Hello, all.

Do you know whether the Rocksolid light web interface can
carry FidoNet echoes or is it for Usenet and BBS only?

--
() ascii ribbon campaign -- against html e-mail
/\ www.asciiribbon.org -- against proprietary attachments

Am 01.03.2024 schrieb Anton Shepelev <anton.txt@g{oogle}mail.com>:

> Do you know whether the Rocksolid light web interface can
> carry FidoNet echoes or is it for Usenet and BBS only?

There are FidoNet <-> Usenet gateways. rsl can access those newsgroups.
See the fido.* and fido7.* hierarchies.

Anton Shepelev wrote:

> Hello, all.

> Do you know whether the Rocksolid light web interface can
> carry FidoNet echoes or is it for Usenet and BBS only?

Rocksolid Light does not support Fidonet directly.

I have in the past served some echoes, but that was through a nntp gateway I had set up at the time. I serve QWK networks and Freenet FMS on one site I run, but both are handled through nntp,

I would like to add native QWK and mbox support directly in the future.

You may wish to check with Paul at https://bbs.nz/ . I believe he runs a nntp -> ftn gateway.

--
Retro Guy

Marco Moock to Anton Shepelev:

> > Do you know whether the Rocksolid light web interface
> > can carry FidoNet echoes or is it for Usenet and BBS
> > only?
>
> There are FidoNet <-> Usenet gateways.

There are some, e.g. <https://www.fidonet.fi>.

> rsl can access those newsgroups. See the fido.* and
> fido7.* hierarchies.

If the exist as genuine Usenet groups, yes.

--
() ascii ribbon campaign -- against html e-mail
/\ www.asciiribbon.org -- against proprietary attachments

On Fri, 1 Mar 2024 14:37:46 +0000, Retro Guy <retroguy@novabbs.com> wrote:
>Anton Shepelev wrote:
>> Hello, all.
>> Do you know whether the Rocksolid light web interface can
>> carry FidoNet echoes or is it for Usenet and BBS only?
>
>Rocksolid Light does not support Fidonet directly.
>I have in the past served some echoes, but that was through a nntp gateway I
>had set up at the time. I serve QWK networks and Freenet FMS on one site I run,
>but both are handled through nntp,
>I would like to add native QWK and mbox support directly in the future.
>You may wish to check with Paul at https://bbs.nz/ . I believe he runs a
>nntp -> ftn gateway.

(using Tor Browser 13.0.10)
https://bbs.nz/#Fidonet
>Fidonet - Zone 3, Oceania
>Fidonet Zone 3 covers Australia (Region 54), New Zealand (Region 57).
>FidoNet Explained
> " Very simple; it is a hobby, a non-commercial network of computer
>hobbiests ("hackers", in the older, original meaning) who want to play with,
>and find uses for, packet switch networking. It is not a commercial venture in
>any way; FidoNet is totally supported by it's users and sysops, and in many
>ways is similar to ham radio, in that other than a few "stiff" rules, each
>sysop runs their system in any way they please, for any reason they want. "
>Source: Tom Jennings (founder of FidoNet) - FidoHist.Txt 14/7/1985
>Fidonet is a worldwide amateur computer network used for the communication of
>messages and files between Bulletin Board Systems (BBS).
>It's a network that was born the 1980's and for several decades used 'plain
>old telephone service' (POTS) telephone lines + dial-up modems to establish
>connections between BBS to exchange data. Today most BBS use the Internet to
>connect with each other. FTN protocols developed in the 1990's such as BinkP
>are widely used. The result is that messages now flow faster than ever before
>around the planet.
>FidoNet (whilst no longer as large as it was in the eighties) is still active.
>You can obtain a feed from the Agency HUB (3:770/1) by contacting the author
>of this website.
>FidoNet Application Form (Zone 3, Oceania) https://bbs.nz/files/fidoapp.txt

