
    he will be permitted to send during that schedule.

         Now, let's take a look at the three basic commands that
    may  appear  in  a  route file, and see how each of them can
    modify Fido's behavior.

    SCHEDULE <tag> <target list>         or
    SEND-TO <target list>

         These commands are equivalent.  They tell Fido  "During
    this  schedule,  you  may  build  packets  for any target in
    <target list>.  Include all messages to different addressees
    which  may  be routed to these targets.  Do not consider any
    outgoing messages which cannot  be  sent  to  one  of  these
    targets."  Unless  there  is  an  ACCEPT-FROM statement (see
    below) only messages originating on your Fido qualify to  go
    into  packets.   If  <target list> is empty (and this is NOT
    schedule A), Fido will not build any packets.  If he doesn't
    build  any  packets he will not send any mail, even if he is
    POLLed (see next week).

    FidoNews 7-37                Page 4                   10 Sep 1990


    ROUTE-TO <target> <addressee list>

         This  command  will  override  any  node  list  implied
    routing  affecting  these nodes.  It tells Fido "If <target>
    is in <target list> and there are outgoing messages for  any
    nodes  in  <addressee list>, put them in <target>'s packet."
    If <target> is not in  <target  list>  you  blew  it.   It's
    almost,  but  not quite a "no operation." No packets will be
    built for nodes in <addressee list>, even  if  they  are  in
    <target  list>!   Don't  route messages to a <target> that's
    not in the <target list> for this schedule.

         By  the  way,  a bug in an earlier version of Fido pre-
    vented messages to <target> from being sent  unless  he  was
    also  in  <addressee  list>.   I don't know if that has been
    corrected, but it's  still  good  general  practice  to  put
    <target> in <addressee list>.

    ACCEPT-FROM <originating list>

         Normally, Fido only  sends  mail  originating  on  your
    board.   If  you  receive  a  message  originating  on A and
    addressed to B, without this statement, your Fido  will  not
    attempt  to  send  it  along to B.  Instead, he will mark it
    "orphan" to give you an indication that  he  had  a  problem
    with  it and otherwise ignore it.  This statement in a route
    file tells Fido "When you build packets,  if  you  find  any
    messages from any nodes in <originating list>, treat them as
    if  they  originated  here.   In  other  words  FORWARD  any
    messages  from  the nodes in <originating list> that you can
    get into packets FOR THIS SCHEDULE's <target list>."

         I actually suggested this verb for this action and have
    regretted  it  ever  since!  It's a misnomer.  A better verb
    might be "FORWARD-FOR" but hindsight is  always  20-20.   It
    really  means  "Accept,  for  forwarding, only messages from
    these guys."  It's  designed  to  prevent  you  from  paying
    someone else's phone costs without prior arrangement.

         So  where  do  you  put  this  statement?  Remember two
    important points I've  mentioned  before.   1)  Route  files
    affect  how  you  SEND  mail,  not how you receive it.  2) A
    particular route file affects only  the  schedule  with  the
    matching  <tag>.   Consider  Fido  202/0, a hypothetical bi-
    directional host.  He executes three schedules  each  night.
    During  schedule  B, before the national window, he collects
    outgoing mail from his locals.  During schedule C  he  sends
    mail  from  himself  and  his  locals  to  "the network" and
    receives mail for himself and his locals from it.   Then  in
    schedule  D,  after  the national window, he distributes the
    mail he received for his locals.

    FidoNews 7-37                Page 5                   10 Sep 1990


         ROUTE.B  needs  neither  a <target list> nor an ACCEPT-
    FROM statement.  Indeed, he doesn't really need any  ROUTE.B
    file  at  all  because  HE  ISN'T  SENDING  ANY  MAIL DURING
    SCHEDULE B.

         ROUTE.C  has  the national net excluding 202/0's locals
    in its <target list>.  It also has  "ACCEPT-FROM  1,  2,  3,
    (all  locals)."  Now let's say that 202/3 received a message
    from 125/1 last night, but it wasn't delivered because 202/3
    was   down.   The  message  is  still  here.   Won't  it  be
    "orphaned" because 125/1 isn't in the ACCEPT-FROM list?  NO!
    Because  202/3 isn't in the <target list>, the message won't
    even be considered DURING THIS SCHEDULE.

