Forum: Digital Distortion

FidoNews 43:30 [00/07]: The Front Page

From FidoNews Robot@2:2/2 to All on Mon Jul 27 00:05:26 2026

The F I D O N E W S Volume 43, Number 30 27 Jul 2026 +--------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
| |The newsletter of the | | |
| | FidoNet community. | | Netmail attach to (POTS): |
| | Est. 1984 | | Editor @ 2:2/2 (+46-31-960447) |
| | ____________| | |
| | / __ | Netmail attach to (BinkP): |
| | / / \ | Editor @ 2:203/0 |
| | WOOF! ( /|oo \ | |
| \_______\(_| /_) | Email attach to: |
| _ @/_ \ _ | b @ felten dot se |
| | | \ \\ | |
| | (*) | \ ))| |
| |__U__| / \// | Publisher: Björn Felten |
| ______ _//|| _\ / | |
| / Fido \ (_/(_|(____/ | Newspapers should have no friends. |
| (________) (jm) | -- JOSEPH PULITZER | +--------------------------+-----------------------------------------+

Table of Contents
1. JAMNNTPD SERVERS LIST .................................... 1
The Johan Billing JamNNTPd project ....................... 1
2. LIST OF FIDONET IPV6 NODES ............................... 2
List of IPv6 nodes ....................................... 2
3. FIDONEWS'S FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING ...................... 6
4. SPECIAL INTEREST ......................................... 14
Statistics from the Fidoweb .............................. 14
Nodelist Stats ........................................... 15
5. FIDONEWS INFORMATION ..................................... 17
How to Submit an Article ................................. 17
Credits, Legal Information, Availability ................. 19
6. TOP STORIES .............................................. 20
The Fidoweb is here! ..................................... 20

--- Azure/NewsPrep 3.0
* Origin: Home of the Fidonews (2:2/2.0)

From FidoNews Robot@2:2/2 to All on Mon Jul 27 00:05:26 2026

=================================================================
JAMNNTPD SERVERS LIST =================================================================

The Johan Billing JamNNTPd project

This is a list of known JamNNTPd servers working. They are essentially
the modern version of Bulletin Board Systems.

You connect to them using the newsreader of your choice and you don't
need any other software installed on your computer -- regardless of
operating system -- but that favourite mail client of yours.

Even smart phones can handle this, giving you the opportunity to get
your daily doses of fidonet on the bus, tram or train on the way to
your job, school or whatever.

Updated 2026-05-27

URL news://eljaco.se:4119
Join http://eljaco.se/join.html
NETMAIL Yes, 2:203/2

URL nntp://rbb.fidonet.fi
Join https://news.fidonet.fi
NETMAIL Yes, 2:221/360

URL nntp://fidonews.mine.nu
URL nntps://fidonews.mine.nu
Join http://fidonews.mine.nu
NETMAIL Yes, 2:221/6

URL nntp://news.bytemuseum.org
nntps://news.bytemuseum.org (secure)
Join Info in group +ACCCESS&SUPPORT+
NETMAIL Yes, 1:19/10

URL nntp://news.pharcyde.org
Join Info in group, +GETACCESS+
NETMAIL Yes, 1:154/10

-----------------------------------------------------------------

--- Azure/NewsPrep 3.0
* Origin: Home of the Fidonews (2:2/2.0)

From FidoNews Robot@2:2/2 to All on Mon Jul 27 00:05:26 2026

=================================================================
LIST OF FIDONET IPV6 NODES =================================================================

List of IPv6 nodes
By Michiel van der Vlist, 2:280/5555

Updated 19 July 2026

Node Nr. Sysop Type Provider Remark

1 2:280/464 Wilfred van Velzen Native Freedom f
2 2:280/5003 Kees van Eeten Native KPN/Ziggo f
3 2:5019/40 Konstantin Kuzov T-6in4 he.net f
4 2:280/5555 Michiel van der Vlist Native Ziggo/Delta f
5 1:320/219 Andrew Leary Native Comcast f
6 2:221/1 Tommi Koivula Native Elisa f
7 2:221/6 Tommi Koivula Native OVH
8 1:154/10 Nicholas Boel Native Spectrum f
9 2:203/0 Bjorn Felten Native Bahnhof
10 2:280/5006 Kees van Eeten Native KPN f INO4
11 3:712/848 Scott Little T-6in4 he.net f
12 1:103/17 Stephen Hurd T-6in4 he.net
13 2:5020/9696 Alexander Skovpen T-6in4 IP4Market
14 2:222/2 Kim Heino Native TeliaSonera
15 3:633/280 Stephen Walsh Native Mammoth Media f
16 1:19/10 Matt Bedynek T-6in4 he.net
17 3:770/1 Paul Hayton Native VETTA
18 3:770/100 Paul Hayton Native VETTA
19 1:103/1 Stephen Hurd Native Choopa
20 3:633/281 Stephen Walsh Native Leaptel IO
21 2:310/31 Richard Menedetter Native DE-NETCUP f
22 3:633/410 Tony Langdon Native IINET
23 2:5020/329 Oleg Lukashin Native Comfortel f
24 2:331/51 Marco d'Itri Native BOFH-IT
25 1:154/30 Mike Miller Native LINODE
26 2:5001/100 Dmitry Protasoff Native Layer7 Networks
27 2:5059/38 Andrey Mundirov T-6in4 he.net f
28 2:5083/444 Peter Khanin Native OVH
29 2:240/5413 Ingo Juergensmann Native RRBONE-COLO f
30 2:4500/1 Eugene Kozhuhovsky Native DATAHATA6
31 1:103/13 Stephen Hurd Native Choopa
32 2:5019/400 Konstantin Kuzov Native TIG Dronten f
33 2:463/1331 Andrei Dzedolik Native DigitalOcean 6
34 2:5010/275 Evgeny Chevtaev Native First Server f
35 2:280/2000 Michael Trip Native KPN
36 2:230/38 Benny Pedersen Native Linode
37 2:460/58 Stas Mishchenkov T-6in4 he.net f
38 2:460/5858 Stas Mishchenkov T-6in4 he.net f
39 2:5020/1042 Stas Mishchenkov T-6in4 he.net f
40 2:5101/1 Andrey Ignatov Native HETZNER
41 2:5005/49 Victor Sudakov T-6in4 he.net f 6DWN
42 2:5057/53 Ivan Kovalenko Native ER-Telecom f
43 2:5010/352 Dmitriy Smirnov Native SAGE-SU-V6
44 2:292/854 Ward Dossche Native Proximus
45 2:469/122 Sergey Zabolotny T-6in4 he.net f
46 2:5030/1997 Alexey Fayans T-6in4 he.net
47 2:5061/15 Eugene Gladchenko Native ARUBAUK-NET
48 2:240/502 Ludwig Bernhartzeder Native DTAG
49 2:423/39 Karel Kral Native HOSTUP f
50 2:280/1049 Simon Voortman Native Solcon
51 2:335/364 Fabio Bizzi Native OVH
52 1:124/5016 Nigel Reed Native drServer.net f
53 1:229/664 Jay Harris Native Rogers f
54 2:280/2030 Martien Korenblom Native Transip
55 3:633/509 Deon George Native Telstra
56 2:5020/4441 Yuri Myakotin Native SOVINTEL 6UNS
57 1:320/319 Andrew Leary Native Comcast f
58 2:240/5824 Anna Christina Nass Native DTAG f
59 2:301/812 Benoit Panizon Native WOODYV6
60 1:229/616 Vasily Losev Native Hostodo
61 2:301/113 Alisha Stutz T-6in4 he.net
62 1:153/7715 Dallas Hinton Native Shaw Comms
63 1:218/840 Morgan Collins Native Linode
64 2:5020/921 Andrew Savin Native HURRICANE-IPV6-24
65 2:240/1634 Hugo Andriessen Native Vodafone
66 2:280/2040 Leo Barnhoorn Native KPN f
67 2:382/736 Jegor Gluhov Native VPS1
68 2:221/10 Tommi Koivula Native Hetzner f INO4
69 1:218/850 John Nicpon Native LINODE-US
70 2:5035/63 Vladimir Goncharov Native RFEIV6NET
71 2:5030/49 Sergey Myasoedov Native FR-VIRTUA-SYSTEMS
72 1:103/705 Rob Swindell Native Spectrum f
73 1:134/303 Travis Mehrer Native Shaw Comms
74 2:5057/19 Max Vasilyev Native ER-Telecom f 6UNS
75 2:5075/35 Eugene Subbotin Native EuroByte LLC f
76 2:5075/37 Andrew Komardin Native IHC
77 2:550/278 Vladislav Muschinskikh Native FirstByte
78 2:5010/278 Vladislav Muschinskikh T-6in4 he.net f 6UNS
79 2:5020/715 Alex Barinov T-6in4 he.net f
80 1:16/201 Sergey Myasoedov Native Amazon
81 1:104/117 Vitaliy Aksyonov Native LLC
82 2:5030/1340 Dmitry Afanasiev T-6in4 TUNNEL-BROKER-NET
83 2:221/360 Tommi Koivula Native Elisa f
84 2:5031/25 Alex Kazankov Native VDSINA
85 4:902/26 Fernando Toledo t-6in4 he.net 6DWN
86 2:280/2050 Floris van Unen Native Azure
87 2:280/2060 Dennis Slagers Native Ziggo f
88 2:5020/5452 Alex Barinov T-6in4 he.net
89 2:5030/723 Alexey Khromov Native RU-AI-20240222
90 4:930/1 David Gonzalez Native EPMNET
91 3:633/267 Andrew Clarke Native widebandnetv6 OO
92 2:463/877 Alex Shuman Native UA-WEBBER f
93 2:5030/1520 Ekaterina Geyko T-6in4 he.net f
94 2:2448/400 Tobias Burchhardt Native DTAG
95 2:240/5853 Philipp Giebel Native Hetzner
96 2:5080/172 Stas Vlasov Native Internet Pro LLC
97 2:343/107 Enric Lleal Native Hetzner
98 1:128/10 Jordan McGilvray Native DigitalOcean
99 2:5020/1313 Sergey Efimoff T-6in4 he.net
100 1:16/201 Sergey Myasoedov Native Amazon
101 1:229/112 Scott Tompkins T-6in4 he.net
102 2:5020/545 Alexey Vissarionov T-6in4 he.net f
103 1:267/160 Jeremy Brown Native Networks, LLC
104 2:5030/74 Michael Skolsky Native Skynet LLC
105 2:240/8010 Siggi Schoenicke Native DTAG
106 1:214/22 Ray Quinn T-6in4 he.net
107 3:712/730 Yoshito Uchiyama Native InfoSphere
108 4:801/205 Mauro Paes Correa Native Ateky Internet
109 1:105/45 Sarah Proctor Native Tier.Net
110 2:280/1043 Michel van Osenbruggen Native BIT
111 2:5030/3165 Serg Podtynni Native DigitalOcean
112 2:201/127 Sergey Semernin Native Obenetwork
113 2:263/1 Sean Rima Naitive SKY-IE-BROADBAND
114 2:5053/58 Alexander Kruglikov Native JSC ER-Telecom f
115 2:280/2080 Theo Fonteyn Native KPN

