[FTSC] Frequently Asked questions about Fidonet's Filebone system. ============================================================================== FILEBONE.FAQ Version: 06-17-1997 ============================================================================== There are many referances in this document to FILEBONE.NA becaUse this is where you need to go to get real information about the FDN's that belong to the Filebone, as well as who to contact w/i the Filebone. What is the Filebone? The Filebone is a group of like minded sysops that joined together to provide fast & efficient one stop shopping for files. Thus allowing authors to spend more time programming and FDNs to collect and process files for hatching. The Filebone consists of a TC, Technical Coordinater, four Stars and 20+ Hubs. The TC writes/updates/edits this document as well as FILEBONE.N?, and works with others on every level of file distribution. The Stars connect every few hours to exchange files files and mail. The Hubs general connect as often as needed on a scedual that is worked out with the Star system to insure the best distribution. Each Hub also feeds up to 10 other file hubs. There are also many File Hubs in local nets that un-seffishly provide Filebone services. If you know of or are a File HUB please contact the Filebone TC as listed in FILEBONE.NA. How do I get a filebone feed. If you are interested in setting up a feed for any of the FDNs carried on the Filebone please contact any of the Filebone Hubs (see FILEBONE.NA). The Filebone does not observe geographical restrictions, so you are free to establish a link with any of the Hubs. Many of the Filebone Hubs have cost- sharing plans so be sure to ask about this when you contact them. How do I get my FDN on the Filebone? If you are a FDN head and are interested in having the Filebone carry your FDN, please contact the Filebone Technical Coordinator as listed in FILEBONE.NA. Please supply the type of information you see listed below for each of the FDNs along with estimates of the number of nodes in your FDN, and the number of bytes of files per month and routing used to link to one of the Filebone Stars (See FILEBONE.NA). How do I create my FDN Listing. The technical details are listed in FILEBONE.NA, but the easyest way to create a new listing is to snip out an existing listing and use it as a template. Example: % % FDN: Name of your FDN % HeadQuarters: Your name, z:net/node % Info File: Filename of your info file % Backbone Conferences: AreaTag % On Planet Connect: Yes, No, or In Process % On IFDC Filegate: Yes or no % On paonline.com: Yes or no % On sstar.com: Yes or no % On PageSat: Yes or no % Internet: No, or E-Mail and/or http & ftp info % Last Updated: MM/DD/YY % Area AREATAG1 0 ! FDN: Description Area AREATAG2 0 ! FDN: Description % Note: the first and last lines in listing are a single "%". Also if one or more of the lines in the heading don't apply you may delete it. How do I update my Filebone listing. Use your existing listing as a template and hatch your update in FILE_UPD. Your Filebone Hub can supply a secure link. The Filebone TC can supply you with the a special filename for your update if needed. Netmail may also be used, but this may take longer if the TC is out of town. I'm connected/requested file area XYZ from my hub. Why haven't I received any files yet? 1. Some file areas don't have any traffic for months on end. 2. Some file mover software only creates the link when there is traffic 3. Some file mover software only keeps uplink requests for 30 days. SOLLUTION: 1. FDNs can post a seed file in slow areas to acctivate new links that may otherwise remain disconnected. 2. Broken links should be reported asap. Things could be flowing on some links, but not others. What can we do about non-standard FILE_ID.DIZ files. Contact the author. Most of them will be happy to fix the problem because they don't want their listings to look bad because it cuts into their potential income. How do I write a FILE_ID.DIZ file? For a compleate dissertation on the FILE_ID.DIZ file Freq FILEID.TXT from 1:105/72. Summary: A standard FILE_ID.DIZ file contains from 1 to 10 lines of ASCII text of 45 characters or less, consists of plane ASCII Characters 0 - z. Punctuation is also ok, but keyboard and or High ASCII graphics and color are a problem for many systems. If you need more lines use a blamk line to seperate it from the above. If you must get creative, you should understand that several thousand other sysops that receive and move your files may not care for the results of your creativity in this file if it makes their online directories look like roadkill. Can I add a FILE_ID.DIZ to an archive that doesn't have one? No! Only the author should do this. If you feel the file needs one, then write the author and ask him/her to add one. Can I Get rid of the archive comments or add my own? This has no straight forward answer, but there are general rules to follow when doing so. 1. Files in the distribution path should not be altered in any way. 2. It is generaly excepted that files kept in online storage can or will have the archive comments striped or replaced with your own banner. 3. Some authors still prohibit or restrict this practice. Does the Filebone have restrictions on the types of files it will distribute. Yes. The Filebone will not knowingly distribute software in violation of local, national, or Intenrational laws. Does the Filebone have restrictions on the size of files it will distribute. No. However, file sizes have become a techinical issue as well as an issue of usfulenss. There are times when these large files are almost impossible to get for some systems due to Internet router/loading or whatever and do at times make it inpossible to p/u anything else untell the large file is eather picked up or removed from the queue. This is what the Filebone considers a "technical issue" and Filebone hubs may refuse to except and/or deliver files larger then three (3) Megabytes at there own discretion. Are some files undeliverable to some systems due to the FileNames. Yes. This is a known problem w/D'Bridge. D'Bridge won't except files beginning w/reserved DOS recerved words like "COM???". There may be others, but this is the only one that comes to mind. Are some files unFreqable due to Filenames. Yes. I don't recall the details, but at least one product can't freq files w/"~" in the filename. Perhaps someone can refresh me bad memory.:-)