F I D O N E W S -- Volume 14, Number 1 6 January 1997
+----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
| The newsletter of the | ISSN 1198-4589 Published by: |
| FidoNet community | "FidoNews" |
| _ | 1-904-409-7040 [1:1/23] |
| / \ | |
| /|oo \ | |
| (_| /_) | |
| _`@/_ \ _ | |
| | | \ \\ | Editor: |
| | (*) | \ )) | Christopher Baker 1:18/14 |
| |__U__| / \// | |
| _//|| _\ / | |
| (_/(_|(____/ | |
| (jm) | Newspapers should have no friends. |
| | -- JOSEPH PULITZER |
+----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
| Submission address: FidoNews Editor 1:1/23 |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| MORE addresses: |
| |
| submissions=>
[email protected] |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| For information, copyrights, article submissions, |
| obtaining copies of FidoNews or the internet gateway FAQ |
| please refer to the end of this file. |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
WHAT AWAITS FIDONET IN 1997?
Table of Contents
1. EDITORIAL ................................................ 1
Volume 14 of FidoNews begins 1997! Volume E! ............. 1
2. CORRECTIONS .............................................. 2
Oopsies in the FidoNet by Internet section last week! .... 2
3. ARTICLES ................................................. 3
Where does FIDO Fit? ..................................... 3
4. COLUMNS .................................................. 5
Fidonet In Europe ........................................ 5
5. GETTING TECHNICAL ........................................ 6
FSC-0009 - Nodelist Flag Changes draft ................... 6
FSC-0010 - RESYNC SEALink protocol enhancement ........... 9
FSC-0011 - Corrections to FTS-0001 ....................... 16
6. COORDINATORS CORNER ...................................... 27
Nodelist-statistics as seen from Zone-2 for day 003 ...... 27
7. NET HUMOR ................................................ 28
Need a new report form for the New Year? ................. 28
8. COMIX IN ASCII ........................................... 31
Happy Gnu Year? .......................................... 31
9. ADVERTISE YOUR FREE SERVICE/EVENT ........................ 32
Announcing the CRICKET_ECHO .............................. 32
Announcing the WRESTLING_CHAT Echo ....................... 32
10. FOR SALE ................................................ 33
US Robotics Courier v.everything upgrade ................. 33
11. NOTICES ................................................. 34
And more!
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 1 6 Jan 1997
=================================================================
EDITORIAL
=================================================================
We have a full Issue for the new year including republishing the
ARTicle SPECifications for FidoNews submissions in the NOTICES
section. The only change was the addition of the .INT filetype for
listing Internet addresses where FidoNet info/ops may be found.
I discovered quite a few more Internet addresses for FidoNet in
my surfing last week and got a couple of email contributions to the
list. Send the info to me anyway you wish [see Masthead] if you want
your listing in the new section. There were also a couple errors in
last week's listings. They have been corrected in this Issue.
There are also some new Canadian contributions to the calendar [Future
History] section. If you have something for the calendar, send it in.
The ice has been broken on the .BIO submissions but nothing came in
for this week's Issue. YooHoo?
My continued thanks to jim barchuk for running the FidoNews HTML site;
to Mike Riddle for the flow of .JOK material; Dave Aronson et al for
the .CMX art in ASCII; and to the ftp sites for carrying the FidoNews
around the world.
Let's hope that 1997 will bring us a new International Coordinator, a
new FidoNet Policy that makes sense for the 21st century, a continued
spirit of hobby and fun instead of commercial and antagonism, and a
complete distribution of FidoNews by ALL ZCs/RCs/NCs to their Nodes!
Anybody know when Chinese New Year begins the Year of the Ox?
Also be sure to adjust your batch files for the NEW Volume letter of E
instead of last year's letter of D! [Did you get caught? {grin}]
C.B.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 2 6 Jan 1997
=================================================================
CORRECTIONS
=================================================================
The errors were corrected in today's Issue but they were:
portal.com instead of portal.ca in the R17 homepage;
and
missing www. for the WWW Resources page.
Sorry about that. [sheepish grin]
Ed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 3 6 Jan 1997
=================================================================
ARTICLES
=================================================================
Where Does FIDO Fit?
by Michael Wilson (1:143/370)
There has been much talk of the shrinking nodelist. Many commentators
believe this is a sign of a shirking FIDOnet. Many also say that FIDO
is in cometition with the Internet. With all these tales of woe, we
must ask where does FIDO fit in the over scheme of world-wide
communication.
FIDO is a hobby. It consists of a loose federation of sysops, many
who have BBS systems. It is apparent that the heyday of independant
BBS systems located in people's garages, bedrooms and basements is
gone. I started my first BBS in 1985. I have been running this
current incarnation of THE VILLAGE since 1991. I used to boast 75-90
callers per day. I was forced to get a second phone line to minimize
busy signals. I was able to charge for access, and people glady paid.
Today, however, I am lucky to get fifteen calls per day, and no one
will charge for access.
This drop in BBS callers is directly related to the rise of the
internet. As more and more people get WEB access, the ANSI world of a
BBS looses its appeal. It is difficult to complete against thirty-two
million color jpegs of Cindy Crawford, and Pamela Lee. I believe the
shirnking of the nodelist is directly related to the decreasing number
of BBS systems. We must understand that for someone to maintain a
line in the nodelist, they must dedicate a computer system and phone
line. If this "hobby" gets too expensive, then the BBS goes away, and
the nodelisting goes away.
Perhaps the nodelist is not the place to look to determine the size of
FIDO. When America On-line publishes their numbers, they do not
publish the quantity of access numbers. Instead, they publish the
number of people who regularly interface (through memberships). We
really have no idea how large FIDO is from a user stand point, we just
know how large it is based on access points.
Also, accessing FIDO is much more difficult than using the Internet.
If someone wants to use America On-line, MSN, a web browser, or some
other online service, they simply start the application and dial a
single number. No matter where they are, or where they want to go, a
single access number is all they need to dial. In FIDO, a user will
need to dial up systems all over the U.S. or world to get various
applications, or obtain support for various products. This is too
time consuming for the computer user of today.
I believe FIDO offers a service and has a place today. The file
distribution and message distribution are quick and painless.
However, the Internal, and most email programs are quicker.
Therefore, I make the following suggestion. FIDO needs a downloadable
front-end with address book and look-up capabilities.
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 4 6 Jan 1997
We need a program that callers can download, and use to dial into a
FIDO system to get mail and/or files. If the callers want the normal
BBS with its doors and such, they can use any comm program. However,
if they want quick, easy and painless FIDO access, they can use the
FIDO front-end. This front-end will need to auto-update the nodelist
on the callers local machine, and allow them to maintain an address
book of favorite sites.
If we want the FIDOnet to only be sysops, then the nodelist will
shrink. However, you will see your nodelist grow if we came up with a
way to increase callers based on the nodelist. Give people with
modems a reason to call FIDO boards, and a quick and easy (maybe even
Windows!) front-end, and FIDO will grow. FIDO is not dead, it just
needs a prettier front door.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 5 6 Jan 1997
=================================================================
COLUMNS
=================================================================
FIdonet In Europe
-----------------
by Dave Meikle (2:259/25.105)
Hope you had a Merry Christmas , I did. Lets get down to the Biz :-) I
have had a Request from Jean Parrot , If I had a list of Fido nodes in
Germany specificallyaround Lorrach in the Black Forrest because he/she
would like to talk to a Friend in Blansingen , Can anyone help by
sending me a Nodelist or sending Jean Parrot it at Jean
Parrot@1:167/722 .
Dave
--- TerminateMail
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 6 6 Jan 1997
=================================================================
GETTING TECHNICAL
=================================================================
[This is part of our continuing series of FidoNet Technical Standards
and Proposals. This Issue contains the next three in numerical order.
They have been reformatted to the 70 column limit where required and
are also part of the FidoNet History series.] Ed.
FSC-0009
*Nodelist Flag Changes Draft Document
The following is a proposed change to the nodelist. Please send
your comments to either Ken Kaplan at 100/22, Ray Gwinn at
109/634, or David Dodell at 114/15. We will not be replying to
all comments but wish to get a general feeling from the network
about this proposed change.
Nodelist Flag Draft Document
Primary Author: Ray Gwinn
Secondary Author: David Dodell
Contact 114/15 or 1/0 with comments
Version 1 (11-15-87)
I proposed that the Nodelist (comment) Flags be replaced with a
capabilities identifier.
After all, the bottom line is that we want to know the
capabilities of the remote node before it is contacted. If the
remote is not capable of performing the desired function, then
there is no need to contact it.
The problem(s) with the existing method is that it originally
started as a comment field and was not planed. At the time
SEAdog was the only "extended protocol" program around. But,
along came Opus with a different "extended protocol". I think
that additional flags like WZ, BR, WR, etc is only extending the
previously unplanned system and will lead to problems in the
future. For example, XP today includes file update requests, but
XP a year ago did not. So, a node using SEAdog V3.xx will have
an XP flag but it is not capable of doing update requests (I
think). Thus, XP does not really tell you what the remote node
is capable of doing.
The capabilities identifier that I propose will do nothing more
than define the program(s) that the remote node is using to
accept incoming calls/mail/requests. Some may say that this is
nothing more than the product code that already exists in the
mail packet. The primary difference is that the capabilities
identifier will exist in the nodelist. This means it is
available without contacting the remote node, while the product
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 7 6 Jan 1997
code is not. Also the product code is limited to 256
possibilities.
I assume that it is desired that the nodelist flags field be two
non-control characters. If so, then I propose that the
capabilities identifier be a two digit, base 36 number. The
digits being 0 through 9 and A through Z and are assigned
sequentially. For example, Fido may be 01 and Dutchie may be 02.
Also note that as defined, XP and WZ are valid. However, I think
they should be done away with, and identifiers be assigned
starting with 00 (00 meaning generic FTSC net mail protocol).
This number, once converted to binary, can be used by programmers
as an index into application specific data bases or tables. One
example is a simple program that will tell a user the
capabilities of a remote node. Given the node's address and the
nodelist, the program could search the nodelist to get the
capabilities identifier. Then the program could use that
identifier as an index into a data base to obtain the
capabilities of the remote node and display them to the user.