T-6in4 Static 6in4
T-AYIY Dynamic AYIYA
T-6to4 6to4
T-6RD 6RD

Remarks:

f Has a ::f1d0:<zone>:<net>:<node> style host address.
Example: ::f1d0:2:280:5555 (for node 2:280/5555)
IO Incoming only (Node can not make outgoing IPv6 calls)
OO Outgoing only (Node can not accept incoming IPv6 calls).
INO4 No IPv4 (Node can not accept incoming IPv4 calls).
NWI4 Node advertises Dual Stack but has no working IPv4
PO4 Prefers Out on 4 (Node can make outgoing IPv6 calls,
but is configured to try IPv4 first)
6DWN The IPv6 connectivity of this node is temporarely down.
6UNS IPv6 unstable. Failed more than twice during the last 30 days.
NO6 The node no longer presents an IPv6 address in the nodelist
and will soon be removed from this list.
HOLD The node is temporarely off-line. Mail may be routed.
DOWN This node is Down for both IPv4 and IPv6 and will be
removed from this list if the condition pertains.
PM Prospective Member. The node has demonstrated IPv6
capability but is not listed or does not advertise an
IPv6 address in the Fidonet nodelist yet.

Notes:

To make an IPv6 connection to a node connected via 6to4 tunneling
one may have to force the mailer into IPv6 (-6 option in binkd's
node config for binkd up to 1.1a-96, -64 option for binkd 1.1a-97
and up when compiled with AF_FORCE=1). If the destination address
is a 6to4 tunnel address (2002::/16) many OSs default to IPv4 if
an IPv4 address is present.

Submitted on day 207

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--- Azure/NewsPrep 3.0
* Origin: Home of the Fidonews (2:2/2.0)

From FidoNews Robot@2:2/2 to All on Mon Jul 27 00:05:26 2026

=================================================================
FIDONEWS'S FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING =================================================================

=================================================================
FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING
=================================================================

BBS Software List

Updated 2025-12-20

Maintained by Andrew Leary (1:320/219)
Editors Emeritus: Robert Couture, Janis Kracht,
Sean Dennis

M=Mailer T=Tosser B=BBS D=Door C=Comm/Terminal
P=Points E=Editor I=Internet U=Utility #=Info
F=TIC/SRIF Processor

*=Software is available and may be registerable,
but no longer supported or updated.

@=Website is operating but is no longer updated.

?=Software's updating/support status is unknown.

O=Software is open source.

This list contains BBS-related software that is available
for registration (not necessarily supported), open source
software and actively developed/supported software by its
author. Software listed may be available for DOS, Linux,
OS/2 (eComStation), Windows (16 or 32 bit) and OSX.

.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -.
|Software: Author |Type |URL, Contact, Ver, Notes Help Node|
`- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -'

==> FRONT-END/INTERNET MAILERS

Argus |MI*? |http://www.ritlabs.com/en/products
| | /argus/
| | v3.210 on 2001-03-29

Binkleyforce |MI |https://prj.zxalexis.ru/gitea
| | /zx/bforce 2:5030/723
Alexey Khromov | | zx@zxalexis.ru
| | v0.25.3 on 2024-07-05

BinkleyTerm XE |MO* |http://btxe.sourceforge.net
| | 2.60XE Beta-XH7 on 2000-10-22

BinkD |MI? |http://binkd.grumbler.org
| | gul@gul.kiev.ua 2:463/68
| | v.1.0.4
| | v.1.1a-115 (alpha)
| | ftp://cvs.happy.kiev.ua/pub/fidosoft
| | /mailer/binkd/
| |http://www.filegate.net/r50/aftnbinkd/

D'Bridge |MTCPE|http://www.dbridgemailer.com
|I | support@dbridgemailer.com 1:1/130
Nick Andre | | v4.00 on 2025-12-19

FIDO-Deluxe IP |MPUI |http://www.datenbahn.dd-dns.de/
| | cdp/fp_deluxe/
| | v2.4 on 2003-09-26

FrontDoor |MITPC|https://defsol.com 2:201/4609
Definite Solutions |E | defsol@defsol.se
Joaquim Homrighausen| | FrontDoor v24.01 on 2024-12-20
| | FrontDoor/2 v24.01 on 2024-12-22

