Volume 4, Number 31 17 August 1987 +---------------------------------------------------------------+ | _ | | / \ | | /|oo \ | | - FidoNews - (_| /_) | | _`@/_ \ _ | | International | | \ \\ | | FidoNet Association | (*) | \ )) | | Newsletter ______ |__U__| / \// | | / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / | | (________) (_/(_|(____/ | | (jm) | +---------------------------------------------------------------+ Editor in Chief: Thom Henderson Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings FidoNews is published weekly by the International FidoNet Association as its official newsletter. You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission standards are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC, available from node 1:1/1. Copyright 1987 by the International FidoNet Association. All rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances, please contact IFNA at (314) 576-4067. FidoCon is THIS WEEK! Table of Contents 1. ARTICLES ................................................. 1 Fido/FidoNet Version 12 Announcement ..................... 1 Hotline! (4) ............................................. 8 Reach Out, America! ...................................... 11 2. COLUMNS .................................................. 12 The Regular Irregular Column ............................. 12 Random Mutterings ........................................ 16 3. FOR SALE ................................................. 18 Diagnostic tools for the SYSOP ........................... 18 4. NOTICES .................................................. 19 The Interrupt Stack ...................................... 19 Netmail at FidoCon ....................................... 19 Latest Software Versions ................................. 19 International FidoNet Conference Registration Form ....... 20 IFNA Order Form and Membership Application ............... 21 FidoNews 4-31 Page 1 17 Aug 1987 ================================================================= ARTICLES ================================================================= Tom Jennings Fido/FidoNet Version 12 Announcement First of all, this is a Macintosh to ASCII conversion of the data sheet I send out to people who request information. While it is accurate and pretty complete, it is probably a bit insulting to the FidoNet crowd, as it assumes you're not too sophisticated ... sorry 'bout that! Fido Version 12 is going to be "shipped" at the Fourth FidoNet Conference, Aug 20, in DC. Its working now; the manual is completely written (by Scot Kamins; he did the "Q & A" documentation, and the Mac BASIC book, and he does interface design ...) and now being formatted for printing. The manual is top notch. Software is having small bugs chased out, and is in good shape. Since I messed around for so long, I'm up against the wall for time, so this is late, the software is late, I'm late. (What else is new ...) So, until 4FidoCon, this is probably it for communication from me in FidoNews. Sorry to keep everyone in the dark for so long. Tom Jennings -------------------------------- (Remember this is a mechanical Mac -> ASCII conversion; I've also struck a lot of the junk that everyone already knows: "Fido/FidoNet is a Bulletin Board and ...") Note New Address: Fido Software 164 Shipley San Francisco CA 94107 (415)-764-1688 Fido/FidoNet Specifications Effective 1 Sept 87 System Description: Performance: Fido/FidoNet internally buffers all DOS file system operations, avoiding many of the typical performance bottlenecks of other systems. All aspects of the system are considerably faster than previous versions, and FidoNet network operations are up to 10 times faster. Low disk space overhead FidoNews 4-31 Page 2 17 Aug 1987 Fido/FidoNet stores all of its parameters and statistics in a single system file. (Previous versions used many small files; the savings in disk space over previous versions is tremendous.) Fido/FidoNet installed on a 10 Meg or 20 Meg hard disk has nearly unlimited space; thousands of messages, files, a 2,000+ node FidoNet network, with plenty of disk space remaining. For a sample "small scale" system, running on two 360K floppies and 256K of memory, there is room for all of the basic Fido/FidoNet system utilities plus your own text editor and other tools, over 200 messages, and close to 100K bytes free. The same system with a 1,600 node FidoNet Network can have approximately 80 messages. Modem Handling: Fido takes advantage of all of the major features of all modems supported. The callers' baud rate is determined by the system automatically; callers do not have to hit the RETURN key to get the systems attention. Outgoing calls made by FidoNet (if so enabled) watch for busy, no-dialtone, and other features as supported by each modem. Fido/FidoNet performs tests on the modem during normal operation to ensure that the modem is connected and behaving properly. Caller DataBase: Each caller to the system has a record in a simple database that maintains each callers name, password, terminal- specific settings, privilege levels and controls, and various statistics. Tools are provided to manipulate these records both manually and automatically. Database size is limited only by disk space. System Messages and Bulletins: Fido/FidoNet uses ordinary text files for most system messages and bulletins that are meant to be customized for each installation. When displaying and entering text, Fido takes into account each callers terminal settings, such as screen width and length, and performs on-screen formatting for a clean display. Access Controls: There are six privilege