Simtel MSDOS 1992 June/SIMTEL_0692.cdr/msdos/fido/fido.txt

Text File | 1992-05-01 | 3.8 KB | 68 lines

     This directory contains IBM PC Compatible software for use on FidoNet,
a public, non-integrated network of Bulletin Board Systems worldwide.

     This network spans over 30 countries in North & South America, all
parts of the pacific rim including the Orient, Australia, and New Zealand,
Western and parts of eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

     The Service provided is primarily message handling.  Protocols are
defined within the network to provide a limited amount of file transfer over
the network topology.  Users, however, are often free to connect to a
particular node on this system directly by dial-up telephone lines to
perform any file transfer desired.

     Private "NetMail" exits as well as open "party-line" type message areas
spanning hundreds of topics called "EchoMail."  It is very similiar to
newsgroups or usergroups on other networks, except the overall etiquette is
somewhat different since access is open to anyone of the general public with
suitable computer and modem equipment.

     Active gateways currently exist between INTERNET, USENET, BITNET and
other more integrated networks for NetMail.  There are also many EchoMail
conferences currently cross-link with newsgroups/usergroups of INTERNET and
USENET.

     The network comprises of a uniquely defined topology (simliar to a
USENET map), which is updated weekly.  This topology definition is called a
"NodeList."  There are several layers to the physical topology definition.
The world is divided into "Zones."  A Zone often spans a continent.  A Zone
is further divided into "Regions."  In North America (Zone 1), a Region
often spans several U.S. states or Canadian provinces.  In Europe (Zone 2),
a Region often identifies one country.  Further, a Region is divided into
"Nets."  A net is comprises a particular local population or metropolitan
area. Within a net, are individual Bulletin Board systems called "nodes."
A node is comprised of a collection of individual users, who access the node
via dial-up lines.  This physical topology is often referred to a "matrix."
A node is uniquely identified by it's "matrix address".  A particular person
is typically addressed by both their name and the matrix address of the
system they locally use, similar to methods used on INTERNET.  More
recently, a node has been further divided into a "point," which merely
provides a unique matrix Address to one person who has installed the Fido
compatible network driver software on their own computer.  The general form
of a mail address is FirstName LastName@Zone:Net/Node.Point .  The name,
Net, and Node are mandatory.  The Zone number is required only for
addressing outside of one's zone. The Point designator is required only for
someone not using their own network drivers.

     Access to FidoNet may be obtained by any public Bulletin Board System
available in most locations.  A copy of the Nodelist may have been placed in
the same ftp directory of this file listing nodes in your area.  There are
two methods of connection to the network.  First, by a manual dial-up to a
BBS system.  Second, there also exists software which permits automatic
access to a node which handles the logon/logoff procedure as well as the
message/file packet transfer process.  In addition to simplfied BBS access,
this carries an added advantage of minimum telephone on-line time.

     The software used for the network interface is often used to SUPPLEMENT
the existing software for a BBS system.  There do exist, however, software
packages which serve as both the function of a BBS and a FidoNet capable
interface (often called a "mailer").  Further explanation and introduction
to software is contained in POINT.TXT along with a brief explanation for
installation as a point system.

Brian Crawford
13 August 1990

FidoNet:  1:114/15.12
INTERNET:  [e-mail]