Subj : Weekly nodelist report on noteworthy changes (307) To : Stas Mishchenkov From : Michiel van der Vlist Date : Wed Nov 15 2023 18:40:30 Hello Stas, On Wednesday November 15 2023 09:14, you wrote to me: MvdV>>>> The ICM is also misplaced. ICM is for POTS+IP nodes with CM MvdV>>>> for IP and non-CM for POTS. IP only nodes should use CM. Please note the use of the word "should". SM> R50C answer: OK... SM> FTS-5001 refers to FRL-1017, which states: SM> 2. The ICM flag SM> --------------- SM> ICM Indicates that the node is available for mail 24 hours SM> a day by means of one or more of the IP protocols as SM> mentioned in FTS-5001 section 1 paragraph H. SM> This flag may only be used in combination with one or SM> more of the flags mentioned in FTS-5001 1.H.(f.e IBN) SM> This flag must not be used in combination with the CM SM> flag. SM> If the node flies any Tyz, #?? or!?? flags in SM> addition to the ICM flag, those other flags are SM> assumed to only apply to PSTN connects. SM> Which of the following contradicts the current state of the nodelist? The above does not /directly/ contradict the current state of the nodelist. However... if you quote from FRL-1017, one should also read the following: 3. Clarification ---------------- PSTN only node: - Flies CM flag when available 24/7. IP only node: - When available 24/7 flies either CM flag or ICM flag. (But not both) CM is preferable as all existing software will recognise it. PSTN/IP node: - Flies CM flag when both PSTN and IP sections are available 24/7. - Flies ICM flag when PSTN section is only available during limited hours but IP section is available 24/7. - Never flies both. Note the "preferable" for "IP only node". And then, also from FRL-1017: 1. Introduction --------------- One of the problems with the present nodelist format is that there is no way for dual capable systems (PSTN-IP) to specify different on-line times for the PSTN section and the IP section. There is the CM flag to signal 24/7 capability but there is no way to signal 24/7 capability for IP combined with limited opening hours for PSTN. The use of IP is gradually increasing but PSTN will still be an important factor for quite some time, so sysops may want to find a means to eliminate the cost of a dedicated PSTN line without completely dropping PSTN support. One solution is to share the line with a voice line and to only support limited opening hours on the PSTN side. They will be ZMH only or carry a Txy flag to signal opening hours. They can not fly the CM flag. Yet if the node has a dsl or cable connection, the IP mailer can very well be online 24/7. The proposed ICM flag takes care of this. If one reads all of FRL-1017 it should be clear that the ICM flag is only meant for the special case of a dual capability node with full IP access and limited POTS access, not for an IP only node. SM> In addition, in the shaggy years, at the top there was an SM> interpretation of CM as a "24-hour ZMH", that is, a node with this SM> flag could be taken out for incontinence even if it worked properly in SM> ZMH, but did not work at other times. I don't know if this SM> interpretation has been preserved now, but for ICM this certainly was SM> not the case. "incontinence"? I associate that with involuntary loss of body fluids. So maybe we have a case of "lost in translation". Whatever, I have never heard of such an interpretation of "CM" and I can't find it in the FTSC documents or elesewhere. For me CM is 24/7 availability. Period. Also: FRL-1017 and the corresponding section of FTS-5001 were written in 2015. The original proposal, FSP-1033 is dated 14 June 2004. Now almost two decades ago. A lot of water has flowed through the Wolga. In these two dacades the world has changed and so has Fidonet. FOIP is now the dominant method for connection and POTS and ISDN are on the way out. PSTN only nodes have become a rare exception. The ICM flag was meant for a special case in the transition from PSTN to FOIP. So it makes sense to let it die out with the completion of the transition. That will be acomplished by using it only for the special case and use CM for IP only nodes. So... IP only nodes should (not "must", but "should") use CM. Cheers, Michiel --- Fmail, Binkd, Golded * Origin: http://www.vlist.eu (2:280/5555) .