Another example is a program that can use the identifier as an
index into a capabilities table that allows determination in
advance that the remote is capable of the desired session prior
to contacting it.
Implementation
----------
First, all nodes in the network are assigned a capabilities
identifier of 00. This is the capabilities code of a net mail
program that meets the basic requirements of the FTSC
specification. Once again, the purpose of this identifier
(except 00) is to define the program(s) that the node is using to
process calls/requests/mail. Also remember that the identifier
reflects the mail handler. For example, TBBS with a BINKLEY
front end will be identified by its BINKLEY identity.
The program author (or project leader) will request a
capabilities identifier from the assigner. Who does the
assigning is another subject. Along with the request must be a
written and detailed description of all enhances features of the
program. Remember, we are dealing with automated contacts
between nodes. In this context, the ability of a program to
handle 50 simultaneous callers is not an enhanced feature.
The list of features can be provided to other authors so that
they may consider a compatible feature. Note, that if the
description of the enhanced features is not sufficient for other
authors to add a compatible feature, then the program may be
assigned the basic 00 capabilities flag. This little enforcement
rule has the potential of lifting a tremendous burden of
documentation from the FTSC. If the committee accepting the
written definition is programmers, the documentation is likely to
be understandable. I think the same committee should assigns new
capabilities codes (other than those grandfathered). The ego of
the program authors would probably insure sufficient
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 8 6 Jan 1997
documentation for a capabilities identifier other than 00.
After consideration, the FTSC could choose to adopt the
definition (possibly modified) as a standard. I feel this gives
the a creative programmer's new features a way into the nodelist
and the FTSC the ability to consider enhancements with 20/20
hindsight. At the same time, the FTSC must only modify the
provided documentation to define a new standard instead of
starting from scratch. But, I'm drifting, this is another
subject.
If a new revision of the same program has additional capabilities
that need to be defined, then the author should request a new
capabilities code. There should be a policy that only one or two
revisions back will have individual capabilities identifiers. If
revisions more than one or two old are still in use they can be
assigned the basic 00 identifier.
The program authors should be required to prominently display the
capabilities identifier. This will allow the Sysop to easily
provide the identifier to his network coordinator for inclusion
in the nodelist. This a basically a take off of the ringer
equivalent code that you find in your modem manual.
As I have defined it, the committee that assigns the capabilities
identifiers can not reject the new features. They can only
reject the documentation of the new features as not being
understandable. This should keep most developers happy because
no one can tell them not to do something. It should make the job
of the FTSC simpler because they will only accept documentation,
not create it. The ego's of the developers, anxious to be
identified in the nodelist, should keep the documentation flowing
to the FTSC.
As pointed out by David Dodell, the same type of identifier can
be applied to modems. That is modem 00 can be a 1200 baud Hayes
(true) compatible, type 02 can be a USR Courier, etc.
What I have proposed here solves many problems, but not all. For
example, there is no way to tell when the wierd BBS has SEAdog
running. So, a CM type flag is still required.
I think that 3 flags will take care of everything. One
identifies the mail handler, another identifies his modem type
and a third should identify when mail/file requests can be
accepted.
The other flags
---------
The other two flags would represent mail reception times and
modem type.
For example the flag 00 would represent mail can only be received
during NMH. Flag 01 would mean mail could be received 24 hours,
identical to the meaning of the CM flag now. Other variations
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 9 6 Jan 1997
could be:
00 National Mail Hour Only for Mail
01 Continuous Mail 24 hour/day
02 Continuous Mail 24 hour/day with 24 hr File Request Capability
03 CM 24 hrs/day, File request all but NMH
The third flag would represent modem types:
00 300 baud Bell standard
01 1200 baud Bell standard
02 2400 baud
03 1200 baud w/MNP
04 2400 baud w/MNP
05 USR HST Modem
06 Telebit Trailblazer Modem
07 Hayes V9600 Modem
08 Microcom Modem 9600 baud
-30-
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FSC-0010
RESYNC, a sealink protocol enhancement by Henk Wevers 2/0
==========================================================
What is resync (recovarable sealink)
------------------------------------
Resync is a protocol enhancement on Sealink by Sea corporation
that allows the protocol to pickup broken transfers were it was
interrupted. The coding overhead is very minor because almost all
routines needed are already part of most sealink implementations.
As a sideeffect transmissions of exact duplicate files (from whatever
source) will only result in the two programs exchanging EOT and thus
saving a lot of transfertime and costs.
The protocol
-------------
The capability of doing ackless sealink
is signalled by the SENDER by having
byte 41 (1 based) in block 0 of a sealink file transfer being <> 0.
Recovery is signalled in the sameway by byte 42 <> 0.
Recoverable sealink starts off like normal (unrecoverable sealink).
After the receiver has received block zero without errors the
receiver checks for a duplicate filename in its incoming file
directory. When a match is found the time and datestamp are checked
and when they match the resync procedure is started otherwise`
the transfer goes on like normal.
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 10 6 Jan 1997
Recovery procedure:
RECEIVER
--------
The receiver sends the following block to the
sender:
<sync> <blocknumber> <eot> <crclow> <crchigh>
sync = $22
blocknumber: ascii , number of block to resume with, 1 based
eot = $03
crc as usual
The reason this form is choosen is that it is the same block as used
for passing the filename in sealink based filerequests so the code
was already there.
now the receiver waits ontil the line dies (looks for a 1 sec pause)
then sends $05 and waits for ACK or NAK from the sender. If nak is
received the recovery procedure is restarted . After a given number
of failed tries the session is aborted.
After an ACK the receiver 'seeks' at the given
block and resumes sealink transfer.
SENDER
------
The sender has the capability to recognize returning ACK, NAK and
SYNC. When a SYNC is received the sender stops all output, purges its
outputbuffers and tries to get the resyncinfo.
(some smart programming to allow an unintended sync caused by
linenoise may make the protocol more stable. You may also test for
ack/nack directly after the SYNC because the ascvii blocknumer
garantees that a received ack/nak probably means a spurious sync. ).
As soon as the blocknumber is received the sender acks and resume
the sealink transfer at the given block.
NOTES
------
This only works if the receiver closes a partly recived file
properly, gives it the right name and sets the right time/date.
In the current dutchie 2.80 implementation it also
only works for files, not for mailpackets, but that is only a
question of implementation and choise.
IMPLEMENTATION
---------------
Currently only dutchie 2.80 implements this enhancement. testing
has shown that the protocol is very stable and works well.
Some code in turbo pascal follows to help those who want to
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 11 6 Jan 1997
implement it.
1. The code used for transferring the wanted restart blocknumber
to the sender. In real implementations this code will be shared
by the filerequest stuff.
function resyncok(blknum:integer):boolean;
Var
blockstring : string[5];
tries,
ch,
n : Integer;
Begin
str(blknum,blockstring);
tries := 0;
repeat
tries := tries +1;
if ((not Comm_Carrier(Comport)) or keyescape or ( tries >=8)) then
begin
If not Comm_Carrier(Comport) then Logit(3,1,'Lost Carrier') else
If (tries>=8) then Logit(3,1,'Too much errors') else
Logit(3,1,'Keyboard <esc>');
dumerr := fileerr;
resyncok := false;
exit;
end;
Comm_purge_in(ComPort);
ClearCrC;
comm_transmit(comport,22);
For n:= 1 to length(blockstring) do
Begin
Comm_transmit(Comport,Ord(blockstring[n]));
UpdatCrc(ord(blockstring[n]));
End;
UpdatCrc(0);
UpdatCrc(0);
Comm_Transmit(Comport,$03);
Comm_Transmit(ComPort,Lo(CrcAccum));
Comm_Transmit(ComPort,Hi(CrcAccum));
Comm_purge_in(comport);
{wait for a 1 sec pause}
{Wait until line dies}
Repeat
Ch := timed_read(ComPort, 10);
Until (Ch = $FFFF);
comm_transmit(comport,05);
ch := timed_read(Comport,20);
until (ch=ACK);
resyncok := true;
end;
2. part of sender ack/nack logic to handshake
above code
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 12 6 Jan 1997
function getsyncblock(var c:integer):Boolean;
var t1 : real;
n,
Crclo,
CrcHi,
pl,
code,
ch : integer;
temp1,
temp : string64;
label 100;
begin
ReqName := '';
getsyncblock := false;
t1 := timerset(50);
repeat
ch := timed_read(comport,0);
if ((ch > $1F) and (ch <$7F)) then ReqName := ReqName + Chr(ch);
if ((ch = ack) or (ch = nak)) then
begin
c:= ch;
goto 100;
end;
if not comm_carrier(Comport) then goto 100;
until ((ch = $03) or timeup(t1));
CrcLo := Timed_Read(Comport,10);
CrcHi := Timed_Read(Comport,10);
ClearCrc;
For n := 1 to length(ReqName) do UpdatCrc(ord(reqName[n]));
UpdatCrc(0);
UpdatCrc(0);
{now wait for enquiry (must be within 5 secs)}
t1 := timerset(50);
repeat
ch := timed_read(comport,50);
until ((ch = $05) or timeup(t1));
If ((Lo(CrcAccum) = CrcLo) and (Hi(CrcAccum) = CrcHi)) then