levels that callers can be assigned. You can specify minimum privilege levels needed to access commands and both message and file areas. In addition to privilege levels, there are 32 "locks" with matching "keys". Locks can be applied to things such as commands and message and file areas; callers can be given any number of keys. Callers can access only those things for which they have all of the matching keys, plus meet the privilege level requirements. For example, if the E)nter-Message command has lock #20 applied, only callers that have Key #20, plus any necessary minimum privilege levels, can use, see or get help with that FidoNews 4-31 Page 3 17 Aug 1987 command. Limits can be placed on each callers' connect-time on the system per-call and per-24-hour period, and on file downloads. Time limits are enforced at all times, including file download and upload, so that scheduled Events are not preempted by caller file downloads or uploads. ("Optional" events, described elsewhere, are allowed to be preempted by human callers.) Context-Sensitive Help System: The help system provides context-sensitive help, taking into account what commands the caller has access to because of privilege levels or locks. Help is available on every command in the system. The Help files are ordinary text files that can be customized to fit your specific needs. Message Areas: There can be up to 200 seperate message areas, each with access controls as described above. The number of messages in each area is limited only by disk space. Callers can enter new messages, modify existing saved messages, search for messages by keyword or as addressed to them, and perform many other operations upon messages. Help is available at all decision points. File Areas: Fido/FidoNet supports up to 200 independent file areas, with access controls as descibed earlier. Within each File Area callers can access files and related commands. There are a number of ways in which to make files available (or not) to callers. Commands and functions have been added to make remote maintenaince of file areas and other parts of the disk easier for the system operator. Files can be uploaded and downloaded in ASCII, XMODEM, Telink, "MODEM BATCH" or Kermit protocols. (All of the file transfer protocols listed above are available in most commercially available terminal programs, and in 4th quarter 1987 in terminal communications software from Fido Software.) There can be up to 100 "Events", scheduled to run at any time of the day and any day of the week. Events allow Fido/FidoNet to run FidoNet network mail, execute external programs via DOS Batch Files, and other events for various special purposes. In Version 12 of Fido/FidoNet the events system has been expanded into a timed event programming system, capable of handling simultaneous and/or overlapping events, special "optional" events, and combinations of events and characteristics. ("Optional" events can be used, for example, to simulate "background" FidoNet network activity while no caller is otherwise occupying the system.) Incoming FidoNet mail at any time FidoNews 4-31 Page 4 17 Aug 1987 Fido/FidoNet can now receive mail from other Fido/FidoNet systems or compatible software at any time a caller is not occupying the system, as well as during scheduled FidoNet Network Events. Optionally, Fido/FidoNet can execute external programs via a DOS Batch File to do special processing of unscheduled Incoming Mail. Other Features & Enhancements: Fido/FidoNet is considerably streamlined in day to day operations over previous versions; most maintenance can be done automatically, and manual operations are easier and more convenient to use. You can sign in to the system from the local keyboard, as if you had called in remotely with a modem, without "taking down" the system. Upcoming events can be listed, and previously-run events can be reenabled from the local keyboard. Fido works easily with external "shell" programs to allow programmers and "aftermarket" add-on programs to work with Fido/FidoNet. Technical information is available in the manual. (External "shell" support programs are not currently supplied by Fido Software.) Installation: All Fido/FidoNet parameters, lists of events, command names, and message and file area definitions are contained in ordinary text files you can display and change with your own text editor program. Message and file areas are defined in one text file; the Fido/FidoNet system takes care of all the work of creating and verifying the actual DOS subdirectories used. Commands are in their own text file, along with any privilege levels and locks. You can change the command name to any single word you choose. Compatibility: Each new Fido/FidoNet version is always compatible with previous versions; never will you be left behind with incompatible software. This has been true through numerous versions, and will remain true in the future. Support Programs Supplied with Fido/FidoNet: The following programs are supplied as part of the standard Fido/FidoNet system package. In addition, there are a number of "aftermarket" programs from other authors to make using and maintaining Fido/FidoNet easier and more powerful. (You can schedule Events in Fido/FidoNet to execute these or other programs at any time, using an MSDOS Batch File you create to make your system completely or partially automatic.) MSGMGR.EXE FidoNews 4-31 Page 5 17 Aug 1987 The Message Manager is used to perform routine maintenance on messages within Fido/FidoNet Message Areas. MSGMGR can purge messages by relative age (2 to 1000 days old) and renumber messages so they are