InterMail |MCPE |http://www.Intermail.net 1:106/201
Dale Barnes | | dalebarnes42@majik.net
| | IM v2.60 on 2017-08-28

Husky Project |MTPUI|http://husky.sourceforge.net/
|EO? | v1.9 RC2 on 2010-04-20

Taurus |MI |http://www.fidotel.com/public/forums/
(based on Radius) |? | taurus/index.htm
| | v5.0 on 2006-06-12
| |

T-Mail |MI |http://www.tmail.spb.ru (Russian only)
|? | v2608 on 2001-12-12

AfterShock |MTEI |https://play.google.com/store/apps/
Asvcorp | | details?id=com.asvcorp.aftershock
Anatoly Vdovichev | | rudi.timmermans@mailfence.com
Rudi Timmermans | | v1.7.1 on 2022-11-30 2:292/140

HotDogEd |E |https://play.google.com/store/apps/
Sergey Pushkin | | details?id=com.pushkin.hotdoged
| | v2.13.5 on 2017-03-13 2:5020/2141

HotDogEd FidoNet |MTI |https://play.google.com/store/apps/
Provider | | details?id=com.pushkin.hotdoged.fido
Sergey Pushkin | | v2.13.5 on 2017-03-13 2:5020/2141

+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+

MAIL TOSSERS

BBS SOFTWARE

TIC PROCESSORS/FILEFIX/SRIF

BBS DOORS/UTILITIES

Cheepware |DU |http://outpostbbs.net/cheepware.html
Sean Dennis | | sysop@outpostbbs.net 1:18/200
| | Fidonet filebone CH-WARE

DDS (Doorware |D@ |http://www.doorgames.org
Distribution System)| | ruth@doorgames.org
Ruth Argust | |

Jibben Software |D* |http://www.jibbensoftware.com/
| | bbs-door-games.cfm
| | scott@jibben.com
| | 1995-99 Release dates

John Dailey Software |DU |http://www.johndaileysoftware.com

Shining Star |D* |http://www.shiningstar.net/bbsdoors/
| | nannette@shiningstar.net
| | Doors are registerable via website

Sunrise Doors: |D |http://www.sunrisedoors.com
Al Lawrence | | al@sunrisedoors.com
| | Tel: (404) 256-9518

T1ny's Software |DU |http://www.tinysbbs.com/files/tsoft/
Shawn Highfield | | shighfield@gmail.com 1:229/452
| | Fidonet filebone CH-WARE

The Brainex System |D |http://www.brainex.com/brainex_system/
| | stanley@brainex.com
| | 1994-99 Releases

Trade Wars |D* |http://www.eisonline.com/tradewars/
| | jpritch@eisonline.com
| | v3.09 (DOS-32) in 2002

Vagabond Software |DU* |http://vbsoft.dhakota.org
| | d@dhakota.org
| | Last update: 2008-04-11

WWIVEdit |DE |http://www.weather-station.org/wwiv/
| | v3.0 on 2011-06-27

+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+

+- - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+

==> POINT SOFTWARE

APoint |PI |https://stargate.org.uk/apoint/
| | v1.25 on 2001-12-12 (Win32)
| | Needs the binkD Toolkit for Fido-over-IP
| | which is available from the above URL.

CrossPoint |P |http://www.crosspoint.de
| | pm@crosspoint.de
| | v3.12d on 1999-12-22 (DOS, Shareware)

FreeXP |PO |http://www.freexp.de
| | support@freexp.de
| | v3.42 on 2020-09-25 (DOS)

OpenXP |PIO |https://sourceforge.net/projects/openxp5/
| | v5.0.64 on 2025-02-17
| | (Win32, Linux(64-Bit})

WinPoint |PI |http://www.winpoint.org/
| | Tim Schattkowsky 2:240/1120.29
| | v415.0 on 2023-02-17 (Win32)

+- - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+

+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+

SYSOP MAIL EDITORS

INTERNET UTILITIES

INFORMATIONAL WEBSITES/BBS LISTS

From FidoNews Robot@2:2/2 to All on Mon Jul 27 00:05:26 2026

The BBS Corner |# |http://www.bbscorner.com
| | This website is more than just files,
| | it's an encyclopedia of knowledge for
| | BBS sysops and people who want to
| | become sysops. This site is run by
| | the same person who does the Telnet
| | BBS Guide.

BBS Nexus |# |https://bbsnexus.com
| | This website offers a searchable list
| | of Telnet BBS's.

+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+

File Archives:

https://hobbesarchive.com (New home of the Hobbes OS/2 Archive)

Note: Most also provide FTP access (use ftp instead of http above)

The BBS Software List is published weekly in the FidoNews.

If you have corrections, suggestions or additions to the information
above, please contact Andrew Leary with your information via the
FIDONEWS echo or netmail at 1:320/219.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------

--- Azure/NewsPrep 3.0
* Origin: Home of the Fidonews (2:2/2.0)

From FidoNews Robot@2:2/2 to All on Mon Jul 27 00:05:26 2026

=================================================================
SPECIAL INTEREST =================================================================

Last week's statistics from the Fidoweb
By EchoTime @ 2:203/0

(Some nets may have lost their last
digit for technical reasons)

pkt (toss-toss) msg (write-toss)
nodes mean dev no mean dev no

203/* 1.3m 0.8m 3 0.1h 0.1h 3
221/* 5.0m 14.6m 24 0.0h 0.0h 24
280/* 7.6m 17.1m 1073 4.7h 4.4h 1074
292/* 9.6m 14.6m 17 1.0h 1.0h 16
320/* 3.9m 10.0m 529 0.5h 1.4h 529

Sigma 6.4m 15.2m 1646 3.2h 4.2h 1646

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Nodelist Stats

Input nodelist nodelist.205
size 156.9kb
date 2026-07-24

The nodelist has 848 nodes in it
and a total of 1226 non-comment entries

including 4 zones
30 regions
159 hosts
56 hubs
admin overhead 249 ( 29.36 %)

and 78 private nodes
16 nodes down
35 nodes on hold
off line overhead 129 ( 15.21 %)

Speed summary:

>9600 = 16 ( 1.89 %)
9600 = 73 ( 8.61 %)
(HST = 2 or 2.74 %)
(CSP = 0 or 0.00 %)
(PEP = 0 or 0.00 %)
(MAX = 0 or 0.00 %)
(HAY = 0 or 0.00 %)
(V32 = 45 or 61.64 %)
(V32B = 0 or 0.00 %)
(V34 = 48 or 65.75 %)
(V42 = 42 or 57.53 %)
(V42B = 0 or 0.00 %)
2400 = 1 ( 0.12 %)
1200 = 0 ( 0.00 %)
300 = 758 ( 89.39 %)

ISDN = 15 ( 1.77 %)

-----------------------------------------------------
IP Flags Protocol Number of systems -----------------------------------------------------
IBN Binkp 732 ( 86.32 %) ----------------------------------
IFC Raw ifcico 55 ( 6.49 %) ----------------------------------
IFT FTP 30 ( 3.54 %) ----------------------------------
ITN Telnet 86 ( 10.14 %) ----------------------------------
IVM Vmodem 12 ( 1.42 %) ----------------------------------
IP Other 1 ( 0.12 %) ----------------------------------
INO4 IPv6 only 5 ( 0.59 %) ----------------------------------

CrashMail capable = 773 ( 91.16 %)
MailOnly nodes = 245 ( 28.89 %)
Listed-only nodes = 20 ( 2.36 %)

[Report produced by NETSTATS - A PD pgm]
[ Revised by B Felten, 2:203/2]
[ NetStats 3.8 2014-11-23]

-----------------------------------------------------------------

--- Azure/NewsPrep 3.0
* Origin: Home of the Fidonews (2:2/2.0)

From FidoNews Robot@2:2/2 to All on Mon Jul 27 00:05:26 2026

=================================================================
FIDONEWS INFORMATION =================================================================

How to Submit an Article

If you wish to submit an article for inclusion in the Fidonews, here
are some guidelines, if you send it as an attached file; the preferred
method if you want reasonable control over how the published article
will appear in the Fidonews:

a) Plain text. If you could type it on your keyboard, it's probably
quite OK. TABs (ASCII 09) are not allowed -- there's no knowing
how long you've set your tab markings. No line may be longer
than 70 characters.

b) Put a title to the article. Put the title in two times. The first
time, on the first line, with an * before it. The second time, on
the second line, without the * and centered. This will help in the
format since the title with the * is removed and used in the index,
the second line will become the headline. On the third line, put
your name and FidoNet address, present or former. If former, you
may want to add some other address where you can be reached for
personal comments.

c) Deadline for article submission is Sunday, 22:00 UTC.