Begin
val(reqname,outblk,pl);
Comm_transmit(Comport,ACK);
getsyncblock :=true;
end
else
begin
fixwindow;
Writeln(' Bad Checksum');
Comm_transmit(comport,Nak);
end;
100:
end;
Procedure AckChk;
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 13 6 Jan 1997
{ The Various ACK/NAK states are:
0: Ground state, ACK or NAK expected
1: ACK received
2: NAK received
3: ACK, bloknumber received
4: NAK, bloknumber received
}
Var
c : Integer;
label 100;
Begin
ackrep := false;
c := timed_read(ComPort,0);
While c <> $FFFF Do
Begin
If ((Ackst = 3) Or (Ackst = 4)) Then
Begin
Slide := 1;
If (Rawblk = (c Xor $FF)) Then
Begin
Rawblk := Outblk-((Outblk-Rawblk) And $FF);
If ((Rawblk >= 0) And (Rawblk <= Outblk) And (Rawblk >
(Outblk-128))) Then
Begin
If (Ackst = 3) Then {advance for an ACK}
Begin
If (Ackblk <= Rawblk) Then Ackblk := Rawblk;
Slide := SeaWindow;
ackseen := ackseen + 1;
if (ackless and (ackseen > 10)) then
begin
ackless := false;
fixwindow;
writeln(#13,'- Overdrive disengaged ');
end;
fixwindow;
Write(#13, ' ACK ', Rawblk:5, ' == ')
End
Else
Begin
If (Rawblk < 0) Then Outblk := 0 Else Outblk := Rawblk;
If numnak < 4 then slide := seawindow else slide := 1;
fixwindow;
Write(#13, ' NAK ', Rawblk:5, ' == ');
End;
Ackrep := true;
End;
End;
Ackst := 5;
End;
If ((Ackst = 1) Or (Ackst = 2)) Then
Begin
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 14 6 Jan 1997
Rawblk := c;
Ackst := Ackst+2
End;
If (Not(Slide = SeaWindow) Or (Ackst = 0)) Then
Begin
If (c = syn) then
begin
Write(#13, ' Resync received ',#13);
if not getsyncblock(c) then
begin
if ((c = ack) or (c=nak)) then goto 100;
numnak := 255;
exit;
end;
ackblk := outblk-1;
beginblk := outblk-1;
end;
100:
If (c = Ack) Then
Begin
If (Not(Slide = SeaWindow)) Then
Begin
Ackblk := Ackblk+1;
fixwindow;
Write(#13, ' ACK ', Ackblk:5, ' -- ');
ackrep := true;
End;
Ackst := 1;
NumNak := 0;
End
Else
Begin
If ((c = Crc) Or (c = Nak)) Then
Begin
If (Chktec > 1) Then
Begin
If (c = Nak) Then Chktec := 0 Else Chktec := 1;
If (Modem Or Modem7) Then Ackblk := 0;
End;
Comm_purge_out(Comport);
TimeWait(6);
If Not(Slide = SeaWindow) Then
Begin
Outblk := Ackblk+1;
fixwindow;
Write(#13, ' NAK ', Ackblk+1:5, ' -- ');
Ackrep := true;
End;
Ackst := 2;
NumNak := NumNak+1;
If BlkSnt > 0 Then Toterr := Toterr+1;
End;
End;
End;
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 15 6 Jan 1997
If (Ackst = 5) Then Ackst := 0;
c := timed_read(ComPort,0);
End;
End;
3. part of receiver logic
----------------------------
{we come here after successfully receiving block zero}
If Sealink then
begin
Timestring := Seatime((((Buffer[8]*256.0)+Buffer[7])*256.0+Buffer
[6])*256.0+Buffer[5]);
ackless := false;
If (Buffer[41] <> 0) then
begin
writeln('- Overdrive engaged');
ackless := true;
end;
If (Buffer[42] <> 0) then
begin
writeln('- Recovery enabled');
recovers := true;
end;
end;
Assign(Afile, FileDir+filenm);
Reset(Afile);
If IOResult = 0 Then
Begin
if sealink and recovers then
begin
{find date/time}
code := FindFirst(Filedir+filenm);
If code = 0 Then
begin
{we have a duplicate ?}
If file_name = filenm then
begin
{check timestamp}
tstring[0] := #4;
tstring[1] := Chr(dir.time[1]);
tstring[2] := Chr(dir.time[2]);
tstring[3] := Chr(dir.date[1]);
tstring[4] := Chr(dir.date[2]);
if tstring = timestring then
begin
Blknum :=Trunc(file_size/128)+1;
startblk := blknum-1;
Str(blknum,blkstring);
LogIt(3,1, 'Resynced from '+blkstring);
if resyncok(blknum) then
begin
resyncflag := true;
longseek(afile,(blknum-1)*128);
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 16 6 Jan 1997
truncate(afile);
end
else
begin
sealinkrx := false;
goto 150;
end;
end;
end;
end;
end;
if not resyncflag then
begin
if not overwrite then
begin
filenm[1] := '$';
LogIt(3,1, 'Renamed to '+filenm);
end
else Logit(3,1,'Overwrote old file !');
end;
End;
PLEASE COMPARE THESE TO THE ORIGINAL SEA DOCUMENTS ON SEALINK
(IN C)
-30-
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FSC-0011 by Bob Hartman
These are some thoughts that I had on FSC001 after implementing things
in BinkleyTerm. The state tables I show I believe reflect a little
bit more of reality than the older tables. I think that BT
corresponds to 99% of the stuff that I wrote, and it can talk to
everything that is out there. The biggest thing is to be able to
trick everyone currently in existance into doing what they do best
without killing someone that can't do all the fancy stuff (ie Fido
11w). Let me know if I can be of any help deciphering any of it. I
think it is pretty straightforward. I would prefer if it was not
published in FSC001 (since that really should not change, except
perhaps for typos and the EOT stuff mentioned below), but this can be
an addendum (I'll write something a bit more involved if you want) to
be given to developers so that they can be most efficient in transfers
with other systems. I just put all this stuff in, and looking at the
time (3:33am) I may have goofed in some places. Let me know if you
see anything that looks fishy. Let me know if you want me to go any
further with this (I probably will anyway, simply as an example of the
type of documentation on features that I think would be acceptable in
the future).
This is the current state table for sending mail:
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 17 6 Jan 1997
.-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
---+-----.
|State| State | Predicate(s) | Action(s)
| Next|
| # | Name | |
| St | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| S0 | SendInit | | dial modem
| S1 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| S1 | WaitCxD | 1 carrier detected | delay 1-5 seconds
| S2 |
| | | 2 busy, etc. | report no connection
| exit|
| | | 3 voice | report no carrier
| exit|
| | | 4 carrier not detected | report no connection
| exit|
| | | within 60 seconds |
| | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| S2 | WhackCRs | 1 over 30 seconds | report no response
<cr> | exit|
| | | 2 ?? <cr>s received | delay 1 sec
| S3 |
| | | 3 <cr>s not received | send <cr> <sp> <cr>
<sp>| S2 |
| | | | delay ??? secs
| | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| S3 | WaitClear| 1 no input for 0.5 secs | send TSYNCH = AEH
| S4 |
| | | 2 over 60 seconds | hang up, report
garbage | exit|
| | | and line not clear |
| | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| S4* | SendMail | | (XMODEM send packet
XS0)| S5 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+----------
---------------+-----|
| S5 | CheckMail| 1 XMODEM successful | (Fido registers
success)| S6 |
| | | 2 XMODEM fail or timeout| hang up, report mail
bad| exit| |-----+----------+-------------------------+-----------
--------------+-----|
| S6* | SendFiles| | (BATCH send files
BS0) | S7 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------
-----------------+-----|
| S7 | CheckFile| 1 BATCH send successful |
| S8 |
| | | 2 BATCH send failed | hang up, rept files
fail| exit| |-----+----------+-------------------------+----------
---------------+-----|
| S8 | TryPickup| 1 wish to pickup | note send ok
| R2* |
| | | 2 no desire to pickup | delay 5 secs
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 18 6 Jan 1997
| exit|
| | | | hang up, rept send
ok | | `-----+----------+-------------------------+-----------
--------------+-----'
This note is mentioned:
Although the above shows the sender emitting only one
TSYNCH, it is recommended that a timeout of 5-20 seconds should
initiate another TSYNCH. The receiver should tolerate multiple
TSYNCHs.
The correct state table should be:
.-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
---+-----.
|State| State | Predicate(s) | Action(s)
| Next|
| # | Name | |
| St | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| S0 | SendInit | | dial modem
| S1 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| S1 | WaitCxD | 1 carrier detected | delay 1-5 seconds
| S2 |
| | | 2 busy, etc. | report no connection
| exit|
| | | 3 voice | report no carrier
| exit|
| | | 4 carrier not detected | report no connection
| exit|
| | | within 60 seconds |
| | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| S2 | WhackCRs | 1 over 30 seconds | report no response
<cr> | exit|
| | | 2 ?? <cr>s received | delay 1 sec
| S3 |
| | | 3 <cr>s not received | send <cr> <sp> <cr>
<sp>| S2 |
| | | | delay ??? secs
| | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| S3 | WaitClear| 1 no input for 0.5 secs | send TSYNCH = AEH
| S4 |
| | | 2 over 60 seconds | hang up, report
garbage | exit|
| | | and line not clear |
| | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----| | S4* | TSyncChk | 1 'C' or NAK (peeked at)|
(XMODEM send packet XS1)| S5 |
| | | 2 over 2 seconds | eat noise, resend
TSync | S4 |
| | | 3 over 30 seconds | hang up report not
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 19 6 Jan 1997
Fido | exit| |-----+----------+-------------------------+---------
----------------+-----|
| S5 | CheckMail| 1 XMODEM successful | (Fido registers
success)| S6 |
| | | 2 XMODEM fail or timeout| hang up, report mail
bad| exit| |-----+----------+-------------------------+-----------
--------------+-----|
| S6* | SendFiles| | (BATCH send files
BS0) | S7 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------
-----------------+-----|
| S7 | CheckFile| 1 BATCH send successful |
| S8 |
| | | 2 BATCH send failed | hang up, rept files
fail| exit| |-----+----------+-------------------------+----------
---------------+-----|
| S8 | TryPickup| 1 wish to pickup | note send ok
| R2* |
| | | 2 no desire to pickup | delay 5 secs
| exit|
| | | | hang up, rept send
ok | | `-----+----------+-------------------------+-----------
--------------+-----'
In state S4, the phrase "peeked at" means that the character is not
removed from the buffer. Therefore when XS1 is started the proper
character for beginning the Xmodem transfer will be detected. Notice
also that XS1 is a change from the XS0 that is given in the original.
XS0 is for doing Telink, not Xmodem. Since the first part (the mail
packet) is sent Xmodem, the proper place to enter is XS1 (I think).
