OS/2 Shareware BBS: 2 BBS/02-BBS.zip/bdoc_260.zip/BT_GLOS.TXT

Text File | 1995-11-07 | 25KB | 715 lines

In an endeavour to make this Glossary as complete as possible, some
definitions have been borrowed from glossaries issued with Squish, Msged and
ESC (These programs are often used in conjunction with BinkleyTerm). Full
Acknowledgments and grateful thanks are offered to the authors of these
programs.      BRS Feb 1994

                              THE   GLOSSARY
*.MSG

     The message format originally used by Fido, also used as the FidoNet
     standard for local message storage The *.MSG system requires a separate
     directory for each message area, and a separate file for each message.
     This makes the *.MSG format inefficient, in terms of both disk space and
     time. For compatibility reasons, Squish uses the *.MSG format by
     default.

*.SQ?

     The message format originally used by Maximus. *.SQ? (or "Squish
     format") uses two files per area; a .SQI file contains a message index,
     and the other contains the message headers and text.

*.PKT

     The "transport layer" for FidoNet-compatible messages.  Packets are used
     when transferring messages between two different FidoNet systems. Since
     all systems use the same type of packet, *.PKT can be used to transfer
     messages between systems which use unlike message bases (such as *.MSG
     and the QuickBBS/Hudson format). See also "2+" and "StoneAge".

2+

     A new, backwards-compatible form of *.PKT files. The original packet
     design had no allowances for zone and point information; the 2+ packet
     format corrects this shortcoming.  Squish creates 2+ packets by default,
     but it can also handle StoneAge packets. See also "*.PKT" and
     "StoneAge".

4D

     A term used to refer to a full FidoNet address. An address in the form
     "zone:net/node.point" is called 4D because it allows for
     four-dimensional addressing.

AMAX

     The name of a BinkleyTerm utility by Alan Applegate that handles various
     outbound mail manipulation functions.

Archiver

     An archiver is a program used to compress files. Archivers are very
     useful in a FidoNet environment, as compressing mail can reduce its size
     by up to 80%.

ARCmail

     Simply archived mail packets, processed with an ARC- compatible utility.
     Typically used to forward EchoMail messages due to the file compression
     inherent in the archiving process. Naming conventions correspond to a
     generally accepted method. See 'Mail Packet.' ARCmail refers to both a
     program from System Enhancement Associates and to a mail compression
     format. Mail which is compressed using the ARC archiver is referred to
     as "ARCmail". Similarly, mail compressed with ZIP is called "ZIPmail",
     mail compressed with LHarc is referred to as "LZHmail", and so on.

ArcmailAttach

     An ArcmailAttach system is a mailer which requires "file attaches" to
     send compress mail bundles. ArcmailAttach is not specific to the ARCmail
     compression method; it simply means that a different method is used for
     creating compressed mail bundles. Mailers such as FrontDoor, InterMail,
     D'Bridge and Dutchie require the "ArcmailAttach" keyword in SQUISH.CFG.

AREAS.BBS

     A ConfMail-compatible file containing a list of message directories,
     addresses, and area tags. Squish can use AREAS.BBS, but areas must be
     declared in SQUISH.CFG to use some of Squish's advanced features.

bang path

     Addressing a message can get messy in today's e-mail world, especially
     if it's destined for a system in another computer network, such as UUCP
     or the InterNet. Fortunately, msged understands the disparate vagaries
     of addressing standards and accomplishes most of the tricky stuff all by
     itself. You need only enter the address. Oh... a bang path is an UUCP
     address. It is the list of systems that a message must travel to reach
     the destination system from the originating system. Each system in the
     list is separated by an exclamation point ('!') which, in UNIX
     terminology, is called a bang. In general InterNet style domain
     addresses ([e-mail]) are preferred to bang paths.

BBS

     An electronic bulletin board system. A method of communicating and
     sharing files with others by computer.  Typically operated by hobbyists,
     free-of-charge.

Busy flag

     A semaphore file used in the BinkleyTerm outbound area.  Busy flags are
     used to ensure that two programs don't access the same file at the same
     time, when running in a multitasking or a network environment.

BOSS

     The sysOp (system operator) of a points Host system.