https://bbs.nz/#Usenet
>news.bbs.nz - Agency Usenet News Server
>Agency News is a Usenet News server run as a not-for-profit hobby and
>located in Dunedin, New Zealand.
>The server is peered to a number of other servers around the planet
>( Dusseldorf, Bad Homburg vor der Hohe & Falkenstein - Germany, Los Angeles
>- USA, Tavistock - United Kingdom, Toronto - Canada ) and carries only text
>based newsgroups.
>To access the server point a newsreader of your choice (Pan etc.) at
>news.bbs.nz port 119. Unauthenticated connections enjoy free read-only
>access to selected number of hierarchies including all the nz.* newsgroups.
>Authenticated connections (username and password) enable both read and post
>access to all the newsgroups the server carries.
>If you would like to get in touch to arrange a free account, email -
>newsmaster at news dot bbs dot nz
>The latest server info and daily stats can be found at news.bbs.nz
[end quote]

testing...
http://put.hk/reader.jsp?server=news.bbs.nz&btnsubmit=Go
>Server: news.bbs.nz (49875)

nearly fifty-thousand newsgroups ... retention sample
>alt.free.newsservers (17301)
>>alt.comp.freeware (135836)
>news.admin.net-abuse.usenet (5799)
>news.groups (2621)

On Fri, 1 Mar 2024 19:03:10 +0300, Anton Shepelev <anton.txt@g{oogle}mail.com> wrote:
>Marco Moock to Anton Shepelev:
>> > Do you know whether the Rocksolid light web interface
>> > can carry FidoNet echoes or is it for Usenet and BBS
>> > only?
>>
>> There are FidoNet <-> Usenet gateways.
>
>There are some, e.g. <https://www.fidonet.fi>.
>> rsl can access those newsgroups. See the fido.* and
>> fido7.* hierarchies.
>If the exist as genuine Usenet groups, yes.

(using Tor Browser 13.0.10)
https://www.fidonet.fi resolved to . . .
>https://www.fidonet.fi/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=nntp:nntp
>RBB Wiki
>Trace: * nntp
> You can access fidonet via nntp reader.
> To get your personal account just write some email to
> nntpserveraccess@rbb.fidonet.fi and you will shortly get your password by
> email. If you don't get an automated reply in 10 minutes, check your spam
> folder first, then email sysop@rbb.fidonet.fi. Make sure you are using your
> real name in the email message.
> news.fidonet.fi (Linux, IPv6 and secure nntps access available.)
>Any questions? Please email sysop@rbb.fidonet.fi And please remember, in
>fidonet we are using our real names.
>Have fun! :)
>nntp/nntp.txt � Last modified: 2024/01/26 21:33 by admin
>Except where otherwise noted, content on this wiki is licensed under the
>following license: CC Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
[end quote]

On 1/3/2024 5:54 pm, Anton Shepelev wrote:
> Hello, all.
>
> Do you know whether the Rocksolid light web interface can
> carry FidoNet echoes or is it for Usenet and BBS only?
>

Fidonet Echomail uses different methods from Usenet to spread messages.
Fidonet is a message network based on dial-up modems, not based on
TCP/IP as in internet. There are programs that convert serial port
dial-up modem to TCP/IP.

On 7/3/2024 6:35 pm, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
>
> Fidonet Echomail uses different methods from Usenet to spread messages.
> Fidonet is a message network based on dial-up modems, not based on
> TCP/IP as in internet. There are programs that convert serial port
> dial-up modem to TCP/IP.

NetModem Modem Server provides Modem Pooling for Windows Networks
http://pcmicro.com/netmodem/

On 3/7/24 04:35, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
> Fidonet Echomail uses different methods from Usenet to spread messages.
> Fidonet is a message network based on dial-up modems, not based on
> TCP/IP as in internet.

That was the case 30+ years ago.

FidoNet node software has gained TCP/IP support and I'm fairly certain
that TCP/IP is the most common transport between FidoNet nodes for a
long time.

> There are programs that convert serial port dial-up modem to TCP/IP.

Yes. But they aren't needed when the FidoNet node software supports
TCP/IP directly.

--
Grant. . . .

Grant Taylor wrote:

>FidoNet node software has gained TCP/IP support and I'm fairly certain
>that TCP/IP is the most common transport between FidoNet nodes for a
>long time.