         ROUTE.D has all the nodes in net  202  in  the  <target
    list>,  and  an  "ACCEPT-FROM ALL" statement.  Now the fore-
    going message will be processed correctly and  forwarded  to
    202/3.

         Now let's say that 100/76 tries to forward a message to
    Jakarta through 202/0.  202/0 cannot refuse delivery of  the
    offending  message,  so  there  it  sits  in  his mail area.
    During schedule B, he ignores all outgoing mail  because  he
    doesn't  have a <target list>.  During schedule C Jakarta is
    in his <target list>, but 100/76 is not in his  <originating
    list>, so the message is orphaned.  During schedule D 100/76
    IS in the <originating list>, but  Jakarta  is  not  in  the
    <target list> so the message is again ignored.

         Make  no  mistake,  if  Jakarta had been in the <target
    list> in schedule D, the message would have been sent,  even
    though  it  had  been  marked  an  orphan  during schedule C
    (provided, of course that a connection  could  be  made  and
    Jakarta  happened  to  be  in a mail schedule at that time).
    This means that if messages are orphaned because  of  errors
    in  your  routing  files, the routing files can be corrected
    and the messages can still be sent.  The orphan flag is  NOT
    a dead end!

         A  similar kind of bug existed (and may still;  I don't
    know) with ACCEPT-FROM as with ROUTE-TO (above).  If a route
    file  contains  an ACCEPT-FROM statement, make sure your own
    node is in the <originating list>.  (The first time  I  used
    this   statement,   I  forwarded  a  lot  of  messages,  but
    "orphaned" my own messages!)

         Well, that's how routing is  achieved.   Remember,  all
    these  statements  control  out-going mail.  You can receive
    mail even if you don't have any route files!

         A final point on routing.  If a message says it  has  a
    file  attached (even if the file doesn't exist) all bets are
    off.  Routing is suspended and  the  message  will  be  sent
    direct  from  the  originator  to  the  addressee.  Fido has
    several built-in safeguards to prevent you  from  forwarding
    someone  else's  files,  or  forwarding  your  files through
    FidoNews 7-37                Page 6                   10 Sep 1990


    someone else for that matter.

         Next week we'll take a close look at the goodies TJ has
    provided in version 11 and see how they are making automatic
    node list distribution at long last a reality.

    ------------------------------------------------------------



                   FidoNet Route Files Explained
              Part 3 -- Keep the Old, Ring In the New

                     by Ben Baker, Fido 100/76

         Last  week  we  looked  at the basic routing statements
    that have been with us since version  7  or  so.  Now  let's
    look at what's been added in version 11.

         Please refer back to last weeks  definitions.   I  con-
    tinue to use them as defined.

    RECV-ONLY

         This tells Fido "Go ahead and  build  packets  for  any
    targets  in  the SCHEDULE command's <target list>, but DON'T
    ATTEMPT TO CALL ANYBODY.  If any targets happen to  call  in
    for  any  reason, try to give them their packets before they
    get away."

         There  MUST  be  a  <target list> for this statement to
    mean anything.  It is not  intended  for  normally  "receive
    only"  schedules  like 202/0's collection schedule (see last
    week).  Instead, it  prevents  you  from  originating  calls
    during  schedules  when you are trying to SEND mail.  (Route
    files control how you send mail, not how  you  receive  it.)
    You  are  really  trying  to  send  mail  on the other guy's
    nickel, but as you will see, he has  to  cooperate  in  that
    venture.

         This  statement  might be used by the locals during the
    collection schedule in a large, busy  net.   Collisions  are
    avoided  because  there's  only one node, the outbound host,
    placing calls.  He POLLs (see below) the  locals  for  their
    outgoing traffic.

    HOLD <hold target list>

         "OK, Fido, build packets for  targets  in  the  <target
    list>,  but  don't  attempt  to actually call any targets in
    <hold target list>." This is a limited "RECV-ONLY"  command.
    Any  packets  for  targets not in <hold target list> will be
    sent normally (if they haven't been picked up), but  packets
    for <hold target list> have to be "picked up."

