FidoNet
__ / \ / | oo \ ( _ | / _) @ _ ` / _ \ _ | | \ \ \ | (*) | \ ) ) ______ | __U__ | / \ / / / FIDO \ _ / / | | _ \ / ( ________ ) ( _ / ( _ | ( ____ / The classic FidoNet logo FidoNet is a so-called mailbox network, the spread in the 1980s and 1990s over the world, but was then greatly displaced by the Internet. Today, there are still a few thousand worldwide actively involved in the FidoNet systems.
- 3.1 Fido coup in 1993 within the network 2:24 ( Germany )
Technology and organization
The FidoNet comes from a time when, at least in the private sector, an electronic data transfer between two computers only by direct selection of the target system via telephone modem was possible. The Internet did not exist in its current form, fast data connections over the then common Datex -P network of the then state-owned German Federal Post Office were reserved because of the very high cost companies.
In particular, since long distance and international calls were very expensive, creative energy was much used it to achieve, with as few and as short as possible compounds in times with low fees quick and effective distribution of mail and files to all connected systems. FidoNet was in its heyday around 1990 not only organized network of privately owned mailboxes, but he was the world's most popular by far.
Use the connected systems both in terms of data format, and the data transfer protocol and its own special software. The protocols enable the sending of individual ( netmail ) and public (echo mail) messages. Netmail are limited with emails comparable echo messages in the individual echoes with the design of the Usenet.
The transmission of data is asynchronous ( store and forward ). The network is constructed in a kind of tree structure. Each system sends the messages to the next higher in the hierarchy system. Only the direct transfer of netmail from the transmitter system via a direct connection to the target system, so-called crash mails, does not depend on the hierarchy. (Sometimes also the passing of netmail is handled separately from the echo messages in order to achieve faster run times of netmail without significantly higher costs, but which is now the exception).
In Europe the number of devices connected to the Fido network systems increased after the opening of the Iron Curtain sharply. Nodes from the former Eastern bloc - particularly from Russia - to operate from the beginning of the 1990s, the majority of systems in the zone 2 beginning of 2006, the regions of Russia and Ukraine, the most nodes in FidoNet. More than 80 % of Zone 2 nodes are found in the eastern regions FidoNet. The Region 24 - Germany - with more than 8% of the nodes, the largest region in Western Europe.
Based on the amount of data transported sat the real boom of a FidoNet with the introduction of ISDN in Europe. For the same cost significantly more volume of messages could be transported. This was partly due to the higher speed of 64,000 bits / s, while modems 2400-19200 bits / s were. In addition, the connection lasts for ISDN only a brief second, while it can take up to 20 seconds for analog modems where the connection must already be paid.
Due to the higher transfer rate File echoes came into fashion, freeware, shareware, and text files automatically spread over the tree structure of the network. File echoes using the same technology that was used to spread the nodelist. Some File echoes are separated thematically, for example, games, texts or operating system. Feeding (so-called Hatchen ), any participant of the file echo.
The public papers will be published in echoes that of Usenet newsgroups are very similar in their function. Almost all echoes have a moderator who ensures that the contributions of content fit the theme of the echo and the general rules of Fido are complied with. The moderator will usually regular intervals elected by the echo - participants. For multiple rule violations may be a point or node on which the rule violations have fallen into the Fido network, are excluded from the terms of the echo and perhaps from the whole Fidonet. Once a public abgeschickter article can not be withdrawn (as in the Usenet through a "cancel -message " can be attempted ).
In contrast to the Usenet communication in FidoNet runs private: while many newsgroups on Usenet are inundated with spam and write some users against the netiquette under a pseudonym, the FidoNet spam-free in the rule and offers by the general observance of the rules of behavior one of many perceived as more pleasant atmosphere. In addition, a contact with the operator ( sysop ) of a mailbox is required when registering for the FidoNet.
This technique has been used by many private and commercial organizations to enable remote communication. For example, many oil rig operators have used this system because it represented a cost-effective alternative.
Amazing for its time was the speed. Although the Fidonet was a created by private individuals system, which helped everyone his little part, a netmail from Germany to the United States needed rarely longer than 2 days, by so-called crash mail was even using daily fixed guaranteed delivery times ( National Mail Hour (LMWH ) / zone Mail Hour ( ZMH ) ) netmail be delivered within a maximum of one day.
Thus, a distinction between FidoNet and other Fidonet -based systems could be guaranteed, numbers were used for geographical zones, the FidoNet itself is not used (so-called Other Nets ). A well-known example for Germany was the publishing house Heinz Heise initiated by Gernet (Zone 21).
Geographical breakdown
The network is divided into six geographical zones:
- Zone 1: North America
- Zone 2: Europe
- Zone 3: Oceania
- Zone 4: Latin America
- Zone 5: Africa
- Zone 6: Asia
Regional Organization
Within the zones, there are regions and networks that are simply referred to by numbers. Each network is powered by at least one host and possibly multiple hubs with messages.
