     F I D O N E W S --       Volume 13, Number 49          2 December 1996
     +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
     |  The newsletter of the     |   ISSN 1198-4589 Published by:          |
     |    FidoNet community       |   "FidoNews"                            |
     |          _                 |        1-904-409-7040    [1:1/23]       |
     |         /  \               |                                         |
     |        /|oo \              |                                         |
     |       (_|  /_)             |                                         |
     |        _`@/_ \    _        |                                         |
     |       |     | \   \\       |   Editor:                               |
     |       | (*) |  \   ))      |        Christopher Baker  1:18/14       |
     |       |__U__| /  \//       |                                         |
     |        _//|| _\   /        |                                         |
     |       (_/(_|(____/         |                                         |
     |             (jm)           |     Newspapers should have no friends.  |
     |                            |                    -- JOSEPH PULITZER   |
     +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
     |               Submission address: FidoNews Editor 1:1/23             |
     +----------------------------------------------------------------------+
     |  MORE addresses:                                                     |
     |                                                                      |
     |    submissions=> cbaker84@digital.net                                |
     +----------------------------------------------------------------------+
     |    For  information,   copyrights,   article   submissions,          |
     |    obtaining copies of FidoNews or the internet gateway FAQ          |
     |    please refer to the end of this file.                             |
     +----------------------------------------------------------------------+


    THE YEAR IS ALMOST OVER. WHERE'S YOUR FIDONEWS ARTICLE?


                        Table of Contents
     1. EDITORIAL  ................................................  1
        Another LARGE Standard Issue, etc  ........................  1
     2. ARTICLES  .................................................  2
        InfoMail/386 1.20 Released (and other news)  ..............  2
        FidoNews as an echomail area?  ............................  3
        FTSC Spell Checking Corner  ...............................  4
     3. GETTING TECHNICAL  ........................................  6
        FidoNet Standard FTS-0007 - SEAlink extension  ............  6
     4. COORDINATORS CORNER  ...................................... 46
        Nodelist-statistics as seen from Zone-2 for day 334  ...... 46
     5. WE GET EMAIL  ............................................. 47
        A message from Sylvia Maxwell?  ........................... 47
        Message Reader response from Santronics  .................. 47
     6. NET HUMOR  ................................................ 49
        Christmas Technology?  .................................... 49
     7. NOTICES  .................................................. 53
        Future History  ........................................... 53
     8. FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING  ................................. 54
        Latest Greatest Software Versions  ........................ 54
     9. FIDONEWS PUBLIC-KEY  ...................................... 61
        This Space intentionally left blank?  ..................... 61
     10. FIDONEWS INFORMATION  .................................... 62
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 1                    2 Dec 1996


     =================================================================
                                 EDITORIAL
     =================================================================


     It's that time of year when nor'easters pass thru and tornado watches
     get issued. It's also time to put up the outside decorations for the
     holidays.

     Since we've got both going on here in Edgewater_FL_USA right now, I'm
     running off this week's Issue a mite earlier than usual so I can
     attend to the above activities. [Although I'm not really worried about
     the tornado watch since I don't live in a mobile home [snicker].]

     Still no new Headline entries or ASCII art submissions? Does anyone
     read this newsletter?

     Today, as I compile this [1 Dec 96], is the 12th anniversary of the
     first Issue of FidoNews which was published this day in 1984. Where
     are we now compared to 12 years ago?

     C.B.