In case a) and b) above is not crystal clear, here's an excellent
summary by Ward Dossche, a major article contributor:

Piece of cake:

1) Ascii text
2) Line length of 70
3) Put this at the very top:

*The title of your text
The title of your text
Your Name - Your Nodenumber

The title is there twice, the line with the * is how it will be
visible in the table of content.

Help the Editor by following the above guides. Below are some subjects
and the file extension for the article as set in the configuration
file for the making of the Fidonews. Please help by putting the file
extension of the correct subject on the file name if known.

Ideas for Subject areas:

Subject File | Subject File ----------------------------------|----------------------------------
From the *C's *.css | Rebuttals to articles *.reb
Fidonet Regional News *.reg | Fidonet Net News *.net
Retractions *.rtx | General Fidonet Articles *.art
Guest Editorial *.gue | Fidonet Current Events *.cur
Fidonet Interviews *.inv | Fidonet Software Reviews *.rev
Fidonet Web Page Reviews *.web | Fidonet Notices *.not
Getting Fidonet Technical *.ftc | Question Of The Week *.que
Humor in a Fido Vein *.hfv | Comix in ASCII *.cmx
Fidonet's Int. Kitchen *.rec | Poet's Corner *.poe
Clean Humor & Jokes *.jok | Other Stuff *.oth
Fidonet Classified Ads *.ads | Corrections *.cor
Best of Fidonet *.bof | Letters to the Editor *.let

If you don't know or are not sure, send the article anyway. Put a .TXT
on it and I'll try to figure out where it should be in the Fidonews.

If you follow these simple guidelines, there should be little problem
in getting your article published. If your submission is too far out
of specs for the Fidonews, it will be returned to you and/or a message
sent informing you of the problem. This DOES NOT mean that your
article is not accepted. It means that there is something in it that I
can not fix and I need your help on it.

Send articles via e-mail or netmail, file attach or message to:

Björn Felten
Fidonet 2:2/2 or 2:203/0
E-Mail b @ felten dot se
Skype file bfelten

IMPORTANT! If you send the article via e-mail, make sure you put the
word "fidonews" somewhere in the subject line! That way it
will always pass the spam filter, ending up in the proper
folder.

Please include a message, telling me that you have sent an article.
That way I will know to look for it.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Credits, Legal Information, Availability

+ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- FIDONEWS STAFF - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- +
| |
| Editor: Björn Felten, 2:2/2 |
| |
| The IPv6 list: Michiel van der Vlist, 2:280/5555 |
| The S/W list: Andrew Leary, 1:320/219 |
| |
+ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- +

+ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - EDITORS EMERITI - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- +
| |
| Tom Jennings, Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell, Vince |
| Perriello, Tim Pozar, Sylvia Maxwell, Donald Tees, |
| Christopher Baker, Zorch Frezberg, Henk Wolsink, |
| Doug Meyers, Warren D. Bonner, Frank L. Vest |
| |
+ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- +

Fidonews is published weekly by and for the members of Fidonet.
There is no copyright attached to Fidonews, though authors
retain rights to their contributed articles. Opinions expressed
by the authors are strictly their own. Noncommercial duplication
and distribution within Fidonet is encouraged. Authors are
encouraged to send their articles in ASCII text to the Editor
at one of the addresses above.

The weekly edition of Fidonews is distributed through the file
area FIDONEWS, and is published as echomail in the echo FIDONEWS.

The different articles are distributed in the file area SNOOZE.
A service to various projects for making Fidonews available on
the web with a more pleasing lay-out.

These sources are normally available through your Network
Coordinator. The current and past issues are also available from
the following sources:

+ -- -- -- -- -- -- - FIDONEWS AVAILABILITY - -- -- -- -- -- -- +
| |
| File request from 2:2/2 or 2:203/0: |
| current issue FIDONEWS |
| back issue, volume v, issue ii FNEWSvii.ZIP |
| or FNEWTvii.ZIP |
| articles, vol.no nn, issue ii INPUnnii.ZIP |
| |
| On the web: |
| http://eljaco.se/FILES/fnews/ |
| |
| The FIDONEWS echo in your newsreader: |
| news://eljaco.se/FIDONEWS |
| |
+ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- +

-----------------------------------------------------------------

--- Azure/NewsPrep 3.0
* Origin: Home of the Fidonews (2:2/2.0)

From FidoNews Robot@2:2/2 to All on Mon Jul 27 00:05:26 2026

=================================================================
TOP STORIES =================================================================

The Fidoweb is here!
By the Fidonews Editor, 2:2/2

It seems like some new sysops don't know about this, judging by how
many are asking about it. So here's a repost from 2012.03.04.

I also want to add that this was an idea from Roy Witt (from Zone
1). Unfortunately, he passed away two years later, so he never got to
see how well his idea worked out.

From FIDOWEB.TOP in INPU2910.ZIP and FIDO2910 in FNEWST10.ZIP

About half a year ago, it became evident that the previous star configuration we had relied on for so many years could no longer be
trusted. With a swift stroke by the star centre operators, the entire
Fidonet was almost defunct.

The way the internet handles any attempt to censor or otherwise
control the net is to work around the obtrusive nodes involved. And
this is what a handful of us went along, trying to do with Fidonet.

And I must say, the result so far exceeds any expectations that we,
who initially took part in this adventure, could ever have had.

The new Fidoweb is now up and running. More often than not,
messages posted at one Fidoweb node arrive at the other Fidoweb nodes
within minutes -- yes, sometimes even within seconds!

When one system misses, replaces, deletes by mistake, or just
simply "takes a pause" -- after all, we are all unpaid hobbyists, and
nobody can expect our systems to have 100% uptime -- the distribution
works perfectly well, just the same. This is quite unlike the old
backbone organisations, previously the norm in Fidonet, where one
inoperable system could influence hundreds, if not even thousands, of
connected systems.

If you are one of us old Fidonet freaks who are really into this as
a hobby, a hobby that has the ultimate goal of experimenting with safe
and reliable network communications, feel free to hook up to our
Fidoweb.

Every single, dedicated sysop is more than welcome to join us! This
is truly the way to make your BBS users and yourself part of a true,
uncensored and unregulated -- by local laws, power-crazed operators, censor-prone people or whatever -- network.

Just the way Fidonet was once designed...

-----------------------------------------------------------------

** Prepared for FIDONEWS by Azure/NewsPrep 3.0
(c) Copyright 1996-1999 Peter Karlsson

--- Azure/NewsPrep 3.0
* Origin: Home of the Fidonews (2:2/2.0)

From Enric Lleal Serra@2:343/107.1 to All on Mon Jul 27 07:27:30 2026

Hi!

The Fidoweb is here!

This is news for me. :-o

I've just found some statistics about FidoWeb (from 2016 to 2019) but nothing else than this, after 2019...