sequential. MSGMGR is commanded through a plain text file as is Fido/FidoNet, and allows complete flexibility in specifying what operations to perform, if any, on any of the Fido/FidoNet message areas. SYSOP.EXE This is a database-like tool for managing the Fido/FidoNet caller list, that contains the names, passwords and statistics and other information on each person in the system. With it you can enter new callers, delete existing callers one by one or by time since last logged in; set caller privilege level and assign Keys; perform data integrity checks on each record; lock callers into specific message and file areas; and many more functions. There is also an "undo" feature and context sensitive help. TIMELOG.EXE Fido/FidoNet maintains a log of caller access of the Fido/FidoNet system by each hour of each day of the week; TIMELOG displays this information in graphical form, to give you information on your systems use. AUTOMAIL.EXE This tool lets you create FidoNet network messages with your own text editor or word processor. For example, during the day you can create FidoNet network messages as part of your work, and copy them to a disk or subdirectory you designate; Fido/FidoNet can be instructed to execute AutoMail and FidoNet to automatically send your messages through the FidoNet network. TWIX.EXE Twix prints FidoNet network mail newly received on your printer or in a disk file you specify. 11-TO-12.EXE This tool is used to convert existing Fido/FidoNet version 11 installations into text files that you can modify and use to create the new system. It performs all file format conversions necessary to work with the new programs. Each Fido/FidoNet version is always compatible in form and function and file format with previous versions. Computers Supported: The Fido/FidoNet software runs on the following computers: IBM Personal Computer, XT, AT and clones IBM Personal System/2 DEC Rainbow 100 Victor 9000, IBM compatible diskette only (FidoNews Note: There will be a Fossil version shortly; I have also released my driver code for Sanyo, Victor and Otrona to the Fossil guys. Its P. D. now.) FidoNews 4-31 Page 6 17 Aug 1987 Your computer must have at least the following: 256K memory (more if resident programs are used) One IBM Async compatible Serial Port At least 700K of disk storage (hard diskrecommended) Modem as described below Modems Supported: U. S. Robotics Courier 2400 D. C. Hayes SmartModem 1200 or 2400 U. S. Robotics Courier HST *1 Multi-Tech 2400 Prentice POPCOM Everex Internal & External models *2 Other FULLY HAYES COMPATIBLE modems U. S. Robotics 212A *1 (Support for the U. S. Robotics Courier HST is not yet complete; it is fully functional, but does not yet take advantage of the high speeds the modem is capable of. This will be forthcoming in late 1987, as well as support for other 9600 baud modems.) *2 (Starting with version 12, Fido no longer supports the non-Hayes compatible modems previous versions did. Fido/FidoNet versions 12 and up also now support modems that do not use the control signal "DTR" (Data Terminal Ready); previous Fido/FidoNet versions did not.) Operating Systems Supported: DOS Versions 3.00 up MSDOS/PCDOS Versions 2.00 up Fido/FidoNet also operates under most Local Area Network software (ViaNet, Novell Netware, etc) and multitasker programs (DoubleDOS, Multilink, etc) and multiprocessor hardware add-ons (Alloy Computer Products' Slave Cards); please contact the manufacturers of those products for details. Prices: Sept 1987 (FidoNews Note: Keep in mind that this data sheet and the prices and services listed below are targeted at my commercial customers. There will be a special IFNA Member price and version, from IFNA only. The details will be hammered out at 4FidoCon. Sorry, but Fido v12 is not free. Things have gotten too large to do that any more; Scot get a goodly chunk for the manual, and it's a full time job now. More on this issue at 4FidoCon and later.) Fido/FidoNet Version 12 $175 Complete Fido/FidoNet system, including support programs, diskette, manuals. FidoNews 4-31 Page 7 17 Aug 1987 Fido/FidoNet upgrade from previous versions $50 Fido Software customers who purchased any version of Fido/FidoNet directly from Fido Software can upgrade to version 12 for the above price; the original "Fido Software" diskette must be returned to qualify. NOTE: This is not a standard "software update", as described below, because of the new materials that must be provided. Fido/FidoNet Version 12 program update $25 When enhancements to Fido/FidoNet version 12 are announced, customers may upgrade their current Version 12 to the latest upgrade level; the original diskette must be returned to in order to qualify. Upgrades do not include printed manuals; errata sheets will be provided. Ordering: The software is available directly from Fido Software or authorized distributors only. Terms: Prepaid with order, or invoices accepted from rated companies, payment NET 30. Shipping is by U. S. Post Office First Class, included in price for U. S. & Canada. All overseas orders add $20 for shipping. U. S. only: for Federal Express add $25. Notes: Manuals are not available seperately; only as part of the complete package. Site Licenses and quantity discounts are also available; please contact Fido Software for details. Members of the International FidoNet Association (IFNA), an independent amateur association of Fido/FidoNet and compatible systems may obtain Fido/FidoNet version 12 from IFNA directly; certain restrictions apply. Non-hobbiests must purchase their software directly from Fido Software. Fido is a trademark of Tom