BOSSNODE

     A term used by Points. It refers to your host system- the system from
     which you receive  your mail.

CALL

     To have your mailer dial another system to  deliver, pickup or check for
     mail or files to be transferred.

Carrier Detect

     A serial port line that is brought "high" (raised, given a "true"
     logical value) when carrier is present on the line, e.g., when the modem
     is connected to another modem.

     The modem raises and lowers this line.

CD

     See "Carrier Detect."

Compressed Mail

     Mail that has been compressed or "archived" with any one of several
     archiving utilities. Such mail is also known as ARCmail, ZOOmail,
     PAKmail, etc., depending on which archiving utility was used to compress
     the mail.

ConfMail

     The name of a mail processing program by Bob Hartman for use in the Opus
     or Fido environments, or any other environment that uses a compatible
     message base.

Continuous Mail

     A capability of a particular system to accept mail at any time of day,
     as opposed to being required to accept it only during certain
     pre-scheduled times.

Crash

     A message flavour. Crash means that a message should be sent directly to
     its destination, with no routing implied.  Crash usually implies "send
     it NOW".

D'Bridge

     A commercial FidoNet mailer written by Chris Irwin.

Data Terminal Ready

     A serial port line that is brought "high" (raised, given a "true"
     logical value) when the local terminal is ready for communications. A
     serial device (in our case a modem) connected to the serial port uses
     this line to detect whether the terminal (your PC and BinkleyTerm) are
     ready for communications activities. Normally, bringing the line "low"
     (lowering, giving a "false" logical value) causes a modem to disconnect
     from the telephone line.

     BinkleyTerm raises and lowers this line.

Direct

     A message flavour. Direct is identical to crash in all respects, except
     that the message will be governed by your mailer's event schedule.

Domains

     Domain addressing represents a relatively recent Fidonet kludge designed
     to more reliably identify and avoid conflicts with identically numbered
     Zones and Nets in other networks. The address is then made up of 5
     parts, with separators as shown below:

               Zone:Net/Node.Point@Domain

     When a message is addressed to another Domain, it is  rerouted to the
     domain gateway for that domain, unless  marked crash. If no domain
     gateway is found listed for  a particular domain, the address is left
     untouched. In  any case, a line is inserted into the message using the
     format:

          ^ADOMAIN ddmn zone:net/node sdmn zone:net/node

DTR

     See "Data Terminal Ready."

Duplicate messages (dupes)

     A second copy of an EchoMail message. When problems crop up in EchoMail
     topology, copies of old messages occasionally get dumped into the
     system. A good mail processor will handle this.

Dutchie

     A FidoNet mailer written by Henk Wevers.

Dynamic Event

     A system event (see "Event") that stops when particular conditions (lack
     of mail of a certain type to be sent) are met.

EchoMail

     A system devised by Jeff Rush for the automated sharing of message areas
     between systems, whereby messages are "echoed" from one system to
     another. Also known as conferences or EchoMail conferences.

EMSI

     A handshake protocol credited to Joaquim H. Homrighausen allowing
     maximum flexibility in session startup and control

Errorlevel

     The name of a DOS environment variable; contains a value returned by a
     program on exit that indicates a certain pre- defined condition. An
     errorlevel is a number set by a DOS or OS/2 program when that program
     terminates. This number can be later checked for in a batch or command
     file, and various actions can be taken based on that number.

ESC

     The name of a utility program which will prepare configuration files etc
     so that setting up a Point system is simple, once all the necessary
     programs (details in the docs.) are to hand.

Event

     A system occurrence at a pre-configured time, day-of-the- week, and/or
     date. Normally system limitations such as when to dial long distance are
     dependent on system events.

Fallback, Fallforward.

     Automatic adjustment of the baud rate carried out by modems with this
     capability.

FD

     Contraction of Front Door, a front end mailer program.

Feed

     The system which supplies echomail or files to another system. Also
     referred to as the Boss or Host system or Bossnode.

Fido

     The original implementation of FidoNet and FidoNet protocol; a BBS
     software package.

FidoNet

     The name of the original network that used FidoNet protocol, as designed
     by Tom Jennings.

FidoNet Protocol

     A method of electronic mail transfer designed by Tom Jennings, as
     documented in the Fido Technical Standards Committee document FSC-0001.