I still am on Fidonet and I can confirm this. You can still dial a BBS,
but it actually rarely happens because TCP/IP connects are much more
comfortable and much faster.

-jw-

--

And now for something completely different...

Joerg Walther wrote:

> Grant Taylor wrote:

>>FidoNet node software has gained TCP/IP support and I'm fairly certain
>>that TCP/IP is the most common transport between FidoNet nodes for a
>>long time.

> I still am on Fidonet and I can confirm this. You can still dial a BBS,
> but it actually rarely happens because TCP/IP connects are much more
> comfortable and much faster.

Before I left Fidonet I was using binkd for tcp/ip communication. I think it's probably the most common method for Fidonet today.

https://manpages.org/binkd/8

--
Retro Guy

On 8/3/2024 7:32 am, Grant Taylor wrote:
> On 3/7/24 04:35, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
>> Fidonet Echomail uses different methods from Usenet to spread messages.
>> Fidonet is a message network based on dial-up modems, not based on
>> TCP/IP as in internet.
>
> That was the case 30+ years ago.
>
> FidoNet node software has gained TCP/IP support and I'm fairly certain
> that TCP/IP is the most common transport between FidoNet nodes for a
> long time.

Could you name the software involved? I don't remember sysops talking
about this TCP/IP thing in Fidonet Hong Kong.

On 3/16/24 10:11, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
> Could you name the software involved? I don't remember sysops talking
> about this TCP/IP thing in Fidonet Hong Kong.

Not off hand.

I want to say any of the big BBS packages from the '90s that have
survived to the '10s / '20s have added TCP/IP support.

See if the package supports telnet / smtp / imap.

--
Grant. . . .

On Sat, 16 Mar 2024 23:11:48 +0800, "Mr. Man-wai Chang"
<toylet.toylet@gmail.com> wrote:

>On 8/3/2024 7:32 am, Grant Taylor wrote:
>> On 3/7/24 04:35, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
>>> Fidonet Echomail uses different methods from Usenet to spread messages.
>>> Fidonet is a message network based on dial-up modems, not based on
>>> TCP/IP as in internet.
>>
>> That was the case 30+ years ago.
>>
>> FidoNet node software has gained TCP/IP support and I'm fairly certain
>> that TCP/IP is the most common transport between FidoNet nodes for a
>> long time.
>
>Could you name the software involved? I don't remember sysops talking
>about this TCP/IP thing in Fidonet Hong Kong.

Mystic , synchronet , support TCP and they are Up to Date !

-
telnet://gallaxial.com BBS
irc://gallaxial.com IRC With Service
http://gallaxial.com:33333 Old Fashon torrent Tracker
ftp://gallaxial.com FTP server fidonet files +++
http://gallaxial.com:88 Web-FTP
-

On Sat, 16 Mar 2024 23:11:48 +0800, "Mr. Man-wai Chang"
<toylet.toylet@gmail.com> wrote:

>On 8/3/2024 7:32 am, Grant Taylor wrote:
>> On 3/7/24 04:35, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
>>> Fidonet Echomail uses different methods from Usenet to spread messages.
>>> Fidonet is a message network based on dial-up modems, not based on
>>> TCP/IP as in internet.
>>
>> That was the case 30+ years ago.
>>
>> FidoNet node software has gained TCP/IP support and I'm fairly certain
>> that TCP/IP is the most common transport between FidoNet nodes for a
>> long time.
>
>Could you name the software involved? I don't remember sysops talking
>about this TCP/IP thing in Fidonet Hong Kong.

Mystic , synchronet , support TCP and they are Up to Date !

-
telnet://gallaxial.com BBS
irc://gallaxial.com IRC With Service
http://gallaxial.com:33333 Old Fashon torrent Tracker
ftp://gallaxial.com FTP server fidonet files +++
http://gallaxial.com:88 Web-FTP
-

On 17/3/2024 9:26 am, Grant Taylor wrote:
> On 3/16/24 10:11, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
>> Could you name the software involved? I don't remember sysops talking
>> about this TCP/IP thing in Fidonet Hong Kong.
>
> Not off hand.
>
> I want to say any of the big BBS packages from the '90s that have
> survived to the '10s / '20s have added TCP/IP support.
>
> See if the package supports telnet / smtp / imap.