Last week's statistics from the Fidoweb
By EchoTime, 2:203/0

(Some nets may have lost their last
digit for technical reasons)

pkt (toss-toss) msg (write-toss)
nodes mean dev no mean dev no

I can't see what is Fidoweb.

It's something related to parallel routing?

To increase the number of uplinks?

How to manage the dupe flooding?

Where can I find info about FidoWeb?

Thanks in advance...

A reveure!!
Enric

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7
* Origin: Pursuit Special - The last of the V8 Interceptors (2:343/107.1)

From Alan Ianson@1:153/757 to Enric Lleal Serra on Mon Jul 27 01:01:42 2026

Hi!

The Fidoweb is here!

This is news for me. :-o

I've just found some statistics about FidoWeb (from 2016 to 2019) but nothing else than this, after 2019...

Last week's statistics from the Fidoweb
By EchoTime, 2:203/0

(Some nets may have lost their last
digit for technical reasons)

pkt (toss-toss) msg (write-toss)
nodes mean dev no mean dev no

I can't see what is Fidoweb.

The fidoweb is from Z2. Many nodes connect together to mesh the message areas.

It results in many dupes and little loss.

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)

From Ward Dossche@2:292/854 to Alan Ianson on Mon Jul 27 11:37:53 2026

It results in many dupes and little loss.

And if the system is set-up correctly with decent software, then it doesn't matter. The dupes are filtered-out and all is well.

\%/@rd

--- DB4 - 20230201
* Origin: Many Glacier - Preserve / Protect / Conserve (2:292/854)

From Alan Ianson@1:153/757 to Ward Dossche on Mon Jul 27 03:16:40 2026

It results in many dupes and little loss.

And if the system is set-up correctly with decent software, then it doesn't matter. The dupes are filtered-out and all is well.

Indeed, the dupes are unavoidable if you want to get to little loss or better, zero loss.

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)

From Wilfred van Velzen@2:280/464 to Enric Lleal Serra on Mon Jul 27 12:13:07 2026

Hi Enric,

On 2026-07-27 07:27:30, you wrote to All:

The Fidoweb is here!

This is news for me. :-o

Where can I find info about FidoWeb?

A more technical article can be found here:

http://eljaco.se/FILES/fnews/FNEWST40.ZIP

"Notes on a topless echomail distribution system"

Bye, Wilfred.

--- FMail-lnx64 2.3.4.1-B20260520
* Origin: FMail development HQ (2:280/464)

From Björn Felten@2:203/2 to Enric Lleal Serra on Mon Jul 27 15:26:02 2026

Enric Lleal Serra -> All skrev 2026-07-27 08:27:

Where can I find info about FidoWeb?

Didn't I just give you that in the article? ;)

The weekly FidoWeb statistics is always in the Snooze, not only "from 2016 to 2019".

If you don't know the meaning of "mean" and "deviation", just ask. Either me or Google.

--

Freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it.

// Pericles

..

--- Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.2; sv-SE; rv:1.9.1.5) Gecko/20091121
* Origin: news://eljaco.se:4119 (2:203/2)

From mark lewis@1:3634/12.73 to Alan Ianson on Mon Jul 27 09:31:24 2026

On 2026 Jul 27 03:16:40, you wrote to Ward Dossche:

It results in many dupes and little loss.

And if the system is set-up correctly with decent software, then it
doesn't matter. The dupes are filtered-out and all is well.

Indeed, the dupes are unavoidable if you want to get to little loss or better, zero loss.

don't forget bypassing feed cuts which also negates moderators...

)\/(ark

"The soul of a small kitten in the body of a mighty dragon. Look on my majesty, ye mighty, and despair! Or bring me catnip. Your choice. Oooh, a shiny thing!"
... I asked you not to tell me that. - Maxwell Smart
---
* Origin: (1:3634/12.73)

From Ward Dossche@2:292/854 to mark lewis on Mon Jul 27 16:26:44 2026

"The soul of a small kitten in the body of a mighty dragon. Look on my majesty, ye mighty, and despair! Or bring me catnip. Your choice. Oooh, a shiny thing!"

This reminds me of Felix Kasza.

\%/@rd

--- DB4 - 20230201
* Origin: Many Glacier - Preserve / Protect / Conserve (2:292/854)

From Alan Ianson@1:153/757 to mark lewis on Mon Jul 27 16:40:22 2026

Indeed, the dupes are unavoidable if you want to get to little loss or
better, zero loss.

don't forget bypassing feed cuts which also negates moderators...

That's true. If a feed cut was ever wanted by a moderator you would need the support of those nodes in Z2 to implement it.

Fidonet is truly a free speech network. I'm not making a judgement if that is good or bad just saying that is the case.

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)

From Enric Lleal Serra@2:343/107.1 to Alan Ianson on Tue Jul 28 07:06:18 2026

Hi Alan,

I can't see what is Fidoweb.

The fidoweb is from Z2. Many nodes connect together to mesh the message areas.
It results in many dupes and little loss.

I think I got it. Thank you!

A reveure!!
Enric

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7
* Origin: Pursuit Special - The last of the V8 Interceptors (2:343/107.1)

From Enric Lleal Serra@2:343/107.1 to Wilfred Van Velzen on Tue Jul 28 07:08:24 2026

Hi Wilfred,

Where can I find info about FidoWeb?

A more technical article can be found here:

Understood. The NADS... ;-m It's curious...

Thank you.

A reveure!!
Enric

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7
* Origin: Pursuit Special - The last of the V8 Interceptors (2:343/107.1)

From Enric Lleal Serra@2:343/107.1 to Bj÷rn Felten on Tue Jul 28 07:19:42 2026

Hi Bj÷rn,

Didn't I just give you that in the article? ;)

Yes, yes... I understand the concept now.

What I don't understand is its application: aren't there any regulations regarding this? Is it permitted to link to any node, without location restrictions? Can all echomail be exchanged with all nodes? Does netmail only respect the link/routing structure when it's not a direct netmail?

I assume all the answers are: Yes.

Interesting. I will check with my colleagues from R34. ;-)

If you don't know the meaning of "mean" and "deviation", just ask. Either me or Google.

Do these concepts apply to our conversation? :-? Is there a minimum and maximum number of links allowed in the NADS/FidoWeb setting up?

A reveure!!
Enric

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7
* Origin: Pursuit Special - The last of the V8 Interceptors (2:343/107.1)

From Enric Lleal Serra@2:343/107.1 to Bj÷rn Felten on Tue Jul 28 07:33:24 2026

Hi Bj÷rn,

The weekly FidoWeb statistics is always in the Snooze, not only "from 2016
to 2019".

Sorry, I missed this point: you're right, there are a lot of numbers with this topic, beyond my dates.

A reveure!!
Enric

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7
* Origin: Pursuit Special - The last of the V8 Interceptors (2:343/107.1)

From Ward Dossche@2:292/854 to Alan Ianson on Tue Jul 28 08:52:01 2026

Alan,

That's true. If a feed cut was ever wanted by a moderator you would need the support of those nodes in Z2 to implement it.

I don't think a feed-cut has ever really worked. Someone was always willing to help. I found that out in 1994 ...

Fidonet is truly a free speech network. I'm not making a judgement if
that is good or bad just saying that is the case.

100% ... however, never was it implied that several of those practicing the free speech had intellectual levels matching that desire .... meaning there was nothing noteworthy to notice in their words. Attempting to insult someone is an action of 'free speech', but what does it achieve?

Plus, after so many years you know the flock and can accurately predict who will react about what and how.

\%/@rd

--- DB4 - 20230201
* Origin: Many Glacier - Preserve / Protect / Conserve (2:292/854)

From Michiel van der Vlist@2:280/5555 to Alan Ianson on Tue Jul 28 09:11:28 2026

Hello Alan,

On Monday July 27 2026 16:40, you wrote to mark lewis:

don't forget bypassing feed cuts which also negates moderators...