    FidoNews 7-37                Page 7                   10 Sep 1990


         There's  a  hidden  gimmick  here  that  bears  further
    exploration.   Ken  Kaplan  (Fido  100/22  AKA  1/0)  is the
    original  source  in  the  national  nodelist   distribution
    system.   Regional  coordinators  call his Fido each week to
    pick up copies of the latest nodelist.  The route  file  for
    his  national  window contains the statement "HOLD <regional
    coordinator list>."  Fido  will  not  attempt  to  send  any
    packets  targetted  for  a  regional coordinator.  Does this
    mean  that  he  can't  send   "normal"   messages   to   the
    coordinators?   Not  at  all.  Because he is a member of net
    100, all his "normal" messages, including those addressed to
    the  coordinators, wind up in a packet targetted for 100/10,
    the outbound host.  Since 100/10 is not in the <hold  target
    list>,  that  packet  is sent and the messages go out.  HOLD
    APPLIES TO THE TARGETS OF PACKETS, NOT TO THE ADDRESSEES  OF
    MESSAGES!   It  is  only  when  Ken  sends  messages  to the
    coordinators with the nodelist (or other files) attached  to
    them  that Fido builds packets targetted for them instead of
    100/10.

         Does that mean that Ken  can't  send  the  coordinators
    other files without waiting for them to pick them up?  Well,
    yes and no.  Because of the HOLD  statement,  he  can't  say
    send  FIDO_IBM.EXE to 14/61 (see PICK-UP below for why 14/61
    and not  14/0).   But  he  can  use  another  gimmick.   The
    coordinators have dual identities (set by the '4' command of
    Fido) and he can certainly send a file  to  14/0.   Fido  is
    smart,  but so smart he'll notice that 14/0 and 14/61 happen
    to have the same phone number.  He'll send  the  packet  for
    14/0 and hold the one for 14/61.  By the same token, if both
    packets are still present when 14/61 calls  in,  he'll  only
    pick up the the nodelist targetted for 14/61 and not the new
    Fido targetted for 14/0.  (You can't have your cake and  eat
    it too.)

    PICKUP <pickup target list>

         Whenever any other Fido calls your Fido for any reason,
    your Fido looks to see if there is a  packet  targetted  for
    him.  If there is, your Fido will try to deliver it then and
    there and avoid making the phone call which you have to  pay
    for.   Without this statement (or the next one) in his route
    file, the other Fido will simply hang up on you, leaving you
    with  a  phone call to make in order to deliver your packet.
    This statement says to Fido  "If  you  happen  to  call  any
    target in <pickup target list>, hang around to see if he has
    mail for me."

         This  is  a  two-edged  sword.   It  can  speed up mail
    exchange, but the Fido that places the call pays for it.  It
    works  best  within a local net where the calls are all toll
    free anyway.  In fact, it won't work at all  between  larger
    nets  supported  by  distinct  inbound  and  outbound hosts.
    Specifying "PICKUP 100/0" in your national  window  schedule
    would  only get you messages originating on 100/0 (or 100/51
    actually) with files attached.  Any other mail for you might
    FidoNews 7-37                Page 8                   10 Sep 1990


    be in a packet addressed to you, but on 100/10, the outbound
    host, and that's not who you called.

         Even worse, let's say Tom Jennings is sending a file to
    100/10 and wants to pick up any mail from St.  Louis for San
    Francisco while he's at it.  He's the host of net  125,  and
    that's  perfectly  legitimate,  right?   Wrong!  His primary
    identity (the '4' command again) is  125/1  and  100/10  may
    have  a  packet  for  125/0,  but he won't have a packet for
    125/1.  This command deals at the packet/target  level  just
    as  the  HOLD command does.  Furthermore, it deals with real
    identities, not alternate identities.

         As I said, this is most useful within a local net,  and
    that's where it probably should be applied.

    POLL <poll target list>

         This  tells Fido "Even if I don't have any mail for the
    targets  in  <poll  target  list>  generate  empty   packets
    addressed  to them so you have an excuse to call them.  Then
    when you do call them, pick anything they have for me."