This next is the current table for Xmodem receiving:
XMODEM/TeLink Receiver
.-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
---+-----.
|State| State | Predicate(s) | Action(s)
| Next|
| # | Name | |
| St | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| XR0 | RecStart | 1 prefer crc mode | Send "C"
| XR1 |
| | | 2 want checksum mode | send NAK
| XR1 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----| | XR1 | WaitFirst| 1 10 retries or 1 minute|
report receive failure | exit|
| | | 2 > 3 retries or 30 secs| set want checksum
mode | XR0 |
| | | 3 EOT received | send ACK, report no
file| exit|
| | | 4 TeLink block recd | send ACK, set
crc/cksm | XR2 |
| | | 5 data block recd | send ACK, set
crc/cksm | XR2 |
| | | 6 bad block or 2-10 secs| incr retry count
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 20 6 Jan 1997
| XR0 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----| | XR2 | WaitBlock| 1 10 retries or 1 minute|
report receive failure | exit|
| | | 2 EOT received | send ACK, report recd
ok| exit|
| | | 3 data block received | send ACK
| XR2 |
| | | 4 bad block or 2-10 secs| send NAK, incr retry
cnt| XR2 | `-----+----------+-------------------------+-----------
--------------+-----'
The following inserts the small fix I mentioned in FTSC about the EOT
probs:
XMODEM/TeLink Receiver
.-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
---+-----.
|State| State | Predicate(s) | Action(s)
| Next|
| # | Name | |
| St | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| XR0 | RecStart | 1 prefer crc mode | Send "C"
| XR1 |
| | | 2 want checksum mode | send NAK
| XR1 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----| | XR1 | WaitFirst| 1 10 retries or 1 minute|
report receive failure | exit|
| | | 2 > 3 retries or 30 secs| set want checksum
mode | XR0 |
| | | 3 EOT received | delay 1 sec, purge
input| exit|
| | | | send ACK, report no
file| |
| | | 4 TeLink block recd | send ACK, set
crc/cksm | XR2 |
| | | 5 data block recd | send ACK, set
crc/cksm | XR2 |
| | | 6 bad block or 2-10 secs| incr retry count
| XR0 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----| | XR2 | WaitBlock| 1 10 retries or 1 minute|
report receive failure | exit|
| | | 2 EOT received | delay 1 sec, purge
input| exit|
| | | | send ACK, report recd
ok| |
| | | 3 data block received | send ACK
| XR2 |
| | | 4 bad block or 2-10 secs| send NAK, incr retry
cnt| XR2 | `-----+----------+-------------------------+-----------
--------------+-----'
As I mentioned in the FTSC conference, the delay to eat characters is
needed in order to purge the extra EOT's that some software sends out.
The delay can be shorter than 1 second (in practice 2/10ths seems to
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 21 6 Jan 1997
work well), but 1 sec fit nicely in the little box.
This is the current Modem7 filename sender:
MODEM7 Filename Sender
.-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
---+-----.
|State| State | Predicate(s) | Action(s)
| Next|
| # | Name | |
| St | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| MS0 | WaitNak | 1 20 retries or 1 minute| filename send failed
| exit|
| | | 2 NAK received | send ACK & 1st ch of
fn | MS1 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+-----------
--------------+-----|
| MS1 | WaitChAck| 1 ACK rcd, fname done | send SUB = 1AH
| MS2 |
| | | 2 ACK rcd, fname ~done | send next ch of fname
| MS1 |
| | | 3 other char or 1 sec | send "u", incr retry
cnt| MS0 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+-----------
--------------+-----|
| MS2 | WaitCksm | 1 cksum recd and ok | send ACK, report fn
ok | exit|
| | | 2 cksum recd but bad | send "u", incr retry
cnt| MS0 |
| | | 3 no cksum in 1 sec | send "u", incr retry
cnt| MS0 | `-----+----------+-------------------------+-----------
--------------+-----'
The drawbacks of this one are that it does not take into account the
possibility of a SEAdog at the other end (or other software) that does
not wish to do Modem7 filename transfer. The other end will send a
"C" instead of the usual NAK, and that should be accounted for:
MODEM7 Filename Sender
.-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
---+-----.
|State| State | Predicate(s) | Action(s)
| Next|
| # | Name | |
| St | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| MS0 | WaitNak | 1 20 retries or 1 minute| filename send failed
| exit|
| | | 2 NAK received | send ACK & 1st ch of
fn | MS1 |
| | | 3 C received | return fn skipped
| exit| |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| MS1 | WaitChAck| 1 ACK rcd, fname done | send SUB = 1AH
| MS2 |
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 22 6 Jan 1997
| | | 2 ACK rcd, fname ~done | send next ch of fname
| MS1 |
| | | 3 other char or 1 sec | send "u", incr retry
cnt| MS0 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+-----------
--------------+-----|
| MS2 | WaitCksm | 1 cksum recd and ok | send ACK, report fn
ok | exit|
| | | 2 cksum recd but bad | send "u", incr retry
cnt| MS0 |
| | | 3 no cksum in 1 sec | send "u", incr retry
cnt| MS0 | `-----+----------+-------------------------+-----------
--------------+-----'
If a C is received, it should trigger that the other end does not wish
to do a Modem7 filename transfer. Since the data in a Telink header
block (as well as SEAlink header block) makes the Modem7 filename
redundant, the sender can return a good filename and slip into Telink
send with no problem. Substituting SEAlink send for Telink send is
also a viable possibility.
Currently this is the state machine for Modem7 receiver:
MODEM7 Filename Receiver
.-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
---+-----.
|State| State | Predicate(s) | Action(s)
| Next|
| # | Name | |
| St | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----| | MR0 | SendNak | 1 20 tries or 1 minute |
report filename failure | exit|
| | | 2 | send NAK, incr try
cnt | MR1 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+---------
----------------+-----|
| MR1 | WaitAck | 1 rcd ACK |
| MR2 |
| | | 2 rcd EOT | report no files
remain | exit|
| | | 3 5 secs & no ACK/EOT |
| MR0 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----| | MR2 | WaitChar | 1 recd EOT (can happen?)|
report no files remain | exit|
| | | 2 recd SUB | send checksum byte
| MR3 |
| | | 3 recd "u" |
| MR0 |
| | | 4 recd char of name | send ACK
| MR2 |
| | | 5 no char in 1 second |
| MR0 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----| | MR3 | WaitOkCk | 1 recd ACK within 1 sec |
report recd filename ok | exit|
| | | 2 recd "u" or other char|
| MR0 | `-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----'
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 23 6 Jan 1997
To get rid of the necessity for the Modem7 filename, do the following:
MODEM7 Filename Receiver
.-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
---+-----.
|State| State | Predicate(s) | Action(s)
| Next|
| # | Name | |
| St | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| MR0 | SendC | 1 5 tries | cannot skip, must do
it | MR0b|
| | | 2 | send C , incr try
cnt | MR0a| |-----+----------+-------------------------+---------
----------------+-----|
| MR0a| WaitSkip | 1 SOH or SYN peeked at | return fname skipped
| exit|
| | | 2 1 second passes |
| MR0 |
| | | 3 other char received | eat character
| MR0 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----| | MR0b| SendNak | 1 20 tries or 1 minute |
report filename failure | exit|
| | | 2 | send NAK, incr try
cnt | MR1 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+---------
----------------+-----|
| MR1 | WaitAck | 1 rcd ACK |
| MR2 |
| | | 2 rcd EOT | report no files
remain | exit|
| | | 3 5 secs & no ACK/EOT |
| MR0 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----| | MR2 | WaitChar | 1 recd EOT (can happen?)|
report no files remain | exit|
| | | 2 recd SUB | send checksum byte
| MR3 |
| | | 3 recd "u" |
| MR0 |
| | | 4 recd char of name | send ACK
| MR2 |
| | | 5 no char in 1 second |
| MR0 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----| | MR3 | WaitOkCk | 1 recd ACK within 1 sec |
report recd filename ok | exit|
| | | 2 recd "u" or other char|
| MR0 | `-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----'
This allows the filename receiver to notice that he has triggered the
other system into skipping the Modem7 filename stuff. Once that
happens, as in the Modem7 sender, the filename can be done away with
and simple Telink or SEAlink transfer can commence. Note that once
again, the byte received is peeked at, so that it can remain in the
buffer to start the Telink/SEAlink transfer. Returning fname skipped,
rather than fname ok signals the other states not to send an
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 24 6 Jan 1997
originating NAK (see below):
BATCH File Receiver
.-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
---+-----.
|State| State | Predicate(s) | Action(s)
| Next|
| # | Name | |
| St | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| BR0*| RecvName | | (MODEM7 FName recv
MR0) | BR1 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+---------
----------------+-----|
| BR1 | CheckFNm | 1 MODEM7 no more files | report files recd ok
| exit|
| | | 2 MODEM7 Filename ok | (TeLink recv file
XR0) | BR2 |
| | | 3 MODEM7 Filename skip | (TeLink recv file
XR1) | BR2 |
| | | 4 MODEM7 Filename bad | report name recv bad
| exit| |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| BR2 | CheckFile| 1 TeLink recv ok |
| BR0 |
| | | 2 TeLink recv bad | report file recv bad
| exit| `-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----'
Now, the sender must also have a slight adjustment:
BATCH File Sender
.-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
---+-----.
|State| State | Predicate(s) | Action(s)
| Next|
| # | Name | |
| St | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| BS0*| MoreFiles| 1 more files to send | (MODEM7 FName send
MS0) | BS1 |
| | | 2 no more files to send |
| BS3 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| BS1 | CheckFNm | 1 MODEM7 Filename ok | (TeLink send file
XS0) | BS2 |
| | | 2 MODEM7 Filename skip | (Telink send file
XS0a) | BS2 |
| | | 3 MODEM7 Filename bad | report name send bad
| exit| |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| BS2 | CheckFile| 1 TeLink send ok |
| BS0 |
| | | 2 TeLink send bad | report file send bad
| exit| |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 25 6 Jan 1997
-----------+-----| | BS3 | EndSend | 1 rec NAK for next file |
send EOT, report send ok| exit|
| | | 2 10 seconds no NAK | send EOT, report no
NAK | exit| `-----+----------+-------------------------+----------
---------------+-----'
Here is the modified Xmodem sender:
XMODEM/TeLink Sender
.-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
---+-----.
