Getting Technical

For technical information about FidoNet please see www.ftsc.org

By: Carol Shenkenberger
To: Warren Bonner
Re: Fidonews Submission

10 February 2001

FAQ on IP Connectivity Nodelistings
Reference: FTS-5001.001 and FTS-5000.001

Written with assistance from David Hallford, FTSC Nodelist working group member

Let me first smile and say I'm not re-writing the Fidonet Technical Standards, but merely trying to assist with questions I've seen on implementation of them. Sometimes, they just aren't as understandable as the Fidonet Technical Standards Committee intended.

Lets start with the basics. The nodelist has a specific format. You can't vary off that in some aspects or it will fail to process. That can cause a node, hub segment, net segment, region, or even a whole Zone to fail to process depending on where it fails. YIKES!! Lets not go there ok?

The first field of interest for a sysop with IP connectivity, is the 3rd one where the BBSname is traditionally entered. For an IP node, this is the 'system address' space. You list it but once here in the preferred mode if at all possible. You can also list the IP address or an email address if that's preferred.

The problem for most NC's is that it's never really 'clear' how the samples and flags work in conjunction. Thats probably because there are many variations.

Below is a sample for BINKP/TELNET/FTP type entries.

Sample:

,100,ftp.cshenk@home.com,Virgina_Beach_VA,Carol_Shenkenberger, (etc).

In that case, ftp.cshenk@home.com is a `DNS lookup' address for the IP number.

If the site has a POTS line as well, list it as normal. If they do not, use Unpublished for the phone field, mark them PVT, and enter 300 for the baud rate. Among the flags, enter those which are applicable, omitting those that do not apply.

Sample:

(ION)
,300,CM,IBN,ITN,IFT
(With POTS and IP)
,28800,CM,XA,V32B,V42B,VFC,IBN,ITN,IFT

While I dont see anyone using it, I could also just plug in the IP address there if it was STATIC.

Sample:

,100,24.0.0.1,Virginia_Beach_VA,Carol_Shenkenberger, (etc)

Although controversial at this time, a static IP address can also be put in the phone number field by replacing the "." with a "-" and prefacing it with 000.

Sample:

,100,Shenk's_Express,Virginia_Beach_VA, Carol_Shenkenberger,000-24-0-0-1,300,

The other flags would be the same. Note, do NOT use this if the IP address isnt static! Even the 'gee seldom changes' folks should use the DNS version.

If I used just email attachments, I'd enter my email address instead.

Sample:

,100,cshenk2@home.com,Virginia_Beach_VA,Carol_Shenkenberger, (etc).

Then add the email version IP flags which fit my setup.

Sample:

(ION)
,300,CM,ITX,IUC,IMI
(With POTS and IP)
,28800,CM,XA,V32B,V42B,VFC,ITX,IUC,IMI

Now lets say you do both methods. FTP or variation, and email attachment type and want to list both. It can be done. Be careful on field length as each flag must be 32 characters max including the flag! The total line must be 157 characters or less.

Sample:

,100,ftp.cshenk@home.com,Virginia_Beach_VA,Carol_Shenkenberger, 1-757-486-3064,28800,CM,XA,V32B,V42B,IFT,ITX:cshenk2@home.com

Note that on the IFT portion I did not need to relist the address. If 'ftp.cshenk@home.com' resolved to an IP address also capable of BINKP, I would add IBN. If it also connected to TELNET, I'd add ITN. Only ITX (email attachment TransX) required additional information be listed.

I hope this helps pull things together for people!
xxcarol