         "POLL <poll target list>" implies "PICKUP <poll  target
    list>"  which  need not be specified.  This is the statement
    an outbound host might use to poll his locals  or  hubs  for
    outgoing traffic prior to national mail time.  Together with
    the next statement, this method can be very efficient.

         The regional coordinators run a special  schedule  each
    Saturday morning  during  the  national  mail  window.  It's
    route  file  is  identical to their normal national schedule
    route file except that it contains the statement "POLL 1/0."
    That's how they  get  the  nodelist  for  subsequent  redis-
    tribution.

         As I see it, POLL has a lot more uses than PICKUP.

    SEND-ONLY

         This  one  is  mainly for outbound hosts.  It says "I'm
    not expecting any mail during this schedule, so  don't  wait
    the  normal  one  or  two  minutes for incomming calls after
    making an outgoing call.  As soon as you  finish  one,  dial
    another until all packets have been sent."

         As  I  said  above,  this  can  be  very efficient, but
    there's a problem you need to be aware of.  Fido will make a
    maximum of 30 attempts without connect to send a packet to a
    particular target.  If you have only one packet addressed to
    a busy target, Fido would normally take about an hour to use
    up 30 attempts, but in SEND-ONLY  mode  he  can  attempt  30
    calls  in  about  20 minutes!  If you have a Courier and are
    running it  in  "X4"  response  code  mode,  he'll  make  30
    attempts  in 10 to 15 minutes.  (The Courier doesn't waste a
    lot of time in "fast-dial, busy-detect" mode.)
    FidoNews 7-37                Page 9                   10 Sep 1990


         If you're an outbound host and want  to  try  SEND-ONLY
    during  the  national  window,  you  risk using up your call
    attempts while  your  target  is  busiest,  then  when  he's
    quieted  down and you could get through, you've given up!  I
    suggest you break your national time into two schedules, and
    only  use  SEND-ONLY during the last 20 minutes or so of the
    national window.

         On  the  other  hand,  polling your locals or hubs is a
    different matter.  They should be in RECV-ONLY mode and  you
    can  expect  every  call to connect the first try.  The call
    attempt limit doesn't apply to this situation and the  SEND-
    ONLY  command  should  be used to shorten the time needed to
    POLL everyone.

    NO-ROUTE <addressee list>

         This command tells Fido "Do not send messages addressed
    to these nodes anywhere but to the addressed  nodes.   Treat
    them  as though they have files attached, whether they do or
    not."

         This lets you say things like Fido 100/76 (in Illinois)
    might:

    SEND-TO 100/10        ; Outbound Host (in Missouri)
    ROUTE-TO 100/10 ALL   ; Send everything to accross the river
    NO-ROUTE 100/482      ; Except other Illinois traffic

         The  only  other  way to achieve this end is to list in
    the ROUTE-TO command all 500 odd nodes whose messages should
    be routed to 100/10, and that list changes every week!

         Now  you  should have a good handle on how the commands
    used in ROUTE.<tag> control  how  Fido  SENDS  files  during
    schedule  <tag>.   But sometimes these commands require very
    long lists of node numbers which change from week to week as
    the  node  list  changes.  LISTGEN 2 will generate the route
    files automatically and  let  you  specify  the  long  lists
    symbolically  in terms of nets, area codes, etc..  Next week
    in  the  last  part  of  this  series,  we'll  see  how  the
    statements  in  LISTGEN's  ROUTE.CTL  file correspond to the
    commands in ROUTE.<tag>.

    ------------------------------------------------------------



                   FidoNet Route Files Explained
                  Part 4 -- LISTGEN and ROUTE.CTL

    FidoNews 7-37                Page 10                  10 Sep 1990


                     by Ben Baker, Fido 100/76


         LISTGEN  Version  2  will  automatically generate route
    files for you if you desire.  The advantage is that  LISTGEN
    is driven by a control file, ROUTE.CTL, in which you specify
    the statements necessary with symbolic parameters  that  you
    define  in  terms  of  nets,  area  codes, etc..  A properly
    designed ROUTE.CTL need only change when your routing  needs
    change.  LISTGEN will continue to create correct route files
    week after week as the nodelist changes.