Jennings The dog-with-diskette is a trademark of Tom Jennings FidoNet is a registered trademark of Tom Jennings Fido/FidoNet and all support programs are Copyright Tom Jennings ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 4-31 Page 8 17 Aug 1987 Hotline! (4) (c) 1987 James Zachary There are times that the telephone will ring in vain at the water and sewer department, because there is no one there to answer it. The bartender at the local pub wanders over to the slumping figure by the window. "Looks like you need a beer! Rough day at work?" Better make it a straight bourbon, a rough day at work makes me paranoid about amber liquids that foam. "Where do ya work?" At a sewage plant. "RIGHT! One bourbon coming up!" (A comely young lady wearing tight jeans and a 'Save the Armadillo' sweatshirt walks over.) "May I have a word with you?" No. "Awww, come on now, I just want to talk." Lady, if this is about your plugged sewer, rusty drinking water or your house flooding last September, call our main office tomorrow during working hours. "Oh no, I don't live around here. I want to ask if you are willing to observe 'Meatless Monday' with us?" Please go away. "Do you know about 'Meatless Monday' and what it means to the world?" It must have something to do with either 'Gay Rights' or the 'Celibate Society' movements. I'm the wrong person to talk to... please have a nice evening. "OH NO! 'Meatless Monday' is a worldwide event planned to demonstrate the cruelty of eating the flesh of other living animals. We propose all people become vegetarians." I really don't want to be a vegetable. "Vegetarian. Mankind does not have the right, nor the real need, to slaughter living creatures for food. Meat protein and fat is slowly killing you. Were you aware of that?" FidoNews 4-31 Page 9 17 Aug 1987 Sure beats getting knifed on the subway. "The more people we can get to observe 'Meatless Monday', the more animals will be saved from vicious slaughter." Vicious slaughter? "YES! Do you realize how cruelly animals are killed before butchering? Most are just bludgeoned into unconsciousness and are then quartered alive!" I wondered where the 'quarter-pounder' came from. "This is serious! There are no standards set for the humane killing of animals and we want all people to boycott meat products for one day, as a demonstration of unity." Sure, lady. I'll try not to eat anything until it has quit wiggling. "Are you involved in any ecological or conservation programs?" Oh, yes Ma'am. I too believe all living creatures must be protected. I am a member of the 'Save the Mosquito Committee'. I am the recruitment officer. "You are not serious! Just what does the recruitment officer do?" I find people willing to stand naked in the swamp to act as feeding stations. Interested? "NO! Don't change the subject. Our group wants to convince as many people as possible to be vegetarians, but we realize that many will insist on eating animal flesh. We would settle on a standard that would require a humane method of killing them." That's easy. You can volunteer to talk to the animals. "I don't understand what good that would do." They would then simply die of boredom. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 4-31 Page 10 17 Aug 1987 From: Robert Heller, SysOp of Locks Hill BBS 321/148 FidoNet software for non-MS-DOS systems! Do you run a BBS on a system which an O/S other than MS-DOS, such as CP/M 2.2 on a Z80 or CP/M-68K or TOS on an Atari ST? I have written a set of network tools for CP/M-68K to put my non-MS-DOS system onto FidoNet. The programs consist of a FidoNet protocol handler (talks to other FidoNet mailer programs, such as Fido, Opus, and SEAdog), nodelist processing programs (one program to edit a nodelist with a nodediff file and a program to process a nodelist file into s SDB data base file), and a simple EchoMail package. All of the code is in C and compiles under the Alcyon C compiler supplied with CP/M-68K 1.2. The package assumes UNaXcess (as modified to run under CP/M-68K) as the BBS program and assumes a Stride 400 series system and an ADC MD1202 modem (which is mostly Hayes compatable). The specialized code is isolated in specific modules. The code is available on an as is basis from 321/148 in LU310 library format. My system does not support file requests, so you'll have to send me a message requesting me to file attach them to a FidoNet node (I'll need an OK from the SysOp of the node). I have also sent it to Old Frog @ 220/1. I don't know if he has the files located in either a user accessable or file requestable area yet. Robert Heller EMail addresses: ARPANet: Heller@CS.UMass.EDU BITNET: Heller@UMass.BITNET BIX: Heller GENIE: RHeller CompuServ: 71450,3432 FidoNet: 321/148 ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 4-31 Page 11 17 Aug 1987 Ken Kaplan Fido 1/10 The following tidbit appeared in the "Calling All America" summer '87 newsletter: Question: I make a lot of long distance calls to places in my own state. Is there a calling plan that covers this kind of call? Answer: Yes....AT&T's Reach Out State plans!. These calling plans are similar to "Reach Out" America, except that they give you a fixed amount of low priced, direct dialed AT&T calling within one state. So, if you make a lot of calls within one state that aren't covered by your local telephone company, a "Reach Out" State plan could give you an opportunity to save. To find out more about these plans, call us toll free - 1-800-222-0300.