Subj : Tiers
To   : Ross Cassell
From : Frank Vest
Date : Fri Jul 13 2001 12:40 pm

On (13 Jul 01) Ross Cassell wrote to Frank Vest...

Hello Ross,


 FV> Real question to me is: Why does Fidonet Zone 1 need a tier??...

 RC> Terminology.

 RC> The Z1B calls its Top Level Hubs.. Tier One.

Ok... so what is a Top Level Hub and how are they determined?

If it's by the number of Nodes connecting to them, it would seem that
there are many Top Level Hubs in Z1. If it's because they are all
linked direct to each other, then all are Top Level since all of
Fidonet is linked together in some way.

 RC> It calls its second level hubs Tier Two, traditionally a Tier 2 has a
 RC> Tier 1 as the uplink, although today as opposed to the Z1B's
 RC> beginnings, this is not always the case and is not the case for 3
 RC> individuals they list as and call tier2.

It seems that there is really no such thing as a Top Level nowadays.
Since any Node can feed from anywhere, all could be Top Level...
unless it is just a title given to those who feel they are in charge
of something.

 RC> The NAB has Zhubs or Stars, no other recognition or title is
 RC> applicable to anyone else.

Stars.... The good old days. Depending on how you look at it. :)

 FV> better yet, why does Fidonet Zone 1 need three distribution systems.

 RC> Technically there are 2, you are probably thinking of the WWB as the
 RC> third, but they are mostly in other zones...

Yes. The WWB, while mostly in other zones, is still part of the Z1
system IMHO.

 RC> The reason there are 2 separate distro systems is in the politics,
 RC> more to the point in the founder of the z1b, John Souvestre. He didnt
 RC> get his way so he created his own sandbox.

Used to feed my Net in the "good old days". :)

 RC> The reason there still is a Z1B, is one of its members has a
 RC> hero-worship syndrome over the long gone founder and is in denial.

I'll stay out of that at present.

 FV> Another real question to me is why are there three separate lists
 FV> of
 FV> echos for Fidonet in Zone 1? Why not have one official list and all
 FV> carry it?

 RC> One for each system.

One for Fidonet and the distribution systems can offer any other
echos that they want. The Fidonet list is carried by all. If not, then
the person(s) that don't carry all the official echos is not
recognized as a Fidonet feed. That doesn't mean that they can't be in
Fidonet or feed echos... just that they aren't recognized as an
official feed.  Title and politics involved in this thought, I admit.

 FV> Answer to most of this is probably politics. :-(

 RC> Yup

:(

 FV> I'm not saying that we should go back to the NEC, REC, ZEC method of
 FV> distribution, but to have to connect to three distribution systems to
 FV> receive all of the echos in Z1 seems dumb to me. Of course, three
 FV> distribution systems seems dumb as well.

 FV> Personal opinion only.

 RC> Its an accurate one, some would rather divide than unite.

Too accurate IMHO.


Thanks,

 Frank

http://texoma.net/~flv
http://bise.tzo.com/r19

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