         Before I begin, I'd like to do a quick  review  of  the
    route file commands and their effect.

    SCHEDULE <tag> <list> or
    SEND-TO <list>               Determines which nodes may have
                                 packets build to SEND mail to.
    ROUTE-TO <target> <list>     Directs that messages  to  par-
                                 ticular  addressees  be SENT in
                                 packets to another node.
    ACCEPT-FROM <list>           Specifies  which   oritinators'
                                 messages may be SENT.
    RECV-ONLY                    States that packets may only be
                                 SENT by being picked up.
    HOLD <list>                  States that  packets  to  part-
                                 icular  nodes  may only be SENT
                                 by being picked up.
    PICK-UP <list>               States that it is OK to receive
                                 mail from particular nodes when
                                 we originate calls to SEND them
                                 packets.
    POLL <list>                  Directs that packets (empty  if
                                 necessary)   be  generated  and
                                 SENT  to  particular  nodes  in
                                 order to pick up mail.
    SEND-ONLY                    States  that  calls may be made
                                 rapid-fire  to  SEND  as   many
                                 packets as possible.

         Note that each definition above includes the verb  SEND
    or  SENT.   I  did that deliberately to emphasize that these
    commands all control some aspect of sending mail.

         LISTGEN has been adaquately documented  and  I  do  not
    intend  to re-document it here, but I would like to show you
    how ROUTE.CTL  commands  map  to  the  ROUTE.<tag>  commands
    covered above.

    SCHEDULE <tag> <target list>

    FidoNews 7-37                Page 11                  10 Sep 1990


         When  LISTGEN  encounters  this command in ROUTE.CTL it
    does two things.  First it closes any route file it  may  be
    working  on  and  creates a new ROUTE.<tag> file for the new
    <tag>.  Then it generates  a  SCHEDULE  statement  from  the
    specifications   in   this  one  for  the  new  ROUTE.<tag>,
    expanding any symbolic parameters to lists of nodes from the
    nodelist.  In other words, it begins a new route file as you
    would expect it to by defining the <target list>.

    FROM <accept list>

         This phrase, when encountered, generates an ACCEPT-FROM
    statement.

    TO <addressee list> [ VIA <target> ]

         If  the VIA clause is present, this statement generates
    a  "ROUTE-TO  <target>  <addressee  list>."  Successive   TO
    phrases  without  VIA  clauses  accumulate  to make a larger
    <addressee list> until a VIA  clause  IS  found.   Then  the
    entire  list  is  routed to the <target>.  (I'm not entirely
    happy with this "feature," but that's the way it works.)  If
    no  VIA  clause  is  ever  found, the TO phrase generates no
    output at all!  It  does  serve  as  documentation  in  your
    ROUTE.CTL file, saying "I expect to be sending mail TO these
    nodes in this schedule."

         All of the other route file  commands  discussed  above
    map  one-for-one  in  the  same  format  from  ROUTE.CTL  to
    ROUTE.<tag>.

         The big advantage in using LISTGEN is to be able to use
    simple  symbols  which  it will translate into long lists of
    nodes.  To illustrate, net 100 spans two area codes, 314  in
    Missouri  and  618  in  Illinois.  To minimize the number of
    toll calls placed accross the Mississippi, I serve as "Metro
    East"  hub  to concentrate the Illinois traffic.  I have the
    following statements (among others) in my ROUTE.CTL file:

    define Metro-East as Net-100 except Area-314 ; Area 618
    define Outbound as 100/10
    define World as all except Metro-East
      *  *  *
    FROM Metro-East TO World VIA Outbound

         Nodes may come and go, both in our net and  across  the
    country,  and  these  statements  need  not change.  LISTGEN
    interprets them week after week and builds the  right  route
    files  every  time.   And in several months, if our outbound
    host should change making it necessary to change  ROUTE.CTL,
    I  can  look  at this and not have to say to myself "What on
    earth was I trying to do here?" It's all pretty obvious.

