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- Date: September 26,1992
- HDQ #1: The Wishing Well BBS, Warren, Michigan
- Written By: SysOp*Rosie
-
-
-
- "CHAIN OF COMMAND" - POLLING TECHNIQUES
- ----------------------------------------
- Who Affects Who?
-
-
- ┌──────┐ ┌─────────────┐ ┌──────┐
- │ Zone │ ─────── │ HDQ 19:19/1 │ ─────── │ Zone │
- └──────┘ └─────────────┘ └──────┘
- │ │ │
- ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐
- │ Hosts │ │ Hosts │ │ Hosts │
- └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘
-
- │ │ │
- │ ┌──────────┐ │ ┌──────────┐ │
- └─── │ Hubs │ - (STATE) - │ Hubs │ ───┘
- └──────────┘ └──────────┘
- │
- │ │ │
- ┌──────────┐ │ ┌──────────┐ │ ┌──────────┐
- │ System │ ───┘ │ System │ └─── │ System │
- └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘
-
- ┌──────────┐ │ ┌──────────┐
- │ Points │ ───┴─── │ Points │
- └──────────┘ └──────────┘
-
-
- WISHNET U.S.A. (c) 1991 - POLLING SYSTEM TECHNIQUES
-
- -=- (EXPLANATION) -=-
-
-
- HEADQUARTERS ("HDQ"): HeadQuarters is better known to the rest of the
- network as the person in charge. The messages started here originally,
- and eventually get back to this base to be redistributed. Currently in
- WishNet, we have three (3) Headquarter Sites.
-
- A) Headquarters #1 - Rozey Strohl - The Wishing Well BBS
- B) Headquarters #2 - Steve Stuart - Relational Connections
- C) Headquarters #3 - Tom Williams - Treasure House BBS
-
- Between these three systems, all the WishNet mail is received/sent out
- to various members of the Network. From these systems, mail is then
- sent to the others throughout our organization and given to the systems
- below them. (Each system connects to someone, and sends their mail back
- through to eventually reach a HDQ Site). One system getting out of sync
- with the rest, could throw the entire chain of messages to be late in
- distribution. This could drastically HOLD UP the mail forwarding
- procedures.
-
- ZONE COORDINATORS ("ZONE"): Zone Coordinators are persons that were
- chosen to be the MAIN LINK in their specific area. These Zone
- Coordinators may very well be considered your HOST(s) if you are feeding
- from them. But, to the HDQ Site, they were appointed to be in charge of
- more than just "feeds". They were designated to have control over the
- structure of the REGIONS they fall in, and to help make the mail run
- smoothly and without flaw. There is no such thing as a "perfect"
- method, but it helps make things easier for the rest of the systems to
- have a "Chain of Command" to rely upon. The Zone Coordinators will do
- their best in making sure all systems get their feeds as inexpensively
- as possible, but sometimes this can't be the case considering how far
- apart systems are from one another. It is the duty of the Zone
- Coordinator to pass out FEEDS to the Hosts that fall within their region
- so mail runs as smoothly as can be expected.
-
- HOSTS ("HOST"): Host systems are the BOSS nodes for the regular "system"
- nodes. They will usually feed off of the Zone Coordinator in their
- area, and off of the HDQ Site closest to them if there is no Zone. They
- are assigned their feeds from the Zone Coordinator and will answer to
- the Zone for any system that is passing bad packets. It is their
- responsibility to keep an eye on the systems that are listed below them
- in the nodelist file. They are also responsible for passing out newly
- updated network files to each and every system that connects to them.
-
- HUB ("HUBS"): Hub sites are similar to HOST sites, with one smaller
- difference. The Hub site feeds to someone within his (area code) range,
- and answers to the HOST from which they get their packets. The HOST on
- the other hand, can feed to someone OUTSIDE his area code range, but not
- limited to it. The Hub Site however, is best limited to his area code
- to insure systems connecting to him/her, will be able to keep their
- network costs down. It is also best that a Hub site feeds to the System
- Nodes closest to them, so that problems can be taken care of more easily
- and faster than most. It is the HUB Sites' responsibility to contact
- the HOST should a system node go down, so that proper communication can
- be kept with the HDQ Site. There is no demand to have any HUB sites, but
- it does help to get mail to system more easily, had their not been one
- assigned. (ie, an example of a HUB site, would be a site that only feeds
- the other systems closest to him in his CITY.)
-
- SYSTEM ("SYSTEM"): System nodes are regular members of the network that
- don't have any specific duty other than to pick up timely packets. They
- are the "users" of the network, and aren't expected to do much but pass
- their packets to the HUB in their assigned area, or to a HOST Site if
- there isn't a HUB available to them. If a system node is down, they are
- expected to contact their HUB so that he is made aware of the problem,
- which he will report to the HOST, so it eventually reaches a HDQ Site to
- be remedied or even noted in the next nodelist for distribution. If a
- system node does not report a halt in their mail flow, this too can
- drastically affect the "Chain of Command" and inadvertently slow down mail
- from running smoothly. However, if a System Node feeds to a "POINT"
- system, then his responsibilities are increased, whereby he then acts in
- the same manner as a HUB site, when passing mail to his appointed POINT
- System.
-
- POINT ("POINTS"): Point systems are last on the "Chain of Command."
- They are as important as any other node of the network, with one difference.
- Usually, a point node is ONE PERSON who receives mail packets that does not
- run a BBS of his own, but would like to obtain the network conferences. He
- will set up his own mailer that will accept mail at designated times from a
- System Node. If a point system runs into problems with his packets, it
- doesn't affect the rest of the network as badly as the others mentioned
- above. Since he is the last on the Chain of Command, the mail stops at
- his system, and is re-routed back again to the top. If he isn't sending
- packets, it would only mean that the rest of the network is minus a few
- messages. Should someone above falter in their mail packets, it affects
- everyone below their "chain of command" as well as those that are above
- them.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Easier explained BREAKDOWN of above graph for "Chain of Command":
-
- HDQ --> Zone --> Hosts --> Hubs --> System Node --> Point Systems
-
- Footnote: Further questions can be directed to any HDQ Site mentioned
- above at their WishNet Node/Address.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------