Hey Kai!

Sep 06 18:09 06, Kai Richter wrote to Maurice Kinal:

 KR> What kind of reliability are you talking about? It looks like you are 
 KR> comparing a protocol with a node system?

I was referring to any type of server activity on the internet including
dialup via an ISP.  Normal FTN standards are based upon a direct dialup
link between two nodes with nothing in between them somewhat like ppp but
without any tcpip standards (ip addresses and the such).  Also - this is
the most critical aspect fron a *nix perspective - FTN is DOS serial based
connectivity although binkd and the like attempt to address this point but
still are more serial based connections rather then what is normally found
these days in terms of internet connections which causes problems when
there is no viable way of confirming the targetted node isn't reachable
before initiating the transfer.  I've had to kill binkd when that happens
which is why it isn't robotized here and probably never will be.  It is
incapable of behaving itself without interference from the sysop on a
normal tcpip connected server.  It is more of a user based app rather then
a server based app and thus ftpd is preferable which does behave itself on
robotized servers.

At this stage of the game it seems to me that Fido probably should stick to
the old fashioned local dialup method.  That is much safer especially for
any single user system.  The only reason this point works as well as it
does is because 1:261/38 has ftpd.  My node, 1:140/13, also uses ftpd for
my other point 1:140/13.1, but the hub requires I have a binkp listening in
and I don't crashmail to the hub since it can't be confirmed that his binkp
thingy is even listening due to a service that firewalls for him.  Too
unreliable for binkd so everything is hold or I manually poll him whcih can
and does backfire and then I have to kill binkd.  I also have binkd as an
unpriviledged user as I don't trust it as a system's utility.  Same with
the Husky stuff although that is less dangerous.

Life is good,
Maurice

--- Msged/LNX 6.2.0