    FidoNews 7-37                Page 12                  10 Sep 1990


         Before I wrap it up, there are two important exceptions
    to  the things I have said.  First, schedule A is special in
    that the <target list> always is  the  entire  nodelist,  no
    matter  what  ROUTE.A  says.  For that reason, if you do any
    routing not defined by the node list, I recommend  that  you
    DO  NOT  USE SCHEDULE A.  For all other schedules, Fido does
    exactly what ROUTE.<tag> tells it to do  and  nothing  more.
    And  second,  ROUTE.BBS is a special route file that affects
    all schedules for which there are no ROUTE.<tag> files.  For
    that  reason,  I recommend that you FORGET YOU EVER HEARD OF
    ROUTE.BBS.  It'll cause more problems than it'll ever solve!

         So,  routing  can  get  pretty complex (just ask 'em in
    Southern California), but it doesn't need to be  complicated
    once  you  know  what the objective of each schedule is from
    your point of view, and what your Fido needs to do  to  meet
    those objectives.

         In  fact, it's pretty easy if you just remember the two
    points I have been hammering at you since we began:

         1) Route files control the way you send  messages,  not
    the  way you receive them.  Every command we discussed above
    controls some aspect of sending messages.  And.  .  .

         2) A particular route file only  affects  the  schedule
    with  the  matching  <tag>.   What you say in ROUTE.B has no
    bearing whatever on  schedule  C.   Each  schedule  must  be
    separately spelled out.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FidoNews 7-37                Page 13                  10 Sep 1990


    =================================================================
                             LATEST VERSIONS
    =================================================================

                        Latest Software Versions

                             MS-DOS Systems
                             --------------

                          Bulletin Board Software
    Name        Version    Name        Version    Name       Version

    DMG            2.93    Phoenix         1.3    TAG           2.5f*
    Fido            12s+   QuickBBS       2.64    TBBS           2.1
    Lynx           1.30    RBBS          17.3A    TComm/TCommNet 3.4
    Kitten         2.16    RBBSmail      17.3A    Telegard       2.5
    Maximus        1.00    RemoteAccess  0.04a*   TPBoard        6.1
    Opus           1.13+*  SLBBS          1.77*   Wildcat!      2.15
    PCBoard        14.5*   Socrates       1.00    XBBS          1.13

    Network                Node List              Other
    Mailers     Version    Utilities   Version    Utilities  Version

    BinkleyTerm    2.40*   EditNL         4.00    ARC            7.0*
    D'Bridge       1.30    MakeNL         2.20    ARCAsim       2.30
    Dutchie       2.90C    ParseList      1.30    ARCmail       2.07
    FrontDoor     1.99c*   Prune          1.40    ConfMail      4.00
    PRENM          1.47    SysNL          3.11    Crossnet      v1.5
    SEAdog        4.51b    XlatList       2.90    EMM           2.02
    TIMS      1.0(Mod8)*   XlaxDiff       2.35*   Gmail         2.05
                           XlaxNode       2.35*   GROUP         2.16
                                                  GUS           1.30
                                                  InterPCB      1.31*
                                                  LHARC         1.13
                                                  MSG            4.1
                                                  MSGED         2.00*
                                                  PK[UN]ZIP     1.10
                                                  QM             1.0
                                                  QSORT         4.03
                                                  Sirius        1.0w
                                                  SLMAIL        1.35
                                                  StarLink      1.01
                                                  TagMail       2.20
                                                  TCOMMail       2.2
                                                  Telemail      1.27*
                                                  TMail         1.15
                                                  TPBNetEd       3.2
                                                  TosScan       1.00
                                                  UFGATE        1.03
                                                  XRS           3.40
                                                  ZmailQ        1.12*
    FidoNews 7-37                Page 14                  10 Sep 1990


                                Macintosh
                                ---------

    Bulletin Board Software   Network Mailers     Other Utilities

    Name            Version   Name      Version   Name       Version

    Red Ryder Host  v2.1b10   Tabby         2.2   MacArc        0.04
    Mansion            7.15   Copernicus   1.0d*  ArcMac         1.3
    WWIV (Mac)          3.0                       StuffIt      1.6b1*
    FBBS               0.91*                      TImport      1.331
    Hermes             0.88*                      TExport       1.32
                                                  Timestamp      1.6
                                                  Tset           1.3
                                                  Import         3.2
                                                  Export        3.21
                                                  Sundial        3.2
                                                  PreStamp       3.2
                                                  OriginatorII   2.0
                                                  AreaFix        1.6
                                                  Mantissa       3.21
                                                  Zenith         1.5
                                                  UNZIP        1.02b