|State| State | Predicate(s) | Action(s)
| Next|
| # | Name | |
| St | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| XS0a| SendTeLnk| | send TeLink, incr
tries | XS0 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------
-----------------+-----|
| XS0 | WaitTeLnk| 1 over 40-60 seconds | report sender timeout
| exit|
| | | 2 over 2 tries | note TeLink block
failed| XS1 |
| | | 3 NAK or "C" received | send TeLink, incr
tries | XS0 |
| | | 4 ACK received | TeLink ok, set
crc/cksm | XS2 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+-----
--------------------+-----|
| XS1 | WaitStart| 1 over 40-60 seconds | report sender timeout
| exit|
| | | 2 over 20 tries | report send failed
| exit|
| | | 3 NAK received | set checksum mode
| XS2 |
| | | 4 "C" recd, I can crc | set crc mode
| XS2 |
| | | 5 "C" recd, I can't crc |
| XS1 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| XS2 | SendBlock| 1 more data available | send next data block
| XS3 |
| | | | as checksum or crc
| |
| | | 2 last block has gone | send EOT
| XS4 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| XS3 | WaitACK | 1 10 retries or 1 minute| report send failed
| exit|
| | | 2 ACK received |
| XS2 |
| | | 3 NAK (or C if 1st blk) | resend last block
| XS3 | |-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----|
| XS4 | WaitEnd | 1 10 retries or 1 minute| report send failed
| exit|
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 26 6 Jan 1997
| | | 2 ACK received | report send
successful | exit|
| | | 3 NAK received | resend EOT
| XS4 | `-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
-----------+-----'
-30-
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 27 6 Jan 1997
=================================================================
COORDINATORS CORNER
=================================================================
Nodelist-statistics as seen from Zone-2 for day 003
By Ward Dossche, 2:292/854
ZC/2
+----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+
|Zone|Nl-341|Nodelist-348|Nodelist-355|Nodelist-362|Nodelist-003|%%|
+----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+
| 1 | 10931|10737 -194 |10564 -173 |10452 -112 |10370 -82 |36|
| 2 | 16185|16150 -35 |16127 -23 |16104 -23 |16056 -48 |55|
| 3 | 882| 882 0 | 878 -4 | 876 -2 | 869 -7 | 3|
| 4 | 578| 572 -6 | 413 -159 | 556 143 | 552 -4 | 2|
| 5 | 94| 94 0 | 93 -1 | 93 0 | 93 0 | 0|
| 6 | 1006| 1003 -3 | 1003 0 | 1075 72 | 1073 -2 | 4|
+----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+
| 29676|29438 -238 |29078 -360 |29156 78 |29013 -143 |
+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 28 6 Jan 1997
=================================================================
NET HUMOR
=================================================================
From: "Mike Riddle" <
[email protected]>
To: "Baker, Christopher" <
[email protected] (Christopher Baker)
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 96 08:20:13 -0600
Reply-To: "Mike Riddle" <
[email protected]>
Subject: Fwd: New -- Standardized System Problem Report (Tripe)
==================BEGIN FORWARDED MESSAGE==================
I found this in my Net travels today, and think this will be
"invaluable" for anyone who is a system administrator, the resident
firm computer guru, or outside consultant. I love the response
options. Though it's based in humor, I have to admit I've gotten
problem reports in real life that were more entertaining/frustrating
than this one. <g>
Jeff Beard
____________________________________________________________
Jeffrey J. Beard, Esq.
MicroLaw, Inc., 825 S. 60th St., Milwaukee, WI 53214
Voice: (414) 476-8433 Fax: (414) 476-8461
E-mail:
[email protected]
Web Site:
http://www.microlaw.com
____________________________________________________________
SYSTEM PROBLEM REPORT
This is a form to make the reporting of problems consistent, allow
records of problems to be kept, and a method of discouraging users
from reporting faults in the first place.
Your name? ___________________
Your login name? ____________________
The date? __/__/__
The date the problem first occurred if different? __/__/__
Problem Severity:
Minor__ Minor__ Minor__ Minor__
Which machine? ____________________
Which area appears to be at fault?
Communications__ Disk__ Base Unit__
Network__ Keyboard__ Screen__
Mouse__ Everything__ Don't Know__
Is it plugged in? Yes__ No__
Is it switched on? Yes__ No__
Has it been stolen? Yes__ No__
Have you tried to fix it yourself? Yes__ No__
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 29 6 Jan 1997
Have you made it worse? Yes__
Have you read the manual? Yes__ No__
Are you sure you've read the manual? Yes__ No__
Are you absolutely certain you've read the manual? Yes__ No__
Did you understand it? Yes__ No__
If `Yes' then why can't you fix it yourself?
_____________________________________________________________
Is the equipment unexpectedly noisy? Yes__ No__
If `Yes' what sort of noise?
Grinding__ Rattling__
Whirring__ High pitched whine__
Sound of disk head scouring disk__
Strange, out of tune whistling or humming__
Is there a smell of burning? Yes__ No__
If `Yes' is the equipment on fire? Yes__ No__
Is the fault repeatable? Yes__ No__
What were you doing (with the equipment) at the time the fault
occurred?
______________________________________________________
If `Nothing', then explain why you were logged in.
_______________________________________________________________
Are you sure you aren't imagining the problem? Yes__ No__
Do you have any independent witnesses of the problem? Yes__ No__
Describe the problem.
_______________________________________________________________
Now, describe the problem accurately.
_______________________________________________________________
Speculate wildly about the cause of the problem.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Can't you do something else, rather than bothering me? Yes__ No__
____________________________________________________________
Jeffrey J. Beard, Esq.
MicroLaw, Inc., 825 S. 60th St., Milwaukee, WI 53214
Voice: (414) 476-8433 Fax: (414) 476-8461
E-mail:
[email protected]
Web Site:
http://www.microlaw.com
____________________________________________________________
===================END FORWARDED MESSAGE===================
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 30 6 Jan 1997
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 31 6 Jan 1997
=================================================================
COMIX IN ASCII
=================================================================
--- Following message extracted from NETMAIL @ 1:18/14 ---
By Christopher Baker on Wed Jan 01 01:20:02 1997
From: Dave Aronson @ 1:109/120
To: chris baker @ 1:18/14
Date: 31 Dec 96 11:03:08
Subj: Happy Gnu Yr ASCII comic
><
.-----------------. /\
| HAPPY GNU YEAR! | . /XX\ .
`-----------------' ||__/XXXX\___||
__-`----'o o\----'
___--~~ \\ \
_____---\~~~\ \\_\\ \
##/ \ 1 \ [><] \\_@)
## | \ 9 \ _/ \_
## `. ' \ 9 \ \ / / ### \_@ fweee!
# \ )--____\_7_\--| |-' |##
# / // | || | #
/ // ( )) / ## |=|
||| ||| |KORB## |:|
||| ||| | Brut## `V'
\_\\ \_\\ @= |_____### _|_
Remember, alcohol and calculus don't mix -- so don't drink and derive!
___
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 32 6 Jan 1997
=================================================================
ADVERTISE YOUR FREE SERVICE/EVENT
=================================================================
Emanuel Edwards
1:348/963
[email protected]
Hello all Cricket Lovers:
This ad is to inform you that there is a cricket echo now on fidonet.
The echo tag is called CRICKET_ECHO. The cricket_echo describe all
aspects on how the game is played, the latest scores and upcoming
tours and events in the cricket world. Please request the
cricket_echo onto your bbs. Thanks Emanuel Moderator.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Emanuel Edwards
1:348/963
[email protected]
Hello all Wrestling Fans:
This ad is to inform you that there is a new wrestling echo on the
fidonet backbone. The echo tag is called WRESTLING_CHAT. This echo
is a free speech wrestling echo. It gives all the latest rumours
of what's going on in the wrestling world, upcoming matches and
events in the wrestling world. The WRESTLING_CHAT is also linked
to the Internet through Emanuel's homepage. All Sysops that read
this ad please request the WRESTLING_CHAT onto your bbs.
Thanks Emanuel Moderator.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 33 6 Jan 1997
=================================================================
FOR SALE
=================================================================
USR Courier v.everything upgrade offer
by Michael Wilson (1:143/370)
I am offering the upgrade daughterboard that will upgrade most ANY
USE Courier modem to the new v.everything. This upgrade will add
33.6, caller-ID, FAX and automatic speed adjust. These come with
complete instructions, new Courier manual and the daughterboard.
I have two left: $89.00. I will ship anywhere in the U.S. I can
take VISA and Mastercard. Crash mail me if your are interested.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 34 6 Jan 1997
=================================================================
NOTICES
=================================================================
FidoNews Article Submission Guidelines
FidoNet address 1:1/23
Updated 29 Dec 1996 by Christopher Baker
Updated 29 May 1991 by Tom Jennings
Based on the original work by Thom Henderson
| denotes a change since the last update |.
"Fido" and "FidoNet" are registered trademarks of Tom Jennings,
Box 410923, San Francisco CA 94141, USA and are used with
permission.
--------
SYNOPSIS:
FidoNews is the newsletter of the FidoNet computer network, its
Sysops and users. It is passed to its readers electronically via
the FidoNet and other computer networks and to non-network
readers as well.
This document intends to tell you how to write and submit
articles for publication in FidoNews. Much of it describes the
technical specifications which an article must meet in order to
be included in the newsletter, as well as broad (very) guidelines
on content. (Of course you realize articles can be submitted only
electronically.) Please read it carefully. The article you save
might be your own.
------------
INTRODUCTION:
FidoNews was originally founded in early 1984 to include all
parts of the lives of its member Sysops and users, which of
course means not just technical matters. We do not have fixed
goals of maximum distribution or maximum readership (i.e. lowest
common denominator) but only to meet the needs of our individual
network members. The success of this venture has always been
contentious at best (ahem).
In any case the grand experiment continues. Twelve years later
(at this writing) and over 30,000 Nodes in the network, the
editorial policy, or lack of one, of FidoNews has shown to
best fit our ever-changing and unpredictable needs.
--------------
SUBJECT MATTER:
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 35 6 Jan 1997
Articles on any subject of interest to FidoNet members and users
are welcome and encouraged, not necessarily of a technical
nature, though priority may be, but not necessarily, given to
articles of importance to the FidoNet, its technology and its
uses; other networks such as uucp and the Internet; social
aspects of communications; ethical issues; other related matters.