File Request

     The ability and associated methods of using extended FidoNet protocol to
     obtain a particular file automatically from one FidoNet system to
     another.

Flavour

     A 'flavour' is also known as a priority. Flavours can be used to
     override other routing commands and to explicitly send mail directly to
     a given node.

FOSSIL Driver

     FOSSIL is an acronym for Fido/Opus/SEAdog Standard Interface Layer.
     Since not all computers capable of running MS-DOS are hardware
     compatible with the IBM PC, communications software typically written
     for the IBM PC may not operate on machines such as the DEC Rainbow,
     Sanyo 555 or Heath/Zenith 100.

     The FOSSIL provides a consistent manner for a communications program to
     access the communications ports, keyboard and screen. The FOSSIL is
     typically installed at boot-time, either as a device driver or as a
     program. The driver MUST be installed prior to running any FOSSIL
     compatible software, BinkleyTerm included, or an error message will be
     generated, and the program will abort.

     FOSSIL drivers are normally available from systems that distribute
     Opus-CBCS and/or BinkleyTerm software. Examples of FOSSIL drivers are:
     OpusComm by Bob Hartman for the IBM PC and close compatibles, X00 by Ray
     Gwinn for the IBM PC and compatibles, and DECCOMM by Vince Perriello for
     the DEC Rainbow.

FREQ

     Abbreviation for "File request"

FrontDoor

     A FidoNet mailer written by Joaquim Homrighausen. (also known as FD and
     FroDo)

Front end

     A synonym for "mailer".

FSC001

     In BinkleyTerm, an abbreviation that indicates that a mail session
     corresponding to the FSC-0001 standard is in use.  FSC-0001 is a
     standards document written by the FidoNet Technical Standards Committee.


FTS

     Fido Technical Standard. Rules for Fidonet.

Gates

     Gates are systems that can move messages from one network to another.
     This may involve changing the message format or it may be as simple as
     interpreting an extended address line in the message and acting
     accordingly. Gateways are an essential part of the worldwide
     connectivity of FidoNet and other electronic mail networks. For example,
     did you know that it is possible for a FidoNet sysop to send a message
     to someone with an account on Compuserve? It's all done through gates.

GroupMail

     A method of sharing message areas devised by System Enhancement
     Associates, Inc., similar to EchoMail, except that responsibility for
     obtaining mail is placed on the receiving system, not the sending system
     as with EchoMail.  Based on usage of update requests.

Handshake

     The initial negotiation between two modems to decide on a suitable
     transmission speed and suitable software protocol so that both ends
     understand one another.

Hold

     A message flavour indicating that the message in question should be
     placed on hold for pick-up.

Hold Area

     See "Outbound Area."

Host-routed

     Host-routed means that the messages in question will be sent to the
     network host (net/0), as opposed to being sent directly to the
     destination. Squish can optionally perform host routing.

Hydra

     A recently introduced bi-directional mail transfer program devised by
     Arjen Lentz and Joaquim H. Homrighausen and now incorporated in
     BinkleyTerm 2.60

IEMSI

     Stands for Interactive electronic mail standard identification. A
     handshake protocol devised by Joaquim H. Homrighausen used typically in
     connecting a user (called the Terminal) to a BBS (called the Server).
     The handshake provides information such as name and password to the
     server without the need to enter this each time. Becoming more common,
     but not many BBSs have suitable software and only one? terminal program
     is yet available with IEMSI.

Inbound Area

     Also known as the "NetFiles" area, this is a special sub- directory set
     aside for the acceptance of incoming mail or files from other network
     systems.

Janus

     A Bi-directional protocol for mail transfer introduced with BinkleyTerm
     2.40

Keyword

     (or command, token, statement, verb, or even parameter) A word in a
     configuration file which acts as a signal to the program they exist for.


Mail Packet

     A unit of mail as defined in the FidoNet Technical Standards Committee
     document FSC-0001.

Mailer

     A program that acts as a FidoNet-compatible mail handler, using FidoNet
     protocol. Normally, a mailer answers the phone, accepts and/or sends
     mail, and possibly passes human callers on to a BBS.

MSGED

     An Opus/Fido compatible message reader/editor by Jim Nutt.