That's true. If a feed cut was ever wanted by a moderator you would
need the support of those nodes in Z2 to implement it.

That the Fidoweb is a Z2 thing is a misunderstanding. Nodes from al zones are particpating.

See my Fidonews article. http://eljaco.se/FILES/fnews/FNEWST40.ZIP

"Notes on a topless echomail distribution system"

What is now called the Fidoweb actually started with a link between me and Roy Witt to bypass the blockade set up by the instigators of the Fidonews coup.

Cheers, Michiel

--- GoldED+/W32-MSVC 1.1.5-b20170303
* Origin: http://www.vlist.org (2:280/5555)

From Wilfred van Velzen@2:280/464 to Enric Lleal Serra on Tue Jul 28 11:47:57 2026

Hi Enric,

On 2026-07-28 07:06:18, you wrote to Alan Ianson:

I can't see what is Fidoweb.

The fidoweb is from Z2. Many nodes connect together to mesh the message
areas. It results in many dupes and little loss.

I think I got it. Thank you!

It's not a Z2 specific thing!

And btw the fidoweb is a concept, not an entity you must join, or proclaim to be part of.

Basically anyone with more then 1 link (that isn't a "leaf node") is part of the fidoweb, if they like it or not. ;-)

So Alan is also part of the fidoweb. ;-)

Bye, Wilfred.

--- FMail-lnx64 2.3.4.1-B20260520
* Origin: FMail development HQ (2:280/464)

From Wilfred van Velzen@2:280/464 to Enric Lleal Serra on Tue Jul 28 11:52:48 2026

Hi Enric,

On 2026-07-28 07:19:42, you wrote to Björn Felten:

What I don't understand is its application:

Make echomail (feeds) fail tolerant, and thus more reliable.

aren't there any regulations regarding this?

No. Fidonet is an anarchy anyway. ;-)

Is it permitted to link to any node,

Yes.

without location restrictions?

Yes.

Can all echomail be exchanged with all nodes?

Basically yes. But some areas have their own resctrictions.

Does netmail only respect the link/routing structure when it's not a direct netmail?

I don't understand the question. Those are two different things: direct and routed netmail.
- A direct netmail, is delivered directly at it's destination.
- A routed netmail just follows the configured route on each system it travels through.

Btw: The fidoweb has nothing to do with netmail.

I assume all the answers are: Yes.

No. ;-)

Is there a minimum and maximum number of links allowed in the NADS/FidoWeb setting up?

With 1 link you are not following the fidoweb concept. With 2 it depends on who you have linked to. But the minimum number of links is 2.

The maximum is the number of nodes in the nodelist. ;-)

Bye, Wilfred.

--- FMail-lnx64 2.3.4.1-B20260520
* Origin: FMail development HQ (2:280/464)

From mark lewis@1:3634/12.73 to Wilfred van Velzen on Tue Jul 28 08:04:08 2026

On 2026 Jul 28 11:52:48, you wrote to Enric Lleal Serra:

Is there a minimum and maximum number of links allowed in the
NADS/FidoWeb setting up?

With 1 link you are not following the fidoweb concept. With 2 it depends on
who you have linked to. But the minimum number of links is 2.

you keep leaving out the key fundamental aspect of the "web"... that aspect being "more than one link per echo"... going by what you wrote, having one link for echoA and one link for echoB follows the concept... but that's how all echos were once distributed back when making long distance and/or international phone calls cost $$$...

having more than one link for an echo is key... especially when those two links are connected to each other in a triangle fashion... more than 2 links in one echo becomes a "fully connected polygon" with some legs being longer than others... that's what the various "backbone star hubs" in the various backbones did from the beginning... it is no different other than there now being many ad hoc polygons for some echos...

all in all, the web opened people's eyes in the same manner that satellite distribution opened people's eyes... both showed that each system can connect to any other system they have an agreement with and exchange mail... many thought the "branches of a tree" distribution flow was "forced" when it never was... people chose to use those distribution branches to keep their phone bills at a manageable level... this also meant they agreed to whatever restrictions may have been in place in that distribution system...

some did not agree and found their own links for the echos they were interested in... sure, they had a larger phone bill but they got what they wanted when and how they wanted it... eg: some systems made only one or two calls to their feed per day... others called on-demand at any time... this made some feeds faster than others but this carried that additional $$$ cost, too...

in some places in the world, all phone calls costs $$$... in other places, local calls were free... where fido started, here in North America, local calls were free and it made sense to have one system in each local area distribute mail from calls to a/some system(s) in other areas... areas that were long distance calls and thus incurred a cost... generally this was the NC of the local area making those calls and thus was born the net coordinators doing the heavy lifting of getting the mail from/to other nets for further distribution... it was quite organic and made sense, really...

)\/(ark

"The soul of a small kitten in the body of a mighty dragon. Look on my majesty, ye mighty, and despair! Or bring me catnip. Your choice. Oooh, a shiny thing!"
... There are more planes in the ocean than there are submarines in the sky. ---
* Origin: (1:3634/12.73)

From Wilfred van Velzen@2:280/464 to mark lewis on Tue Jul 28 21:21:26 2026

Hi mark,

On 2026-07-28 08:04:08, you wrote to me:

Is there a minimum and maximum number of links allowed in the
NADS/FidoWeb setting up?

With 1 link you are not following the fidoweb concept. With 2 it depends
on who you have linked to. But the minimum number of links is 2.

you keep leaving out the key fundamental aspect of the "web"... that aspect
being "more than one link per echo"... going by what you wrote, having one link for echoA and one link for echoB follows the concept...

You are right of course, and it was what I meant, but didn't write down clearly...

but that's how all echos were once distributed back when making long distance and/or international phone calls cost $$$...

Indeed, before the internet, most or all links were cost driven. So a branch system made more sense...

And it took a trigger (the fidonews coupe), to make people realize the branch system wasn't necessary anymore, and a mesh system made much more sense.

having more than one link for an echo is key... especially when those
two links are connected to each other in a triangle fashion... more
than 2 links in one echo becomes a "fully connected polygon" with some legs being longer than others...

A fully connected polygon (where every node is connected to every other node connected to an area), isn't what you want. The seenby's would become quite big. ;-) And there wouldn't be any dupes. And you want some dupes, to have redundancy...

that's what the various "backbone star hubs" in the various backbones
did from the beginning... it is no different other than there now
being many ad hoc polygons for some echos...

all in all, the web opened people's eyes in the same manner that satellite distribution opened people's eyes...

Indeed.

both showed that each system can connect to any other system they have
an agreement with and exchange mail... many thought the "branches of a tree" distribution flow was "forced" when it never was...

It was "forced" by cost.

people chose to use those distribution branches to keep their phone
bills at a manageable level... this also meant they agreed to whatever restrictions may have been in place in that distribution system...

Because there wasn't much choice.

some did not agree and found their own links for the echos they were interested in... sure, they had a larger phone bill but they got what they wanted when and how they wanted it... eg: some systems made only one or two
calls to their feed per day... others called on-demand at any time... this made some feeds faster than others but this carried that additional $$$ cost,
too...

You could do that for a few areas, but doing it the way it is done now, would have cost way too much...

Bye, Wilfred.

--- FMail-lnx64 2.3.4.1-B20260520
* Origin: FMail development HQ (2:280/464)

From Ward Dossche@2:292/854 to Wilfred van Velzen on Tue Jul 28 21:59:37 2026

Wilfred,

The maximum is the number of nodes in the nodelist. ;-)

Minus one.