--------------
ARTICLE LENGTH:
Try to keep articles short. The longer it is, the less likely
people are to read it. Consider splitting long articles (more
than five pages) into smaller articles to be run serially.
Exceptions will be made at the whim of the editors.
For practical reasons, we will attempt to keep FidoNews to a
"reasonable size", which is of course a highly subjective and
variable thing. As of May 1991, the goal is under 100,000 bytes.
Decisions regarding content may be made based upon this, though
in general it shouldn't be an issue.
------------------
WRITING GUIDELINES:
We are not all professional writers, nor is that even a goal for
the FidoNews -- we want real communication to and from real
people; even at the expense of so-called "good writing", which is
frequently a tool to exclude. There are a few minimum
requirements though for any successful writing, even for the
lowly FidoNews:
* The subject discussed must be clear to people other than the
author! Don't assume that people will pick up the context from
your writing. Tell them explicitly.
* Why are you writing this? It may seem obvious -- "Review of the
new Acme 75-baud Modem" -- but it's not. Are you the
manufacturer? An irate customer? Let us know your point of
view.
* Who are you? A good question! Anonymity is acceptable, though
most people want to take credit for their work. Include full
contact information including electronic mail addresses.
* Articles submitted via Netmail or email must contain all the
technically required lines and delimiters in the BODY of the
message. This includes the *[title] line and the 70 character
width requirement. To indicate the filename type for one of
these message submissions, place the FILENAME.TYP in the Subj:
line of your email, Netmail, or Echomail. Those that require
extra editing may be delayed from appearing in FidoNews.
* Articles will appear when space becomes available, not
necessarily the "next" issue. If your article is of a time-
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 36 6 Jan 1997
critical nature, please say so when you submit it; the editor
still has final say.
* The editor reserves the right to request changes from an author
to meet these "standards", which you have to admit are pretty
loose. It is not the intent for this to be a mechanism to
refuse articles the editor does not like, but simply to keep
the contents intelligible.
* If we have a backlog of articles, we may get fussier about
things. Historically, this has not been a serious problem.
---------------------
SUBMITTING AN ARTICLE
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:
If all that hasn't scared you away, the next step is to create a
text file which contains the text of your article. The resulting
file should be sent or uploaded to "Editor", FidoNet
address 1:1/23. The "physical" location (and phone number) of
FidoNews varies, and hence must be found elsewhere, such as
within a recent copy of FidoNews itself.
Filenames must follow the MSDOS standard:
FILENAME.TYP
a 1 to 8 character file name (A - Z, 0 - 9)
a period,
a 0 to 3 character file type (A - Z, 0 - 9)
File types are used to distinguish types of submissions, as
follows:
.ART An article, commentary, open letter, or general news
item.
.GUE Want to write a Guest Editorial? [*Name & Node on line 1]
.RET Need to make a Retraction of a previous article or notice?
.COL Want to become a regular contributor with your own column?
.ANS Answers to the Question of the Week.
.BIO FidoNet biographies - tell us your story.
.HIS FidoNet history - got an anecdote to share?
.REV Reviews of related product, services, or programs.
.JOK Net humor in print.
.CMX Comics in ASCII. [watch those lines at 70 columns!]
.PRF Want to Proofread? Get a cookie for spotting errors.
.AD Advertising FREE services or events.
.SAL "For Sale"
.WAN "Wanted"
.NOT A notice for the back of the issue. Keep them short.
| .INT Internet addresses for FidoNet webpages of general interest.|
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 37 6 Jan 1997
If your file doesn't have one of the above extensions, then it
will lay around taking up disk space until someone takes a look
at it and realizes what it is. Maybe.
The name of the file is up to you, though you should use a name
which is not likely to be "stepped on" by someone else -- the
system will not guarantee file names are unique. For example,
FNEWS.ART is probably not a good name for an article.
--------------
CHARACTER SETS:
The character by character contents of the file itself must meet
the following standards or it cannot be published in FidoNews.
The FidoNews staff WILL NOT be responsible for making file
contents conform to these standards.
* FLUSH LEFT MARGIN: Please do not put a "left margin" on your
articles. Have the text start at the very first column.
* RIGHT MARGIN AT COLUMN 70 OR LESS: Less is tolerable, more is
definitely not. If your cursor is resting at column 71 when
your line is ended, you're okay. One character past that even
with trailing spaces and MAKENEWS will barf on your submission.
If your submission is physically rejected, the Editor will have
to fix it manually or send it back for reformatting.
* RAGGED-RIGHT TEXT: Word-Star style "justification" (inserting
spaces into sentences so that a paragraph is perfectly rec-
tangular) is extremely hard to read, and consumes needless space.
Please don't use it!
* NO FUNNY CHARACTERS: This includes formfeeds, returns without
linefeeds, linefeeds without returns, tabs and other oddities.
The only control codes (character codes 0 through 31 decimal)
allowed are carriage return (CR) and linefeed (LF). The only
exception is: Control-Z "end of file" terminator characters are
tolerated. Not required.
* NO GRAPHICS CHARACTERS: Believe it or not, not everyone in the
world has an IBM PC. Please restrict yourself to printable
ASCII characters in the range 20 hex to 7E hex (space to
tilde).
* LINES TERMINATED: Each line in the article should be terminated
with a 'newline' -- either the MSDOS standard (CR/LF) or the
unix standard (LF only).
-----------------
SUBMISSION FORMAT:
Below is a sample article properly formatted. Features of it are
discussed further below.
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 38 6 Jan 1997
--article file example begins below this line--
*A Sample Article [this is in LINE 1 starting at COLUMN 1]
This is My Title
by Joe Schmoe, [Netmail/email address]
And here is my article. Note that it is flush left (zero indent).
Also note that the right margin is at column seventy so that it
won't overflow "most" text windows. Each line has a newline. Note
the *'ed first line. My article will be listed in the table of
contents exactly as it appears after the * above.
Figure 1. Table 1.
+-------+ ========
| A Box | Alpha
+-------+ Bravo
Note that we am not using any funny-o characters. This ensures
that the final article will look the same to every user, no
matter what sort of hardware he has.
This is the last sentence of our article.
--article file example ends above this line--
The FIRST line of text is the Table of Contents line. It MUST
begin with an asterisk * as shown above. NO BLANK lines above
title line are permitted. If you do not follow this instruction
exactly, the article will not be listed in the Table of Contents.
This Table of Contents listing method works for all submission
file types.
* Everything that follows the *'ed line will appear in the body
of the newsletter. The *'ed line will be stripped out of your
article text so if you want it repeated as your title in the
article BE SURE to repeat it on a second line without the *.
* Next should be the title or name of your article, your name,
and contact information (network address(es), Postal Service
address, etc) Try to keep it to one or two lines each.
* Put a blank line between paragraphs. Paragraphs that all run
together are very difficult to read, and may be rejected.
* If you want to put in a table or a figure, go right ahead.
We do not rearrange text, so your table or figure will
remain exactly as you entered it. Try to limit them to ones
that make the communication CLEARER.
* Don't put a lot of blank space at the top or bottom. The
FidoNews-generator programs will visually separate articles
automatically.
* Please check for basic errors in spelling, grammar, and
punctuation. We're not publishing a textbook, but you don't
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 39 6 Jan 1997
want it to embarrass yourself do you?
* Don't use FidoNews to grind your personal axes against other
FidoNet members. An article presenting a side of an internal
dispute is one thing. An article defaming or perseverating over
several Issues is another. Articles that merely quote endlessly
from other sources to no particular effect are also not a good
idea.
* Don't republish copyrighted material from other sources WITHOUT
the permission of those sources. Include the permission in such
articles.
* Remember that FidoNews is no better or worse than the articles
submitted to it. If you want FidoNews to be a useful newsletter,
get involved and submit useful articles. It's up to YOU to make
it work.
--------------------
SUBMISSION DEADLINES:
FidoNews is published on Monday of every week. Deadline for file
submissions to the FidoNews Editor via file-attach is 2300 ET
[0300 UTC/GMT] the previous Saturday. Deadline for submissions via
Netmail, email, or in the FIDONEWS Echo is 2300 ET [0300 UTC/GMT]
the previous Friday. Submissions which miss the deadlines will be
processed the following week. Submission by deadline is not a
guarantee of appearance in that week's FidoNews but it is likely
depending on volume of submissions.
-30-
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Future History
26 Jan 1997
Australia Day, Australia.
6 Feb 1997
Waitangi Day, New Zealand.
16 Feb 1997
Eleventh Anniversary of invention of Echomail by Jeff Rush.
29 Feb 1997
Nothing will happen on this day.
25 May 1997
Independence Day, Argentina
11 Jun 1997
Independence Day, Russia
1 Jul 1997
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 40 6 Jan 1997
Canada Day - Happy Birthday Canada
13 Oct 1997
Thanksgiving Day, Canada
22 May 1998
Expo '98 World Exposition in Lisbon (Portugal) opens.
1 Dec 1998
Fifteenth Anniversary of release of Fido version 1 by
Tom Jennings.
31 Dec 1999
Hogmanay, Scotland. The New Year that can't be missed.
15 Sep 2000
Sydney (Australia) Summer Olympiad opens.
-- If YOU have something which you would like to see in this
Future History, please send a note to the FidoNews Editor.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 41 6 Jan 1997
=================================================================
FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING
=================================================================
Latest Greatest Software Versions
by Peter E. Popovich, 1:363/264
I think the worst part of playing "catch-up" is having to write "I'm
sorry for the incredibly long delay in getting back to you." I've had
to write that a lot lately; it sucks rocks.
On the other hand, the holidays are finally over, so I've actually
been able to put an hour or two here and there. It's good to actually
have the time to actually do at least a little catching up...
Phased out this week: SimplexBBS 1.05, SLBBS 2.15C
RBBS 17.3b, and RemoteAccess 1.11
Phase-out highlights:
This week: SuperComm 0.99 and TAG 2.5g
Deadline for info: 17 Jan 1997.
Last week: Socrates 1.11 and SuperBBS 1.12
Deadline for info: 10 Jan 1997.
