Articles

Z2C's IP node hostility
By Peter Karlsson, 2:206/221.0

About a month ago, I got a netmail from the Z2C stating that my IP node, 2:206/222.0, wasn't allowed to be listed according to the specifications used in the nodelist and recently documented by the FTSC:

"To make a long story very short, in Z3 '000' is the number to alert the emergency-services. Whether or not dial-translation should take care of that in the nodelist is irrelevant because there always will be buggy systems that may create havoc; when we have an opportunity to avoid potential problems we shouldn't dismiss it, therefore I support Jackson Harding (the ZC/3) in his actions."

"Therefore I am now instructing you, nodes/hubs/hosts/NCs/RCs that are involved in zone-2, to deal with this issue and get rid of the '000-'-entries. You have until Nov.1 1999 to do this, after that date the '000-'-number will systematically be replaced by '-unpublished-' and a 'Pvt' inserted in front."

This is utter stupidity. IP nodes are here to stay, and we have a standard of listing them that is actually supported by both mailers and nodelist compilers. Why should people that can't configure their mailers properly stop that?

Oh, and if anyone wonders why I'm writing this here instead of taking it up with the Z2C, let me quote the ending paragraph in the netmail:

"Anyone that doesn't agree may make himself heard but unless a loaded and cocked hotgun points to my delicate parts I am not inclined to move on this one."

Oh, well. Guess I'll see in the next nodelist whether my nodelisting of 2:206/222.0 is gone or not. And if it is, well... I'm seriously considering leaving Fidonet after over five years of active participation. :-(

\\//
Live long and prosper,
Peter Karlsson