                                  Amiga
                                  -----

    Bulletin Board Software   Network Mailers     Other Utilities

    Name            Version   Name      Version   Name       Version

    Paragon            2.06+  BinkleyTerm  1.00   AmigArc       0.23
                              TrapDoor     1.50*  AReceipt       1.5*
                              WelMat       0.35   booz          1.01
                                                  ConfMail      1.10
                                                  ChameleonEdit 0.10
                                                  ElectricHerald1.66*
                                                  Lharc         1.10
                                                  MessageFilter 1.52*
                                                  oMMM         1.49b
                                                  ParseLst      1.30
                                                  PkAX          1.00
                                                  PK[UN]ZIP     1.01
                                                  PolyxAmy      2.02*
                                                  RMB           1.30
                                                  TrapList      1.12*
                                                  UNzip         0.86
                                                  Yuck!         1.61*
                                                  Zoo           2.00

                                Atari ST
    FidoNews 7-37                Page 15                  10 Sep 1990


                                --------

    Bulletin Board Software   Network Mailer      Other Utilities

    Name            Version   Name      Version   Name       Version

    FIDOdoor/ST        1.5c*  BinkleyTerm 1.03g3  ConfMail      1.00
    Pandora BBS       2.41c   The BOX     1.20    ParseList     1.30
    QuickBBS/ST        0.40                       ARC           6.02*
    GS Point           0.61                       LHARC         0.51
                                                  LED ST        0.10*
                                                  BYE           0.25*
                                                  PKUNZIP       1.10
                                                  MSGED        1.96S
                                                  SRENUM         6.2
                                                  Trenum        0.10
                                                  OMMM          1.40


                               Archimedes
                               ----------

    BBS Software           Mailers                Utilities
    Name        Version    Name        Version    Name       Version

    ARCbbs         1.44*   BinkleyTerm    2.03*   Unzip        2.1TH
                                                  ARC           1.03
                                                  !Spark       2.00d*

                                                  ParseLst      1.30
                                                  BatchPacker   1.00*


    + Netmail capable (does not require additional mailer software)
    * Recently changed

    Utility authors:  Please help  keep  this  list  up  to  date  by
    reporting  new  versions  to 1:1/1.  It is not our intent to list
    all utilities here, only those which verge on necessity.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    FidoNews 7-37                Page 16                  10 Sep 1990


    =================================================================
                                 NOTICES
    =================================================================

                         The Interrupt Stack


     5 Oct 1990
       21st Anniversary of "Monty Python's Flying Circus"

     6 Nov 1990
       First anniversary of Van Diepen Automatiseert, 2:500/28

    14 Nov 1990
       Marco Maccaferri's 21rd Birthday. Send greetings to him at
       2:332/16.0

     1 Jan 1991
       Implementation of 7% Goods and Services Tax in Canada. Contact
       Joe Lindstrom at 1:134/55 for a more colorful description.

    16 Feb 1991
       Fifth anniversary of the introduction of Echomail, by Jeff Rush.

     7 Oct 1991
       Area code  415  fragments.   Alameda and Contra Costa Counties
       will  begin  using  area  code  510.   This includes  Oakland,
       Concord, Berkeley  and  Hayward.    San  Francisco, San Mateo,
       Marin, parts of  Santa Clara County, and the San Francisco Bay
       Islands will retain area code 415.

     1 Feb 1992
       Area  code 213 fragments.    Western,  coastal,  southern  and
       eastern portions of Los Angeles  County  will begin using area
       code 310.  This includes Los  Angeles  International  Airport,
       West  Los  Angeles,  San  Pedro and Whittier.    Downtown  Los
       Angeles  and  surrounding  communities  (such as Hollywood and
       Montebello) will retain area code 213.

     1 Dec 1993
       Tenth anniversary of Fido Version 1 release.

     5 Jun 1997
       David Dodell's 40th Birthday


    If you have something which you would like to see on this
    calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1:1/1.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------