-=- Snip -=-
Submission form for the Latest Greatest Software Versions column
OS Platform :
Software package name :
Version :
Function(s) - BBS, Mailer, Tosser, etc. :
Freeware / Shareware / Commercial? :
Author / Support staff contact name :
Author / Support staff contact node :
Magic name (at the above-listed node) :
Please include a sentence describing what the package does.
Please send updates and suggestions to: Peter Popovich, 1:363/264
-=- Snip -=-
MS-DOS:
Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Act-Up 4.6 G D Chris Gunn 1:15/55 ACT-UP
ALLFIX 4.40 T S Harald Harms 2:281/415 ALLFIX
Announcer 1.1 O S Peter Karlsson 2:206/221 ANNOUNCE
BGFAX 1.60 O S B.J. Guillot 1:106/400 BGFAX
CheckPnt 0.5 beta O F Michiel van der Vlist
2:500/9 CHECKPNT
FidoBBS (tm) 12u B S Ray Brown 1:1/117 FILES
FrontDoor 2.12 M S JoHo 2:201/330 FD
FrontDoor 2.20c M C JoHo 2:201/330 FDINFO
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 42 6 Jan 1997
GIGO 07-14-96 G S Jason Fesler 1:1/141 INFO
Imail 1.75 T S Michael McCabe 1:297/11 IMAIL
ImCrypt 1.04 O F Michiel van der Vlist
2:500/9 IMCRYPT
InfoMail 1.11 O F Damian Walker 2:2502/666 INFOMAIL
InfoMail/386 1.20 O F Damian Walker 2:2502/666 INFO386
InterEcho 1.19 T C Peter Stewart 1:369/35 IEDEMO
InterMail 2.29k M C Peter Stewart 1:369/35 IMDEMO
InterPCB 1.52 O S Peter Stewart 1:369/35 INTERPCB
IPNet 1.11 O S Michele Stewart 1:369/21 IPNET
Jelly-Bean 1.01 T S Rowan Crowe 3:635/727 JELLY
Jelly-Bean/386 1.01 T S Rowan Crowe 3:635/727 JELLY386
MakePl 1.8 N F Michiel van der Vlist
2:500/9 MAKEPL
Marena 1.1 beta O F Michiel van der Vlist
2:500/9 MARENA
Maximus 3.01 B P Tech 1:249/106 MAX
McMail 1.0g5 M S Michael McCabe 1:1/148 MCMAIL
MDNDP 1.18 N S Bill Doyle 1:388/7 MDNDP
MsgEd 4.00 O G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 MSGED
Opus CBCS 1.73a B P Christopher Baker 1:374/14 OPUS
O/T-Track 2.63a O S Peter Hampf 2:241/1090 OT
PcMerge 2.7 N F Michiel van der Vlist
2:500/9 PCMERGE
PlatinumXpress 1.1 M C Gary Petersen 1:290/111 PX11TD.ZIP
RAR 2.00 C S Ron Dwight 2:220/22 RAR
RemoteAccess 2.50 B S Mark Lewis 1:3634/12 RA
Silver Xpress
Door 5.4 O S Gary Petersen 1:290/111 FILES
Reader 4.3 O S Gary Petersen 1:290/111 SXR43.ZIP
Squish 1.11 T P Tech 1:249/106 SQUISH
StealTag UK 1.c... O F Fred Schenk 2:284/412 STEAL_UK
StealTag NL 1.c... O F Fred Schenk 2:284/412 STEAL_NL
T-Mail 2.599I M S Ron Dwight 2:220/22 TMAIL
Terminate 4.00 O S Bo Bendtsen 2:254/261 TERMINATE
Tobruk 0.33 T G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 TOBRUK
TriBBS 10.0 B S Patrick Driscoll 1:372/19 TRIBBS
TriDog 10.0 M S Patrick Driscoll 1:372/19 TRIDOG
TriToss 10.0 T S Patrick Driscoll 1:372/19 TRITOSS
WaterGate 0.92 gamma T S Robert Szarka 1:320/42 WTRGATE
WWIV 4.24a B S Craig Dooley 1:376/126 WWIV
WWIVTOSS 1.30 T S Craig Dooley 1:376/126 WWIVTOSS
xMail 2.00 T S Thorsten Franke 2:2448/53 XMAIL
XRobot 3.01 O S JoHo 2:201/330 XRDOS
OS/2:
Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ALLFIX/2 1.10 T S Harald Harms 2:281/415 AFIXOS2
BGFAX 1.60 O S B.J. Guillot 1:106/400 BGFAX
FleetStreet 1.18 O S Michael Hohner 2:2490/2520 FLEET
GIGO 07-14-96 G S Jason Fesler 1:1/141 INFO
ImCrypt 1.04 O F Michiel van der Vlist
2:500/9 IMCRYPT
Maximus 3.01 B P Tech 1:249/106 MAXP
MsgEd 4.00 O G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 MSGED
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 43 6 Jan 1997
PcMerge 2.3 N F Michiel van der Vlist
2:500/9 PCMERGE
RAR 2.00 C S Ron Dwight 2:220/22 RAR2
Squish 1.11 T P Tech 1:249/106 SQUISHP
T-Mail 2.599I M S Ron Dwight 2:220/22 TMAIL2
Tobruk 0.33 T G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 TOBRUK
XRobot 3.01 O S JoHo 2:201/330 XROS2
Windows (16-bit apps):
Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
BeeMail 1.0 M C Andrius Cepaitis 2:470/1 BEEMAIL
Windows (32-bit apps):
Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
BeeMail 1.0 M C Andrius Cepaitis 2:470/1 BEEMAIL
Maximus 3.01 B P Tech 1:249/106 MAXN
PlatinumXpress 2.00 M C Gary Petersen 1:290/111 PXW-INFO
T-Mail 2.599I M S Ron Dwight 2:220/22 TMAILNT
Unix:
Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ifmail 2.8g M G Eugene Crosser 2:293/2219 IFMAIL
ifmail-tx 2.8g-tx7.8 M G Pablo Saratxaga 2:293/2219 IFMAILTX
MsgEd 4.00 O G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 MSGED
Tobruk 0.33 T G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 TOBRUK
Amiga:
Program Name Version F C Contact Name Node Magic Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
CrashMail 1.23 T X Fredrik Bennison 2:205/324 CRASHMAIL
CrashTick 1.1 O F Fredrik Bennison 2:205/324 CRASHTICK
MsgEd 4.00 O G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 MSGED
Tobruk 0.33 T G Paul Edwards 3:711/934 TOBRUK
Function: B-BBS, M-Mailer, N-Nodelist, G-Gateway, T-Tosser,
C-Compression, O-Other. Note: Multifunction will be listed
by the first match.
Cost: P-Free for personal use, F-Freeware, S-Shareware, C-Commercial,
X-Crippleware, D-Demoware, G-Free w/ Source
Old info from: 01/27/92
---------------------------------------------------------------------
MS-DOS Systems
--------------
BBS Software Other Utilities Other Utilities
Name Version Name Version Name Version
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Socrates 1.11 2DAPoint 1.50* Netsex 2.00b
SuperBBS 1.12* 4Dog/4DMatrix 1.18 OFFLINE 1.35
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 44 6 Jan 1997
SuperComm 0.99 ARCAsim 2.31 Oliver 1.0a
TAG 2.5g ARCmail 3.00* OSIRIS CBIS 3.02
TBBS 2.1 Areafix 1.20 PKInsert 7.10
TComm/TCommNet 3.4 ConfMail 4.00 PolyXarc 2.1a
Telegard 2.7* Crossnet 1.5 QM 1.00a
TPBoard 6.1 DOMAIN 1.42 QSort 4.04
WildCat! 3.02* DEMM 1.06 RAD Plus 2.11
XBBS 1.77 DGMM 1.06 Raid 1.00
DOMAIN 1.42 RBBSMail 18.0
Network Mailers EEngine 0.32 ScanToss 1.28
Name Version EMM 2.11* ScMail 1.00
-------------------- EZPoint 2.1 ScEdit 1.12
BinkleyTerm 2.50 FGroup 1.00 Sirius 1.0x
D'Bridge 1.30 FidoPCB 1.0s@ SLMail 2.15C
Dreamer 1.06 FNPGate 2.70 StarLink 1.01
Dutchie 2.90c GateWorks 3.06e TagMail 2.41
Milqtoast 1.00 GMail 2.05 TCOMMail 2.2
PreNM 1.48 GMD 3.10 Telemail 1.5*
SEAdog 4.60 GMM 1.21 TGroup 1.13
SEAmail 1.01 GoldEd 2.31p TIRES 3.11
TIMS 1.0(mod8) GROUP 2.23 TMail 1.21
GUS 1.40 TosScan 1.00
Compression Harvey's Robot 4.10 UFGATE 1.03
Utilities HeadEdit 1.18 VPurge 4.09e
Name Version HLIST 1.09 WEdit 2.0@
-------------------- ISIS 5.12@ WildMail 2.00
ARC 7.12 Lola 1.01d WMail 2.2
ARJ 2.20 Mosaic 1.00b WNode 2.1
LHA 2.13 MailBase 4.11a@ XRS 4.99
PAK 2.51 MSG 4.5* XST 2.3e
PKPak 3.61 MsgLnk 1.0c YUPPIE! 2.00
PKZip 1.10 MsgMstr 2.03a ZmailH 1.25
MsgNum 4.16d ZSX 2.40
NodeList Utilities MSGTOSS 1.3
Name Version
--------------------
EditNL 4.00
FDND 1.10
MakeNL 2.31
Parselst 1.33
Prune 1.40
SysNL 3.14
XlatList 2.90
XlaxNode/Diff 2.53
OS/2 Systems
------------
BBS Software Other Utilities(A-M Other Utilities(N-Z)
Name Version Name Version Name Version
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Kitten 1.01 ARC 7.12 oMMM 1.52
SimplexBBS 1.04.02+ ARC2 6.01 Omail 3.1
ConfMail 4.00 Parselst 1.33
EchoStat 6.0 PKZip 1.02
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 45 6 Jan 1997
Network Mailers EZPoint 2.1 PMSnoop 1.30
Name Version FGroup 1.00 PolyXOS2 2.1a
-------------------- GROUP 2.23 QSort 2.1
BinkleyTerm 2.50 LH2 2.11 Raid 1.0
BinkleyTerm(S) 2.50 MSG 4.2 Remapper 1.2
BinkleyTerm/2-MT MsgLink 1.0c Tick 2.0
1.40.02 MsgNum 4.16d VPurge 4.09e
SEAmail 1.01
Xenix/Unix 386
--------------
BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
Name Version Name Version Name Version
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
ARC 5.21
C-LHARC 1.00
|Contact: Willy Paine 1:343/15,| MSGLINK 1.01
|or Eddy van Loo 2:285/406 | oMMM 1.42
Omail 1.00
ParseLst 1.32
Unzip 3.10
VPurge 4.08
Zoo 2.01
Macintosh
---------
BBS Software Network Mailers Other Software
Name Version Name Version Name Version
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
FBBS 0.91 Copernicus 1.0 ArcMac 1.3
Hermes 1.6.1 Tabby 2.2 AreaFix 1.6
Mansion 7.15 Compact Pro 1.30
Precision Sys. 0.95b EventMeister 1.0
Red Ryder Host 2.1 Export 3.21
Telefinder Host Import 3.2
2.12T10 LHARC 0.41
MacArd 0.04
Mantissa 3.21
Point System Mehitable 2.0
Software OriginatorII 2.0
Name Version PreStamp 3.2
-------------------- StuffIt Classic 1.6
Copernicus 1.00 SunDial 3.2
CounterPoint 1.09 TExport 1.92
MacWoof 1.1 TimeStamp 1.6
TImport 1.92
Tset 1.3
TSort 1.0
UNZIP 1.02c
Zenith 1.5
Zip Extract 0.10