Connected to the hub are the so-called node. These are usually smaller mailbox systems. A manageable amount of points, which represent the last link in this chain, supply them with news Points are not considered members of the FidoNets, but are pure users. In contrast to the nodes Points have no rights in the democratic structure.
According to this technical structure a worldwide unique FidoNet address is structured as follows:
There are also so-called independent nodes, which function as gateways, in most cases. The default for a gateway into the Usenet software fidogate by Martin Junius serves. For many years it was the user John Doe of the above accessibility Voice mail system via the address [email protected] guaranteed. A side effect of the transport of Fido echo messages to Usenet and vice versa is that many mails former Fidonet points and nodes also can nowadays be reflected in Google's Usenet archive.
Is supported by this network exclusively from individuals, commerce is forbidden in FidoNet. When the Heise publishing his areas was not allowed to operate within the FidoNet, he founded the Gernet. However, this was not always so, there was a time long business-funded nodes, the distributed particular support echo for their products.
In order to have an overview of all connected systems, but also to guarantee a correct routing of messages that the node list is created, in which all nodes of the FidoNets are listed. Every Friday, the list will be updated and sent a list of the changes to the last list, called Nodediff, which can be automatically processed by the connected systems. The nodelist contains the information about the node number also information about the owner of the node, the geographic location, the telephone or IP number, the available transmission protocols as well as the time windows when the system is reachable. Based on this information nodes and also points can decide at which point the direct netmail, the crash mails will be issued.
History
It was founded FidoNet 1984 by Tom Jennings in the U.S.. It was named after his dog " Fido ". Since the late 1990s, the number of members go back, mainly because full Internet access have become standard. The best time of the so-called node list containing over 30,000 entries worldwide.
Fido - coup in 1993 within the network 2:24 ( Germany )
Fido was supposed to be organized by its structure regionally - hierarchical. This means that the parent server, called the uplink, in indirect environment to their own system (node ) is (ideally in scope for the local fare, the telephone company ).
Over the years, however, required different hubs and uplinks fees from their subordinate systems to their own costs to cover in the first place. This necessitated a competition within the network, which meant that the network increasingly fragmented and the node uplinks studied outside their range.
Within the network was formed a movement that wanted to force her into a regionally -oriented structure, the nodes again. After many months of discussion, especially among the network coordinators ( NCs ), a not inconsiderable part of the network joined together to strive for a " violent " takeover by the Nodelistkeeper moved to his side or own nodelists introduced. The nodelist is therefore pivotal point of the network, because on the one hand, the addresses of the connected systems and leads to another routing based on it.
So it was then that on 2 July 1993 with the nodelist 176 is a part of the network broke away and the new official FidoNet ( Fido - Lite) was. The nodes that do not mitzogen were performed within the Fido -Classic, which further led his own Nodelistenlogik. Since then, virtually all systems within the network had a Fido -Lite and a Fido nodelist Classic lead.
News flash newsflash newsflash newsflash FidoNet lost 500 nodes - first major disruption of so-far constant growth - more losses to come - keep your lines open for the next HUGE nodediff - a great step towards enforcing THE POLICY News flash newsflash newsflash newsflash The de facto separation of FidoNet in two networks that made use of the same zone and region in the addressing, presented the most Mailboxes from more or less intractable technical problems. To ensure the Echo and netmail supply between the two networks, some operators have made great hardships for. Thus, the compounds led initially American, later Dutch mailboxes, which was a huge financial burden on the former telephone costs.
State in 2006
The public ( as a point ) readable German echoes are for the most part abandoned, some exist only on the Area list of the selected ( " polled " ) mailbox. The number of currently active ( German ) User has now dropped to a manageable number and consists of about 50% by Fido -over-IP (query the mailbox via the Internet) and 50% directly ( without internet ) the calling users together. Most mailboxes their news nowadays by means of supra-regional connection via the Internet, to provide faster forwarding of messages ( it is in very short intervals polled ) and allow operation at very low cost ( by using a flat rate). Many mailboxes, however, were now turned off, and so it is also hard at all to find an access to FidoNet. The well-known required for attendance software is no longer being developed, in part, running on newer operating systems usually only faulty. An exception to current crosspoint derivatives that are still maintained because of their multi- network capability, and compatibility with different networks and actively developed. Also known WinPoint will be maintained by the author and published regularly in new versions. One way to be within minutes of the Points with all rights and obligations, offers Fido deluxe package of Michael Haase that is based on the CDP- standard and an intelligent installation routine and a modern front-end offers.
At the end of the 1990s, the direct access to the Internet for home has become more affordable, making the FidoNet was increasingly displaced 20 years after its inception. Hardly anyone knows nowadays something to do with the term FidoNet - the communication is done in the for most users much more comfortable (since no additional software only with a web browser accessible ) web forums from which, however, unlike the FidoNet or, for example, Usenet no substantive networking with each other can provide.
In January 2006, are still 7725 nodes listed. The following table shows the distribution and the development of the numbers since 1995:
On 30 January 2011, many FidoNet nodes were reactivated in order to circumvent the temporary shutdown of the network during the revolution in Egypt in 2011.