Subj : XML
To   : Frank Vest
From : andrew clarke
Date : Mon Jan 06 2003 09:09 am

Sun 2003-01-05 03:04, Frank Vest (1:124/6308.1) wrote to andrew clarke:

 >> With PSTN, each mailer is expected to be able to transfer mail at
 >> least at FTS-1 (x-modem?).

 ac>> Xmodem with TeLink extensions.

 > I guess. I've always heard FTS-1 and xmodem. Point is, this is the
 > minimum required for PSTN. Each PSTN mailer must support at least
 > this.

Yes.

 >> With IP, there is no minimum required transfer method. This means that
 >> each protocol (binkp, telnet and such) has to have a flag in the
 >> Nodelist.

 ac>> Are there any other common IP protocols other than BinkP & Telnet 
 ac>> (ie. FTS-1 over Vmodem or equivalent)?

 > I have no idea. I wouldn't call binkp or telnet common in the respect
 > of "to every IP mailer", but they seem to be the most common used for
 > IP transfer of Fidonet mail.

I just meant protocols used for FidoNet mail transfer.

I understand there is ifcico but I haven't looked at it yet, but from what I 
understand it's basically just FTS-1 over IP.  Which has me wondering what 
makes it any different to running a mailer using VMODEM or equivalent.  I guess 
I'd better take a look at it.

 >> To "fix" this, a means needs to be made for IP mailers to determine
 >> the protocol to use during the/a connection. IOW, my IP mailer
 >> contacts your IP mailer and figures out what protocol to use. A
 >> minimum protocol would also be needed which all IP mailers use.

 ac>> You may as well make BinkP the minimum protocol.

 > It really doesn't matter to me what protocol is the minimum.

Well, I mention BinkP because it's by far the most common.  Plus you can 
actually send mail with it.  ;-)

 > The point
 > is that Fidonet needs a minimum required IP protocol for connecting
 > that each IP mailer can use. Other protocols can be implemented in the
 > mailers as well, but each would at least be able to do the minimum.

Yes.

 > The next step would be to figure out how to negotiate the transfer
 > protocol upon connection.

This can be done manually until such time that the software can negotiate 
automatically.

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 * Origin: Blizzard of Ozz, Mt Eliza, Victoria, Australia (3:633/267.1)

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