PK> A DNS record can point to a machine, but it does NOT have to
 PK> define a specific service available on that machine. There is
 PK> a difference between advertising your home address and
 PK> actually pickng up mail from your letter box.....;-)

right... sadly, it is that need/desire to point out the available services
that that machine offers that is sought...

you are correct in the dns resolving names to numbers but that's only one
tiny part of what the nodelist offers and can offer...

yes, i can (possibly) see a "dual read" system where one contacts
the dns for the address of the destination machine and then taps that
destination machine on the shoulder and inquires what its capabilities are
but that just seems more work... and the most important thing is that it
doesn't do anything for POTSonly nodes...

)\/(ark