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 46 6 Jan 1997
Amiga
-----
BBS Software Network Mailers Other Software
Name Version Name Version Name Version
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
4D-BBS 1.65 BinkleyTerm 1.00 Areafix 1.48
DLG Pro. 0.96b TrapDoor 1.80 AReceipt 1.5
Falcon CBCS 1.00 WelMat 0.44 ChameleonEdit 0.11
Starnet 1.0q@ ConfMail 1.12
TransAmiga 1.07 ElectricHerald 1.66
XenoLink 1.0 Compression FFRS 1.0@
Utilities FileMgr 2.08
Name Version Fozzle 1.0@
NodeList Utilities -------------------- Login 0.18
Name Version AmigArc 0.23 MessageFilter 1.52
-------------------- booz 1.01 Message View 1.12
ParseLst 1.66 LHARC 1.30 oMMM 1.50
Skyparse 2.30 LhA 1.10 PolyXAmy 2.02
TrapList 1.40 LZ 1.92 RMB 1.30
PkAX 1.00 Roof 46.15
UnZip 4.1 RoboWriter 1.02
Zippy (Unzip) 1.25 Rsh 4.07a
Zoo 2.01 Tick 0.75
TrapToss 1.20
|Contact: Maximilian Hantsch 2:310/6| Yuck! 2.02
Atari ST/TT
-----------
BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
Name Version Name Version Name Version
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
FIDOdoor/ST 2.5.1 BinkleyTerm 2.40n9 ApplyList 1.00@
FiFo 2.1v The Box 1.95* Burep 1.1
LED ST 1.00 ComScan 1.04
QuickBBS/ST 1.06* ConfMail 4.10
NodeList Utilities Echoscan 1.10
Name Version FDrenum 2.5.2
Compression -------------------- FastPack 1.20
Utilities ParseList 1.30 Import 1.14
Name Version EchoFix 1.20 oMMM 1.40
-------------------- sTICK/Hatch 5.50 Pack 1.00
ARC 6.02 Trenum 0.10
LHARC 2.01i
PackConvert
STZip 1.1*
UnJARST 2.00
WhatArc 2.02
Tandy Color Computer 3 (OS-9 Level II)
--------------------------------------
BBS Software Compression Utility Other Utilities
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 47 6 Jan 1997
Name Version Name Version Name Version
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
RiBBS 2.02+ Ar 1.3 Ascan 1.2
DeArc 5.12 AutoFRL 2.0
OS9Arc 1.0 Bundle 2.2
UnZip 3.10 CKARC 1.1
UnLZH 3.0 EchoCheck 1.01
FReq 2.5a
LookNode 2.00
ParseLST
PReq 2.2
RList 1.03
RTick 2.00
UnBundle 1.4
UnSeen 1.1
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Key to old info:
+ - Netmail Capable (Doesn't Require Additional Mailer Software)
* - Recently Updated Version
@ - New Addition
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Please send updates and suggestions to: Peter Popovich, 1:363/264
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 48 6 Jan 1997
=================================================================
FIDONEWS PUBLIC-KEY
=================================================================
[this must be copied out to a file starting at column 1 or
it won't process under PGP as a valid public-key]
-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
Version: 2.6.2
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File-request FNEWSKEY from 1:1/23 [1:18/14] or download it from the
Rights On! BBS at 1-904-409-7040 anytime except 0100-0130 ET and Zone
1 ZMH at 1200-9600+ HST/V32B. The FidoNews key is also available on
the FidoNews homepage listed in the Masthead information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 49 6 Jan 1997
=================================================================
FIDONET BY INTERNET
=================================================================
This is a list of all FidoNet-related sites reported to the Editor as
of this appearance.
============
FidoNet:
Homepage
http://www.fidonet.org
FidoNews
http://ddi.digital.net/~cbaker84/fidonews.html
HTML FNews
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/6894/
WWW sources
http://www.scms.rgu.ac.uk/students/cs_yr94/lk/fido.html
FTSC page
http://www.blaze.net.au/ftsc.html
Echomail
http://www.portal.ca/~awalker/index.html
============
Zone 1:
http://www.z1.fidonet.org
Region 10:
http://www.psnw.com/~net205/region10.html
Region 15:
http://www.smrtsys.com/region15/
Region 17:
http://www.portal.ca/~awalker/region17.htm
Region 18:
http://www.citicom.com/fido.html
Region 19:
http://ccove.n-link.com/
============
Zone 2:
http://www.z2.fidonet.org
Region 36:
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/7207/
============
Zone 3:
http://www.z3.fidonet.org
============
Zone 4:
============
Zone 5:
============
Zone 6:
http://www.z6.fidonet.org
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 50 6 Jan 1997
============
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FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 51 6 Jan 1997
=================================================================
FIDONEWS INFORMATION
=================================================================
------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION -------
Editor: Christopher Baker
Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell,
Vince Perriello, Tim Pozar,
Tom Jennings, Sylvia Maxwell,
Donald Tees
"FidoNews Editor"
FidoNet 1:1/23
BBS 1-904-409-7040, 300/1200/2400/14400/V.32bis/HST(ds)
more addresses:
Christopher Baker -- 1:18/14,
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
(Postal Service mailing address)
FidoNews Editor
P.O. Box 471
Edgewater, FL 32132-0471
U.S.A.
voice: 1-904-409-3040 [1400-2100 ET only, please]
[1800-0100 UTC/GMT]
------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews is 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.
Authors retain copyright on individual works; otherwise FidoNews is
Copyright 1996 Christopher Baker. All rights reserved. Duplication
and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For
use in other circumstances, please contact the original authors, or
the Editor.
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
OBTAINING COPIES: The most recent issue of FidoNews in electronic
form may be obtained from the FidoNews Editor via manual download or
file-request, or from various sites in the FidoNet and Internet.
PRINTED COPIES may be obtained by sending SASE to the above postal
address. File-request FIDONEWS for the current Issue. File-request
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 52 6 Jan 1997
FNEWS for the current month in one archive. Or file-request specific
back Issue filenames in distribution format [FNEWSDnn.LZH] for a
particular Issue. Monthly Volumes are available as FNWSmmmy.ZIP
where mmm = three letter month [JAN - DEC] and y = last digit of the
current year [6], i.e., FNWSMAY6.ZIP for all the Issues from May 96.
Annual volumes are available as FNEWSn.ZIP where n = the Volume number
1 - 12 for 1984 - 1995, respectively. Annual Volume archives range in
size from 48K to 1.2M.
INTERNET USERS: FidoNews is available via:
http://www.fidonet.org/fidonews.htm
ftp://ftp.fidonet.org/pub/fidonet/fidonews/
ftp://ftp.aminet.org/pub/aminet/comm/fido/
You can read the current FidoNews Issue in HTML format at:
http://www.geocities.com/athens/6894/
STAR SOURCE for ALL Past Issues via FTP and file-request -
Available for FReq from 1:396/1 or by anonymous FTP from:
ftp://ftp.sstar.com/fidonet/fnews/
Each yearly archive also contains a listing of the Table-of-Contents
for that year's issues. The total set is currently about 11 Megs.
=*=*=*=
The current week's FidoNews and the FidoNews public-key are now also
available almost immediately after publication on the Editor's new
homepage on the World Wide Web at:
http://ddi.digital.net/~cbaker84/fidonews.html
There are also links there to jim barchuk's HTML FidoNews source and
to John Souvestre's FTP site for the archives. There is also an email
link for sending in an article as message text. Drop on over.
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
A PGP generated public-key is available for the FidoNews Editor from
1:1/23 [1:18/14] by file-request for FNEWSKEY or by download from
Rights On! BBS at 1-904-409-7040 as FIDONEWS.ASC in File Area 18. It
is also posted twice a month into the PKEY_DROP Echo available on the
Zone 1 Echomail Backbone.
*=*=*=*=*
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 Editor, or file-requestable
from 1:1/23 [1:18/14] as file "ARTSPEC.DOC". ALL Zone Coordinators
also have copies of ARTSPEC.DOC. Please read it.
FIDONEWS 14-01 Page 53 6 Jan 1997
"Fido", "FidoNet" and the dog-with-diskette are U.S. registered
trademarks of Tom Jennings, P.O. Box 410923, San Francisco, CA 94141,
and are used with permission.
"Disagreement is actually necessary,
or we'd all have to get in fights
or something to amuse ourselves
and create the requisite chaos."
-Tom Jennings
-30-
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