(This plan is availiable in 29 states at this time, and prices and hours may vary by state.) I know most FidoNet SYSOP's who have AT&T ROA are happy with it and it has paid for itself many times over during NMH. If you sign up for this service and it saves you money or if you know of alternative services that save FidoNet SYSOP's moneys please write FidoNews. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 4-31 Page 12 17 Aug 1987 ================================================================= COLUMNS ================================================================= -- The Regular Irregular Column -- Dale Lovell 157/504 I'm finally beginning to get ready for the Conference in a few weeks. If things work out perfectly, you should get to hear all about the Monday after the conference. If things go a little wrong, you'll still get to hear about it the following week. In preparation I've made arrangements with a friend to borrow his laptop (a Toshiba T1100+). I should be able to bring it to the conference and write down my comments and opinions on it as soon as things happen. This should hopefully give everyone a good idea of how things happened and what was accomplished (in addition to my opinionated ideas on everything of course). In my new conversion as a WordPerfect addict I stopped by my dealer and picked up a copy of the WordPerfect Executive. -- WordPerfect Executive (WordPerfect Corp., $249.00) -- The Executive is designed for people on the road with laptops or portables. It includes cut down versions of WordPerfect, PlanPerfect (a spreadsheet) and the WordPerfect Library. Since it all fits onto one 720K disk (the 3 1/2 disk used by most of the laptops) or one 1.2 meg disk it is very convenient to use. In the past week it has ended up staying in the Toshiba's drives for almost everything. All I do is turn on the machine and up comes the DOS shell program. Since I don't plan to do much serious work on the laptop (like develop programs) I can finally appreciate the convenience of a menu system. So far I haven't needed to change the default of settings of the shell, although by looking over the manual it is almost identical to the shell in the WordPerfect Library so I should be able to do it if the need arises. As it stands, it is just what I'd want if I was a computer literate executive on the road with everything made real easy for me. Several shell macros are included to switch between the different applications (most of which are loaded into memory as the default) quickly and easily. Also included with Executive is a notecard program (which is the only program that isn't loaded into memory as the default), an appointment calendar (looks the same as the one in Library), a phone directory (which is very similar to Library's notebook), a calculator (which lacks most of the nicer features of Library's), a spreadsheet and a word processor. I'm not going to go over the appointment calendar, phone directory or calculator as they are all so close to Library's that you can just look up my comments in last weeks column. Executive is shipped on one 720K microdisk as well as the more standard 360K disk for people using it on a non-laptop (like any of the Compaq portables or a home machine). Included are keyboard templates for the standard ten function keys the new IBM extended keyboard with twelve function keys and special templates FidoNews 4-31 Page 13 17 Aug 1987 for the Toshiba T3100 and T1100+ computers. If none of these templates fit your machine, you're given a phone number to call and a template for your machine will be shipped to you, hopefully at no additional charge. I'm happy because templates are included for all of my machines (and the laptop that's on loan). The phone directory and the note card programs are almost identical to the notebook in Library. The main difference is that you aren't provided with any way to change the underlying database, only the list view. I would have liked to have changed the information stored in the phone directory, but I managed to come up with suitable workarounds. The only other feature that I really miss is the dialing feature of the notebook. While I don't have a modem attached to the laptop I'm writing this on (and most hotels and companies aren't accommodating to direct connect modems), it would have been nice for my home machine. The word processor is a fairly complete version of my faithful full-blown version of WordPerfect. The feature I miss the most is the thesaurus. While I still have the same spelling checker (save the check single word option), WordPerfect had to choose between the thesaurus and the spell checker in order to fit everything on one disk. Almost all of the key combinations I'm using at home or work is the same on the Executive word processor. The Executive version is also missing a few on the fancy formatting features. If you've brought down a file from WordPerfect it shows the codes, it just isn't bright enough to interpret the WordPerfect codes. I've brought several macros down from WordPerfect and have edited some of the Executive macros using the Library's Macro Editor without any problems. As far as I'm concerned this makes the products compatible with each other, although I really would have preferred the thesaurus to the spell checker. The spreadsheet in Executive has proven itself quite nice. If this is a cut down version of PlanPerfect (formerly called MathPlan), I may try and talk my boss into purchasing it from work. I'd heard stories about MathPlan, but I'm just beginning to realize that it may be a very good program. WordPerfect Corp has managed to squeeze quite a bit into it, along with spreadsheets already set up for a variety of uses. While the graphing portions of the Executive spreadsheet