Because of Pnet charges, I suspect most Hong Kong Fidonet BBS just
folder for arrival of the Internet.

So Echomail mailers like Frontdoor and Blinkey(forgot its name) got
TCP/IP support?

On 18/3/2024 3:53 am, floffy@gallaxial.com wrote:
> On Sat, 16 Mar 2024 23:11:48 +0800, "Mr. Man-wai Chang"
> <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On 8/3/2024 7:32 am, Grant Taylor wrote:
>>> On 3/7/24 04:35, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
>>>
>>> FidoNet node software has gained TCP/IP support and I'm fairly certain
>>> that TCP/IP is the most common transport between FidoNet nodes for a
>>> long time.
>>
>> Could you name the software involved? I don't remember sysops talking
>> about this TCP/IP thing in Fidonet Hong Kong.
>
> Mystic , synchronet , support TCP and they are Up to Date !

Back then I ran a dial-up point BBS using Frontdoor and SuperBBS, under
the Concerto BBS group in Hong Kong.

Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:

> On 17/3/2024 9:26 am, Grant Taylor wrote:
>> On 3/16/24 10:11, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
>>> Could you name the software involved? I don't remember sysops talking
>>> about this TCP/IP thing in Fidonet Hong Kong.
>>
>> Not off hand.
>>
>> I want to say any of the big BBS packages from the '90s that have
>> survived to the '10s / '20s have added TCP/IP support.
>>
>> See if the package supports telnet / smtp / imap.

> Because of Pnet charges, I suspect most Hong Kong Fidonet BBS just
> folder for arrival of the Internet.

> So Echomail mailers like Frontdoor and Blinkey(forgot its name) got
> TCP/IP support?

I believe the most common now is bink protocol:
https://manpages.org/binkd/8

--
Retro Guy

On 22/3/2024 1:51 am, Retro Guy wrote:
> Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
>> On 17/3/2024 9:26 am, Grant Taylor wrote:
>
>> So Echomail mailers like Frontdoor and Blinkey(forgot its name) got
>> TCP/IP support?

I think it was BinkeyTerm... according to Google Search. :)

>
> I believe the most common now is bink protocol:
> https://manpages.org/binkd/8

It should just be Echomail over TCP/IP??

There was also BlueWave Offline Message Reader back then.

Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:

>I think it was BinkeyTerm... according to Google Search. :)

BinkleyTerm, and it still being used, especially the Linux version.

-jw-

--

And now for something completely different...

On 3/21/24 12:09, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
> So Echomail mailers like Frontdoor and Blinkey(forgot its name) got
> TCP/IP support?

I believe so.

--
Grant. . . .

On 23/3/2024 5:19 am, Grant Taylor wrote:
> On 3/21/24 12:09, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
>> So Echomail mailers like Frontdoor and Blinkey(forgot its name) got
>> TCP/IP support?
>
> I believe so.

Um... do you think the Bit-Torrent protocol actually originated from
Echomail? :)

On 23/3/2024 12:21 am, Joerg Walther wrote:
> Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
>
>> I think it was BinkeyTerm... according to Google Search. :)
>
> BinkleyTerm, and it still being used, especially the Linux version.

I am not so sure about the name of that Bxxx mailer... I only remember
FrontDoor which I actually used.

Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:

>> BinkleyTerm, and it still being used, especially the Linux version.
>
>I am not so sure about the name of that Bxxx mailer...

Here it is, it is on Github now: https://github.com/oldprogs/btxe
Some nodes are currently discussing their use of software in
fidosoft.de, there's a bunch of software which was ported from DOS/OS/2
to Linux and is still being used, some even still use their old DOS
setup in VMs...

-jw-

--

And now for something completely different...

On 3/23/24 04:02, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
> Um...  do you think the Bit-Torrent protocol actually originated from
> Echomail? :)

No, I believe that Bit Torrent was born on TCP/IP.

I don't see what Bit Torrent has to do with Echomail mailers supporting
TCP/IP.

--
Grant. . . .