\%/@rd

--- DB4 - 20230201
* Origin: Many Glacier - Preserve / Protect / Conserve (2:292/854)

From Ward Dossche@2:292/854 to Michiel van der Vlist on Tue Jul 28 22:03:21 2026

Michiel,

That the Fidoweb is a Z2 thing is a misunderstanding. Nodes from al zones are particpating.

100%

What is now called the Fidoweb actually started with a link between me
and Roy Witt to bypass the blockade set up by the instigators of the Fidonews coup.

Janis Kracht, Bob Seaborn, Roy Witt ... they're all dead. That's a coincidence.

\%/@rd

--- DB4 - 20230201
* Origin: Many Glacier - Preserve / Protect / Conserve (2:292/854)

From Wilfred van Velzen@2:280/464 to Ward Dossche on Tue Jul 28 23:16:14 2026

Hi Ward,

On 2026-07-28 21:59:37, you wrote to me:

The maximum is the number of nodes in the nodelist. ;-)

Minus one.

You are sharp, today! ;-)

Bye, Wilfred.

--- FMail-lnx64 2.3.4.1-B20260520
* Origin: FMail development HQ (2:280/464)

From Enric Lleal Serra@2:343/107.1 to Wilfred Van Velzen on Wed Jul 29 07:08:08 2026

Hi Wilfred,

It's not a Z2 specific thing!

Angel and Carlos have introduced me how are they managing this. I think I have it clear...

And btw the fidoweb is a concept, not an entity you must join, or proclaim to be part of.

Maybe it's the reason for the obfuscation and darkness involving this... :-DDD People use it but don't talk about it (like the Fight Club).

Basically anyone with more then 1 link (that isn't a "leaf node") is part of the fidoweb, if they like it or not. ;-)

Thank you, Wilfred...

So Alan is also part of the fidoweb. ;-)

Acknowledge!

A reveure!!
Enric

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7
* Origin: Pursuit Special - The last of the V8 Interceptors (2:343/107.1)

From Enric Lleal Serra@2:343/107.1 to Wilfred Van Velzen on Wed Jul 29 07:13:04 2026

Hi Wilfred,

What I don't understand is its application:

Make echomail (feeds) fail tolerant, and thus more reliable.

I referred to how to implement it: I contact via netmail a SysOp of my choose? Does it have to be something public "ey! I need some links!" ?

Btw: The fidoweb has nothing to do with netmail.

This was my rhetorical point. :-) Thanks to confirm.

The maximum is the number of nodes in the nodelist. ;-)

Very illustrative. Thanks again, Wilfred.

A reveure!!
Enric

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7
* Origin: Pursuit Special - The last of the V8 Interceptors (2:343/107.1)

From Wilfred van Velzen@2:280/464 to Enric Lleal Serra on Wed Jul 29 11:49:30 2026

Hi Enric,

On 2026-07-29 07:13:04, you wrote to me:

What I don't understand is its application:

Make echomail (feeds) fail tolerant, and thus more reliable.

I referred to how to implement it: I contact via netmail a SysOp of my choose?

Yes.

Does it have to be something public "ey! I need some links!" ?

Could also work. ;-)

Bye, Wilfred.

--- FMail-lnx64 2.3.4.1-B20260520
* Origin: FMail development HQ (2:280/464)

From Enric Lleal Serra@2:343/107.1 to Wilfred Van Velzen on Wed Jul 29 14:12:02 2026

Hi Wilfred,

I contact via netmail a SysOp of my choose?

Yes.

Great. I'll do it once I get the whole backbone linked with my current link.

Does it have to be something public "ey! I need some links!" ?

Could also work. ;-)

X-DD It will be interesting to see...

A reveure!!
Enric

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7
* Origin: Pursuit Special - The last of the V8 Interceptors (2:343/107.1)

From Ward Dossche@2:292/854 to Enric Lleal Serra on Thu Jul 30 18:29:13 2026

Enric,

Great. I'll do it once I get the whole backbone linked with my current link.

What's a backbone?

\%/@rd

--- DB4 - 20230201
* Origin: Many Glacier - Preserve / Protect / Conserve (2:292/854)

From Enric Lleal Serra@2:343/107.1 to Ward Dossche on Sun Aug 2 08:32:04 2026

Hi Ward,

I'll do it once I get the whole backbone linked with my current link.

What's a backbone?

Since I've been exchanging only local echoes from the 2:34 the last 20 years, "backbone" is for me the international corpus of echo areas that all of you are exchanging. :-)

I'm wondering if the echolist -as some kind of echo reference- would be serving this "backbone" concept for me, now I'm looking beyond the 2:34 scope.

But with your question, I think that I have to assume there's no backbone, isn't it, Ward?

A reveure!!
Enric

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7
* Origin: Pursuit Special - The last of the V8 Interceptors (2:343/107.1)

From Alan Ianson@1:153/757 to Enric Lleal Serra on Sun Aug 2 01:10:34 2026

I'll do it once I get the whole backbone linked with my current link.

What's a backbone?

Since I've been exchanging only local echoes from the 2:34 the last 20 years,
"backbone" is for me the international corpus of echo areas that all of you ar
exchanging. :-)

There is a backbone although some like to call it something else.

I'm wondering if the echolist -as some kind of echo reference- would be serving this "backbone" concept for me, now I'm looking beyond the 2:34 scope.

That is what the echolist is. It doesn't list every echo but it lists known echoes at least and if moderators wish it they can list their echoes there.

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)

From Ward Dossche@2:292/854 to Enric Lleal Serra on Sun Aug 2 11:52:05 2026

Enric,

But with your question, I think that I have to assume there's no
backbone, isn't it, Ward?

Correct.

Backbones are from the pre-internet era when due to cost reductions on international, and even local, traffic bundeling everything made economic sense. Those days are gone for over 2 decades now.

Some people may still call their system "backbone" but now that everybody can link everywhere it's just a word. Just as "echolist", or "filegate". Someone may run these services, or may not ... but Fidonet can live without them.

The word 'backbone' for me carries a very negative connotation when the North American star-systems were not ashamed to use their bundling power into a tool to force foreign regions, and even entire zones, into a specific pattern.

It culminated, and collapsed, with the Fidonews-putch which coincided with a growth in number of internet-accessible nodes. Nothing bad from the dead, and everybody mellowed in the meantime, but Bob Seaborn and Janis Kracht played a pretty dirty role in those days.

Yes, there are no backbones anymore and at the same time we are all together one single big backbone. No-one has power ...

\%/@rd

--- DB4 - 20230201
* Origin: Many Glacier - Preserve / Protect / Conserve (2:292/854)

From Enric Lleal Serra@2:343/107.1 to Alan Ianson on Mon Aug 3 08:07:56 2026

Hi Alan,

There is a backbone although some like to call it something else.

Yep. Until two days ago, I thought that the FidoNet structure was the hierarchical one I've read from the docs. Now I see that the thing is a little bit complex due to human condition.

I'm wondering if the echolist -as some kind of echo reference- would be

That is what the echolist is. It doesn't list every echo but it lists known echoes at least and if moderators wish it they can list their echoes there.

I can only see it in a positive light: when I look around to get information about an echo before to link it, it seems it's the only way to get it as it's difficult to find an updated .na file.

A reveure!!
Enric

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7
* Origin: Pursuit Special - The last of the V8 Interceptors (2:343/107.1)

From Enric Lleal Serra@2:343/107.1 to Ward Dossche on Mon Aug 3 08:08:36 2026

Hi Ward,

Yes, there are no backbones anymore and at the same time we are all together one single big backbone. No-one has power ...

If we wanted to explain this to the world, could we describe this situation as a case of Fidonet self-regulation and the evolution of the distribution model (from star to matrix) when human behaviour forces the network or attempts to corrupt it? Would you agree with this conclusion, Ward?