are a little weak, it scores well on most other aspects. It won't do three dimensional cubes like QubeCalc, but I haven't run into many spreadcube programs as of yet. The installation process was a snap. The only problem I had is the spelling directory wouldn't read on the Toshiba's A drive. It would read in the B drive, so I just copied everything up and ran the backup copy when installing the software. I know how all the manuals warn you not to do this, but I had a machine with both types of disk drives a few feet away when I did this and was feeling a little lazy. I was surprised when it asked me for my name and title. I little digging around produced an answer. Executive comes with several sample macros, spreadsheets, and memo/report forms. For example pressing ALT-M creates a business FidoNews 4-31 Page 14 17 Aug 1987 memo in the word processor or puts it there if you're not currently using the word processor. It prompts you for the receiving person, the subject and all you have to do is type in the text of the memo. Another included macro copies the expenses blocked in the spreadsheet to the word processor, perfect for business expense reports. Imagine keeping track of your travel expenses with a spreadsheet and having your word processor automatically transfer it into your monthly expense report. This is the convenience that executives have been promised since the first of the integrated programs. WordPerfect Executive makes it easier by giving you everything you need to do several of your more common business tasks (itineraries, letters, travel reports, etc.). I'm very enthusiastic about Executive. It is the closest thing I've seen to a perfect program for laptops. While it isn't billed as an integrated program, it comes a lot closer to an integrated environment than many of those other programs. The standard uses of function keys make it fairly easy to learn, as opposed to learning one company's spreadsheet and another's word processor. I'm amazed at the size of the programs, everything fits on one 720K disk (and you can keep all of it in memory on a 640K machine) leaving a second 720K disk free for data. While I'm undecided as to how well it would be on a home machine, I do like it as a program for the laptop markets and plan on using it at FidoCon this month. -- Winding Down... -- I going to break tradition here on the book I'm going to recommend. It's "Bad Habits" by Dave Barry (Owl Books, $5.95). I haven't gotten around to looking at any games or reading any computer books this week as I've spent much of it going over "Bad Habits." I first heard of Dave Barry on Usenet. He is a syndicated columnist and someone had obtained permission from Knight-Ridder to reprint his column on Usenet. Almost every week this person would spend a hour or two typing in Dave's column from the local paper and sending it across Usenet. The first of these that I saw was on how modern technology worked. I laughed so hard I almost ended up in an emergency room! He is at both enlightening and ludicrous. In any case this a new book of his and contains many of his best columns (but leaving out some of my favorites). Every time I look at the net these days, I see people taking offense at anything and jumping at each other's throats over imagined offenses. Do yourselves a favor, take a few hours out and read "Bad Habits." It may help give you a lighter view of things, and right now I think this is badly needed in the net. Next week I promise to go back and look at a more computer related book, but I just enjoyed this one too much to not pass it on to all of you. That ties it up for this week. As always I welcome you questions, comments, and general friendly chit-chat (no flames) to me at any of the addresses listed below. If you're sending me a message through FidoNet, please mention to your sysop that it must be routed through 157/1 (or 157/0) as I'm a private node. FidoNews 4-31 Page 15 17 Aug 1987 Also included is a Usenet and US mail address. Dale Lovell 3266 Vezber Drive Seven Hills, OH 44131 FidoNet 1:157/504.1 uucp: decvax\ >!cwruecmp!hal\ cbosgd/ \ >!ncoast ames\ / talcott \ / >!necntc/ harvard / sri-nic/ ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 4-31 Page 16 17 Aug 1987 Patrick McDonald SEAdog/Opus 1:109/657 This semi-regular column will appear from time to time, and is likely to be filled with all sorts of inane drivel from yours truly, but hopefully will contain some tidbits that some of you will find interesting. "FidoNet Needs Better Security!" --- Scott Tissue This week saw the return of our old friend Scott Tissue in his/her most annoying incarnation yet. The national Sysop EchoMail conference came under attack in a new form, with the introduction of many nonsensical messages. Those who receive and read the SYSOP echo know what I am talking about. At first these messages appeared to be a corruption of legitimate messages and I let loose with one of my typical tomes (what do they say about fools and angels?). It now appears that the messages were not corruptions of previously legitimate messages but rather entirely faked. My personal opinion is that a current FidoNet sysop is responsible for this. I base this conviction on the observation that a non-trivial amount of effort is being expended for what would otherwise be little payback except to someone who has a regular feed on that echo (something more regular than a piecemeal "stealing" of the echo. In my opinion, all measures introduced to date at improving FidoNet mail security fall far short of the mark. I am thinking, in particular, of the security features built into Bob