Net

     A subset of a FidoNet compatible network, usually a collection of nodes
     within a metropolitan area.

NetFiles

     Files received from other systems in the network; also a special
     sub-directory set aside for the reception of such files.

NetMail

     Person-to-person mail sent through the network.

Network

     As it applies to BinkleyTerm, a collection of nodes that are FidoNet
     compatible, such as the FidoNet network itself, or others such as
     EggNet, AlterNet, RBBS-Net, etc.  Also, a division of a full network.
     See "Net" above.

Node

     A FidoNet compatible system, represented by a node address, and listed
     in a nodelist.

Nodelist

     A listing of FidoNet nodes.

Normal

     A message priority. Normal-flavoured messages can be routed, but if no
     routing is applied, a normal message will be sent directly to its
     destination.

oMMM

     A packing program (packer) originally designed for Opus- CBCS, but now
     sometimes used with BinkleyTerm.

Opus-CBCS

     "The Opus Computer Based Conversation System," a BBS designed by Wynn
     Wagner III. Uses ".MSG" message base (compatible with Fido BBS program).
     Contains built-in FidoNet compatible mailer.

Origin line

     A control line near the bottom of an EchoMail message. The origin line
     identifies the origination point of a message.  Most origin lines have
     the following form:

     * Origin: name (address)

     where "name" is a brief description of the system, and "address" is a
     full 4D network address.

Outbound Area

     Also known as the "Hold Area," this is a special sub- directory set
     aside specifically for holding mail waiting to be sent to or picked-up
     by its destination.

Packer

     A program that processes mail entered on a system, and prepares it for
     sending by the mailer.

Packet

     Within FidoNet, a message unit conforming to FSC-0001 specifications.
     With file transfer protocols, a block, or "piece" of the file transfer.
     Normally a pre-determined size in bytes.

Parameter

     Usually the supporting information needed for a command to operate.
     Occasionally used as a synonym for "statement"

Point

     A point is a system operating through and under the control of a
     regular, fully qualified FidoNet node. The term is derived from the node
     address format, 1:104/36.2 for example, where 1 is a zone, 104 a net, 36
     a node, and 2 is the point.

     Primarily, Points are intended to provide an method of participating in
     EchoMail conferences in an off-line state.  The conferences are packed
     and held for the Point system by the Boss, a system which carries the
     desired conference(s) and is willing to route them to the Point. The
     Point system 'polls' the Boss for the conferences, which are unpacked
     and read off-line on the Point system. Responses are packed and sent to
     Boss in much the same manner as is done by regular FidoNet nodes.

     Generally, Points never interact with regular nodes, only with their
     Boss, since Point systems are not listed in the FidoNet nodelist.

QuickBBS

     A BBS program designed by Adam Hudson, which uses configurable menuing
     and a database-style message base.  Requires mail processing software
     designed specifically for its message format.

Region

     A subset of a FidoNet compatible network, a collection of nodes within
     a broad geographical area. With regard to FidoNet addressing, a region
     is handled the same way as a network. With regard to operational
     infrastructure, this is a higher level than a net.

Remap

     Remapping is the process of readdressing inbound messages based on the
     name in the "To:" field. For example, messages are commonly remapped for
     points, since the point number may be occasionally omitted when
     specifying a system address.

Retrain

     Automatic adjustment of the baud rate carried out by modems with this
     capability.

Scan

     Usually associated with EchoMail processing, "scanning" is the process
     of taking new messages from a form usable by a BBS program or message
     editor and preparing them for sending via the network by placing them in
     standard packet and/or compressed mail format.

SEAdog

     A commercial FidoNet mailer by System Enhancement Associates, Inc.

SEAlink

     A variant of Xmodem, a robust file transfer protocol featuring sliding
     windows, good error trapping and extended file information. Superior to
     Xmodem for use on difficult or satellite connected links.

SEEN-BY

     A control line at the bottom of an EchoMail message. SEEN- BYs are used
     to determine which systems have already been sent a particular message.

Sirius

     An Opus/Fido compatible message reader/editor by Bob Klahn.

SHARE.EXE

     A DOS program used to enable file locking. SHARE must be loaded if you
     wish to use Squish-format message areas in a multitasking environment.

