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