A reveure!!
Enric

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7
* Origin: Pursuit Special - The last of the V8 Interceptors (2:343/107.1)

From Ward Dossche@2:292/854 to Enric Lleal Serra on Mon Aug 3 09:55:27 2026

Enric,

If we wanted to explain this to the world, could we describe this
situation as a case of Fidonet self-regulation and the evolution of the distribution model (from star to matrix) when human behaviour forces the network or attempts to corrupt it? Would you agree with this conclusion, Ward?

I think that is well worded.

The word 'anarchy' came to mind but there is poetry in your description.

\%/@rd

--- DB4 - 20230201
* Origin: Many Glacier - Preserve / Protect / Conserve (2:292/854)

From Alan Ianson@1:153/757 to Enric Lleal Serra on Mon Aug 3 01:43:12 2026

There is a backbone although some like to call it something else.

Yep. Until two days ago, I thought that the FidoNet structure was the hierarchical one I've read from the docs. Now I see that the thing is a little bit complex due to human condition.

Yes, that's it.

I'm wondering if the echolist -as some kind of echo reference- would be

That is what the echolist is. It doesn't list every echo but it lists known >> echoes at least and if moderators wish it they can list their echoes there.

I can only see it in a positive light: when I look around to get information about an echo before to link it, it seems it's the only way to get it as it's difficult to find an updated .na file.

There is a BACKBONE.NA included in the monthly echolist archive hatched in the ECHOLIST file area.

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)

From mark lewis@1:3634/12.73 to Enric Lleal Serra on Mon Aug 3 07:42:46 2026

On 2026 Aug 03 08:07:56, you wrote to Alan Ianson:

Hi Alan,

There is a backbone although some like to call it something else.

Yep. Until two days ago, I thought that the FidoNet structure was the hierarchical one I've read from the docs.

that's the administrative one... mail distribution is different (in Fidonet)... othernets may employ their own distribution system(s)... some do use the admin tree structure for distributed mail and even for the routing of netmail...

Now I see that the thing is a little bit complex due to human
condition.

kinda, yeah...

I'm wondering if the echolist -as some kind of echo reference- would
be

That is what the echolist is. It doesn't list every echo but it lists
known echoes at least and if moderators wish it they can list their
echoes there.

I can only see it in a positive light: when I look around to get information about an echo before to link it, it seems it's the only way to get it as it's difficult to find an updated .na file.

it isn't that difficult to find the echolist and NA/NO file(s)... the latest updated one(s) is/are distributed in its FDN each month IIRC...

)\/(ark

"The soul of a small kitten in the body of a mighty dragon. Look on my majesty, ye mighty, and despair! Or bring me catnip. Your choice. Oooh, a shiny thing!"
... A pessimist mourns the future.
---
* Origin: (1:3634/12.73)

From Wilfred van Velzen@2:280/464 to mark lewis on Mon Aug 3 14:55:33 2026

Hi mark,

On 2026-08-03 07:42:46, you wrote to Enric Lleal Serra:

Yep. Until two days ago, I thought that the FidoNet structure was the
hierarchical one I've read from the docs.

that's the administrative one... mail distribution is different (in Fidonet)... othernets may employ their own distribution system(s)... some do
use the admin tree structure for distributed mail and even for the routing of
netmail...

That's how it is in AmigaNet. I would encourage "cross links", but nobody seems interested, as long as it works and there are no echomail feed problems...

Bye, Wilfred.

--- FMail-lnx64 2.3.4.1-B20260520
* Origin: FMail development HQ (2:280/464)

From Enric Lleal Serra@2:343/107.1 to Ward Dossche on Tue Aug 4 07:42:34 2026

Hi Ward,

network or attempts to corrupt it? Would you agree with this conclusion,

I think that is well worded.

Thanks!

The word 'anarchy' came to mind but there is poetry in your description.

The word "anarchy" has poetry in itself, too.

As I've told my fellow SysOps in R34, I'm happy to be rediscovering FidoNet after so many years.

A reveure!!
Enric

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7
* Origin: Pursuit Special - The last of the V8 Interceptors (2:343/107.1)

From Enric Lleal Serra@2:343/107.1 to Alan Ianson on Tue Aug 4 07:44:10 2026

Hi Alan,

difficult to find an updated .na file.

There is a BACKBONE.NA included in the monthly echolist archive hatched in the
ECHOLIST file area.

:-) I already have the file, and I'm in the process of linking the file echo.

Thanks!

A reveure!!
Enric

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7
* Origin: Pursuit Special - The last of the V8 Interceptors (2:343/107.1)

From Enric Lleal Serra@2:343/107.1 to Mark Lewis on Tue Aug 4 07:52:14 2026

Hi Mark,

Yep. Until two days ago, I thought that the FidoNet structure was the
hierarchical one I've read from the docs.

that's the administrative one... mail distribution is different (in Fidonet).. >othernets may employ their own distribution system(s)... some do use the admin
tree structure for distributed mail and even for the routing of netmail...

:-) I've already noted it down.

it isn't that difficult to find the echolist and NA/NO file(s)... the latest updated one(s) is/are distributed in its FDN each month IIRC...

The difficulty varies from who knows or not. :-D

I've been on both sides. ;-)

A reveure!!
Enric

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7
* Origin: Pursuit Special - The last of the V8 Interceptors (2:343/107.1)

From Ward Dossche@2:292/854 to Enric Lleal Serra on Tue Aug 4 08:51:54 2026

The difficulty varies from who knows or not. :-D

I've been on both sides. ;-)

Hmmm ... Joni Mitchel ... 8-)

\%/@rd

--- DB4 - 20230201
* Origin: Many Glacier - Preserve / Protect / Conserve (2:292/854)

From Enric Lleal Serra@2:343/107.1 to Ward Dossche on Tue Aug 4 12:43:12 2026

Hi Ward,

I've been on both sides. ;-)

Hmmm ... Joni Mitchel ... 8-)

I'm not from her time, but I like the lyrics.

I've looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all

Nice lyrics, Ward.

A reveure!!
Enric

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7
* Origin: Pursuit Special - The last of the V8 Interceptors (2:343/107.1)

From Ward Dossche@2:292/854 to Enric Lleal Serra on Tue Aug 4 16:22:20 2026

Enric,

Nice lyrics, Ward.

Spaniah is a language which has been created for poets ...

"Poetas Andaluces" ... a beauty ...

┐QuΘ cantan los poetas andaluces de ahora?
┐QuΘ miran los poetas andaluces de ahora?
┐QuΘ sienten los poetas andaluces de ahora?

I know you're Catalan ... there are Catalan poets as well ...

\%/@rd

--- DB4 - 20230201
* Origin: Many Glacier - Preserve / Protect / Conserve (2:292/854)

From Enric Lleal Serra@2:343/107.1 to Ward Dossche on Wed Aug 5 07:37:22 2026

Hi Ward,

Spaniah is a language which has been created for poets ...

You're so right about Spanish -it╞s such a rich language, full of nuances, color, and depth! A big part of my library is in spanish since I've grown in a bilingual condition.

┐QuΘ sienten los poetas andaluces de ahora?

Yes! Andalusians have a special connection to their land, because those landscapes are a rare mix, hard to find in those proportions elsewhere. When you travel there, you enter another world. And in that other world, you live and think differently.

I know you're Catalan ... there are Catalan poets as well ...

And don't worry, being Catalan is definitely not a barrier or a reason to look inward! It certainly doesn't keep me from appreciating true beauty, wherever it comes from. After all, beauty is always in the eye of the beholder (joke), not in its language...

But yes, you can find heartfelt poetry in the works of Martø i Pol, Verdaguer, Carner, Espriu... However, we can get lost in translation.

A reveure!!
Enric

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7
* Origin: Pursuit Special - The last of the V8 Interceptors (2:343/107.1)

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