Squish

     A multi featured,Fidonet compatible Echomail processor. It incorporates
     most of the common echomail functions into the one package and it offers
     a choice of using the standard *.MSG message base or its own (now
     common) Squish message base which is designed to be fast, reliable and
     small.

Statement

     Another synonym for "keyword"

StoneAge

     A term applied to the original *.PKT design. StoneAge packets do not
     support zone or point information. See also "2+" and "*.PKT".

Sysop

     System operator; the person who operates a BBS, and/or the operator of
     a FidoNet node.

Tear line

     A control line at the bottom of an EchoMail message. A tear line is used
     to end the message body, and it usually contains a short,
     product-specific banner. A tear line begins with three dashes, such as
     "--- Thisprog v1.00".

TBBS

     A commercial BBS software package by eSoft, Inc.

Telink

     An Xmodem variant, a file transfer protocol that is essentially Xmodem
     with a file information packet.

Terminal Mode

     A BinkleyTerm mode within which the software may be used for manual,
     direct connections with remote modem-equipped computers.

Toss

     Usually associated with EchoMail processing, "tossing" is the process of
     unpacking compressed mail into a form usable by a particular BBS program
     or message editor.

TSYNC

     A signal sent to a FidoNet system from another FidoNet system attempting
     to pass mail traffic. TSYNC is essentially a "handshake" between the
     sending and receiving systems to synchronize the mail session.

Unattended Mode

     A BinkleyTerm mode within which FidoNet electronic mail may be sent or
     received.

Undialable

     A term for nodes which will no longer be called automatically by the
     system until manually reset. The result of excessive unsuccessful
     connections with the remote system in an attempt to send mail.

Unpacker

     A mail processing program that takes mail as received (compressed mail
     and/or packets) and places it into a form usable by a given type of BBS
     program or message editor.

Update Request

     The ability and associated methods of requesting only a newer copy of a
     file located on one FidoNet system, if a newer copy exists, from another
     FidoNet system, using extended FidoNet protocol.

Verb

     A synonym for "keyword"

VFOSSIL (Video FOSSIL Driver)

     A standard resident driver that allows a software program to access
     display hardware in a consistent manner regardless of hardware
     compatibility. This is an extension of the FOSSIL driver, and may not be
     supported by all FOSSIL drivers at this time. A VFOSSIL allows much
     faster access to the video display hardware than a FOSSIL driver alone
     would support.

WaZOO

     An open architecture method of electronic mail transfer designed by Wynn
     Wagner, and originally used with Opus-CBCS.  Various protocols can be
     used under WaZOO, including ZedZap, a slightly modified Zmodem, and
     DietIFNA, a SEAlink method.  See 'YooHoo.'

Wildcards

     The ability to specify multiple similarly named files by using an
     asterisk in place of any number of characters in a file name or
     extension, or a question mark to replace a single character.

Xmodem

     One of the first of its type, a file transfer protocol designed by Ward
     Christensen. Although technologically behind other newer, more robust
     protocols, Xmodem is the most widely supported and implemented file
     transfer protocol in dial-up use.

YooHoo

     A method of mail transfer session negotiation which  determines if the
     remote system is capable of handling WaZOO. FidoNet systems that do not
     support WaZOO will simply disregard the YooHoo; systems capable of
     supporting it will answer affirmatively, and a WaZOO session will be
     initiated. See 'WaZOO.' YooHoo is defined in the Fido Technical
     Standards Committee document FSC-0005.

Zmodem

     A robust streaming file transfer protocol featuring advanced error
     recovery techniques, variable packet sizing, good error detection and
     extended file information. Extremely efficient, yet complex. Highly
     effective with difficult connections.

Zone

     A large geographical sub-division in the network, the highest level of
     the accepted FidoNet addressing scheme.  Broad areas such as continents
     are given zone designations.  Also used to specify a particular
     alternate network.

Zonegate

     A zonegate is a system which sends EchoMail to more than one zone.

ZOOmail

     Archived mail packets, processed with the ZOO utility. Typically used to
     forward EchoMail messages due to the file compression inherent in the
     archiving process.  Naming conventions correspond to a generally
     accepted method. See 'Mail Packet.'