Hartman's Confmail system. Bob claims that by using all the security features (only toss from archives, and then only from a system listed in the AREAS.BBS file, with the option of using encrypted archives) this type of assault may be eliminated. I disagree. Anyone sophisticated enough and familiar enough with how the system works to dump these messages into someones netmail area is certainly smart enough to start dumping archives and make it look like they came from a legitimate system. Even the encryption of archives is not sufficient to guarantee EchoMail security. This is not to take anything away from ConfMail. It is an excellent package and I use it for my echomail processing. I simply feel that the concentration of effort into trying to secure the mail itself is a waste of time. The key, in my view, is to secure the link between the two machines. I still feel that public key encryption (with the public keys a new field in the nodelist) is the best route to follow. For some reason this suggestion appears to meet with resistance from the netmail interface developers. My suggested scheme is a simple one. I would add the following startup dialogue: 1. The calling system identifies itself in the clear and then follows that up by sending it's node address encrypted with FidoNews 4-31 Page 17 17 Aug 1987 it's private key. The receiver decrypts this with the public key listed in the nodelist for the calling system and sees if they match. If so, the caller's identity is confirmed. 2. The system being called does the same (that is sends it's node address both in the clear and encrypted with it's private key) which the caller uses as additional verification that it has reached the system it thought it was calling. This method seems to me to be elegantly simple and yet totally effective to secure the mails. As Thom Henderson has pointed out, this will not guarantee the elimination of Scott Tissue types of messages, but it DOES guarantee that we know who is responsible for them since all mail links have a known origin and recipient. I would like to hear from the major netmail interface developers what they think about this suggestion (or from anyone else for that matter). I think this year may be destined to be the year of security until we can plug some of the holes in our netmail processing. The longer we delay in coming up with a solution to this problem, the harder it will be to get the net to switch over, en-masse, to an enhanced protocol. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 4-31 Page 18 17 Aug 1987 ================================================================= FOR SALE ================================================================= Jay Sprenkle OPUS 280/303 Diagnostic Tools for the SYSOP After I received a copy of the OPUS Version 1.01 software I eagerly looked toward installing it and seeing what new features the author had installed. I remembered when I installed OPUS the first time, it took about a week to tweak the settings and get everything set the way that I wanted it. I also remembered that being down so much that week had a very bad effect on the number of calls to the system. I began to wonder if there was some way that I could watch for callers to the system and still have the BBS software down for tweaking or tests. I could plug a telephone into the line so that callers would cause the bell to ring but this is a poor solution do to the excessive noise. I knew I would forget to unplug it and would be awakened in the wee hours of the morning by the night people. After a bit of experimentation an idea came to me. Instead of a bell ringing, why not install a light that would flash when an incoming call was ringing? This turned out to be a good solution at the time as it was very quiet and still let me know if a caller wanted to use the system. I have since left the ring indicator light connected to the line on the BBS system. This lets me know if someone is calling when I am performing routine maintenance of the BBS. Some of my friends in the area encouraged me to share this idea with others and start manufacturing boxes for them as well. We have found it a very useful tool for sysops doing diagnostics or simply doing maintenance of the system. I hope you find it a useful tool too. If you are interested in obtaining one of these ringing indicator lights write to me or send a message through FIDO net. The ring indicator light is available for $10.50 plus $1.80 for postage. The unit is housed in an attractively painted metal box, with rubber feet to prevent marring of your computer's paint job. It plugs into the RJ-11 telephone jack on your internal or external modem and requires no batteries or wall supplied power. The cord on the unit allows you to place the box up to three feet from the modem. My mailing address is: 1800 Avalon Lane, Olathe, KS 66062 ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 4-31 Page 19 17 Aug 1987 ================================================================= NOTICES ================================================================= The Interrupt Stack 20 Aug 1987 Start of the Fourth International FidoNet Conference, to be held at the Radisson Mark Plaza Hotel in Alexandria, VA. Contact Brian Hughes at 109/634 for more information. This is FidoNet's big annual get-together, and is your chance to meet all the people you've been talking with all this time. We're hoping to see you there! 24 Aug 1989 Voyager 2 passes Neptune. If you have something which you would like to see on this calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1:1/1. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks to Rick Siegel at 107/27, FidoCon attendees with portable computers will be able to receive network mail while at the conference. A selection of echomail conferences will also be available. The network address for a conference attendee will be: 107/27. For example, to send mail to someone who is staying in room 312, address it to "107/27.312". ----------------------------------------------------------------- Latest Software Versions BBS Systems Node List Other & Mailers Version Utilities Version Utilities Version Dutchie 2.51 EDITNL 3.3 ARC 5.21 Fido 11w LISTGEN 05.25.86 ARCmail 1.00 Opus 1.03* MakeNL 1.00 ConfMail 3.00 SEAdog 4.00 Prune 1.40 EchoMail 1.31 TBBS 2.0M XlatList 2.81 Renum 3.30 * Recently changed Utility authors: Please help keep this list up to date by reporting new versions to 1:1/1. It is not our intent to list all utilities here, only those which verge on necessity. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 4-31 Page 20 17 Aug 1987 OFFICIAL REGISTRATION FORM FOURTH INTERNATIONAL FIDONET CONFERENCE RADISSON MARK PLAZA HOTEL ALEXANDRIA, VA. AUGUST 20 - 23, 1987 Name _________________________________ Date _____________ Address ______________________________ City & State _________________________ Phone (Voice) ________________________ Net/Node Number ______________________ Phone (Data) _________________________ Number in Your Party _________________ Staying at the Radisson? _____________ Number of Rooms? _____________________ Arrival Date? ________________________ Departure Date? ______________________ Registration Fees: How Many Total Full Conference $60.00 each ________ $________ Late registration $10.00 each ________ $________ (after Aug. 1) Friday Night Banquet $30.00 each ________ $________ Saturday Luncheon $16.50 each ________ $________ Total Amount Included (Registration and Meals) $________ IFNA MEMBERS ONLY: How many in your party will be attending the Sunday morning Board of Directors meeting? ________ Send your registration form and a check or money order to: Fourth International FidoNet Conference 212 E. Capitol St., Washington, D.C. 20003 Attn: Brian H. Hughes -- voice: (202) 543-4200 This registration form does not include hotel accomodations. If you wish to stay at the Radisson Mark Plaza Hotel, please contact them directly and mention you are with the FidoNet Conference. Conference room rates are $80/night for single or double occupancy, and $20/night for an extra cot. Radisson Mark Plaza Hotel 5000 Seminary Rd., Alexandria, Va. 22311 1-800-228-9822 ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 4-31 Page 21 17 Aug 1987 INTERNATIONAL FIDONET ASSOCIATION ORDER FORM Publications The IFNA publications can be obtained by downloading from Fido 1/10 or other FidoNet compatible systems, or by purchasing them directly from IFNA. We ask that all our IFNA Committee Chairmen provide us with the latest versions of each publication, but we can make no written guarantees. Hardcopy prices as of October 1, 1986 IFNA Fido BBS listing $15.00 _____ IFNA Administrative Policy DOCs $10.00 _____ IFNA FidoNet Standards Committee DOCs $10.00 _____ SUBTOTAL _____ IFNA Member ONLY Special Offers System Enhancement Associates SEAdog $60.00 _____ SEAdog price as of March 1, 1987 ONLY 1 copy SEAdog per IFNA Member International orders include $5.00 for surface shipping or $15.00 for air shipping _____ SUBTOTAL _____ Mo. Residents add 5.725 % Sales tax _____ TOTAL _____ SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO: IFNA P.O. Box 41143 St. Louis, Missouri 63141 USA Name________________________________ Net/Node____/____ Company_____________________________ Address_____________________________ City____________________ State____________ Zip_____ Voice Phone_________________________ Signature___________________________ FidoNews 4-31 Page 22 17 Aug 1987 __ The World's First / \ BBS Network /|oo \ * FidoNet * (_| /_) _`@/_ \ _ | | \ \\ | (*) | \ )) ______ |__U__| / \// / Fido \ _//|| _\ / (________) (_/(_|(____/ (jm) Membership for the International FidoNet Association Membership in IFNA is open to any individual or organization that pays an annual specified membership fee. IFNA serves the international FidoNet-compatible electronic mail community to increase worldwide communications. ** Name _________________________________ Date ________ Address ______________________________ City & State _________________________ Country_______________________________ Phone (Voice) ________________________ Net/Node Number ______________________ Board Name____________________________ Phone (Data) _________________________ Baud Rate Supported___________________ Board Restrictions____________________ Special Interests_____________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Is there some area where you would be willing to help out in FidoNet?_______ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Send your membership form and a check or money order for $25 to: International FidoNet Association P. O. Box 41143 St Louis, Missouri 63141 USA Thank you for your membership! Your participation will help to insure the future of FidoNet. ** Please NOTE that IFNA is a general not-for-profit organization in formation and Articles of Association and By-Laws were adopted by the membership in January 1987. An Elections Committee has been established to fill positions outlined in the By-Laws for the Board of Directors. An IFNA Echomail Conference has been established on FidoNet to assist the Elections Committee. We welcome your input on this Conference. -----------------------------------------------------------------