     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 2                    2 Dec 1996


     =================================================================
                                 ARTICLES
     =================================================================


     InfoMail/386 1.20 Released (and other news)
     Damian Walker, 2:2502/666

     Release Information

         There's a bit of blatant advertising from me this week.
     InfoMail/386 1.20, the latest version of my document server, has now
     been released. This version needs a 386 processor. Until an 8086 port
     is arranged, InfoMail 1.11 will still be supported as a current
     version so that 286 and 8086 users aren't left out in the cold.
         What does this new version of InfoMail have over the old?  The
     following list sums it up:
         * Configurable Log Filename: You can now specify any log file
     directory and filename at all. So you can include InfoMail's log file
     in the same directory as that of your other software, or even combine
     InfoMail's log file with other log files.
         * Configurable message size up to 64k: Due to requests from users
     of InfoMail 1.11, the maximum size of documents has been increased.
     You can still specify a maximum messages size of less than this
     though, in which case larger documents will be split across several
     messages.
         * Option to keep outgoing error messages and notices: Previously
     all outgoing messages such as document lists were sent with the Kill
     flag (or according to the 'Kill' setting in the configuration file for
     InfoMail 1.00).  Now you can keep them if you like.
         * A document list search utility: Users can search for a certain
     word in document tags and subject lines (but not document text files,
     though).  Such documents must have the 'listed' flag set, or they
     won't appear.  This is useful for systems with a lot of documents on
     various subjects.
         * Options to keep various types of inbound message: In earlier
     versions of InfoMail all inbound requests and updates were deleted
     when processed.  This version allows you to keep the messages, for
     diagnostic purposes or whatever.
         * All outgoing messages are sysop-configurable: One of the most
     requested features for a new version of InfoMail was the ability to
     customise the outgoing document list.  This version of InfoMail allows
     you to customise _all_ outgoing messages, such as update accept/reject
     messages, the output of the new document search feature, and other
     errors.
         * Multiple AKA's per installation: Another frequently-requested
     feature was the ability to have more than one address for a single
     installation of InfoMail. Now, you can have as many addresses as you
     like.
         * Indexed (sorted) document list: This makes it easier for sysops
     with a lot of documents to find the particular document they want to
     change.  It also nicely orders the documents in outgoing document
     lists, and speeds up the program when identifying and loading
     documents.
         * Request passwords for added security: Rather pointless in the
     author's opinion, since documents can be hidden from a document list,
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 3                    2 Dec 1996


     but included nevertheless because of a large number of requests from
     users.
         * Secondary document messages (useful for held file attaches): If
     a document is set up to create a message of any description on 'Hold',
     such as file attaches, a second message can be sent routed to inform
     the user making the request that a file is waiting for them to pick it
     up.
         * Optional monochrome 'colour' scheme: The author now uses a
     monochrome screen :-(
         * Some extra macros, including two document list macros: Macros
     are the way that document lists are included in the new customisable
     output messages, and in normal document messages now as well.
         This version of the program is available for file request from
     2:2502/666 (UK) and 2:2487/9521 (Germany) using the magic name
     INFO386, or alternatively the earlier version of 16-bit machines is
     still available under the magic name INFOMAIL.  Further information is
     available via netmail, just send a netmail to INFOMAIL at 2:2502/666
     with the subject INFOMAIL and let the program tell you about itself.

     Support Echo and Documents

         InfoMail now has a support echo, called (surprise) INFOMAIL.  This
     echo is on the region 25 backbone, and is also available from the
     following nodes outside the UK:

         Christopher Baker       1:18/14
         Ronald Troost           2:285/709

     In the echo you can expect to find release details, contacts for
     obtaining the program, and information about related developments.
         You are welcome to post queries about the program, help other
     users, make or respond to suggestions for the program's improvement,
     or any other discussion generally centred around the software.
         If you're an InfoMail user in need of help or ideas for the
     program's use then why not link in and join us?
         The brief echo rules can be requested via netmail by posting a
     message to INFOMAIL at 2:2502/666 with the subject INFOMAIL.RULES and
     waiting a day or three for the reply.  You can also see them posted in
     the echo on a monthly basis.
         Finally, news about the program's development and other related
     goings on can be found in the 'InfoMail Update' (obtained by
     netmailing INFOMAIL at 2:2502/666 with the subject INFOMAIL.POST),
     which is also posted into the echo on a monthly basis.






     -----------------------------------------------------------------


     FidoNews distribution in echomail
     Peter Karlsson, 2:206/221.0

     Here in Sweden (region 2:20), FidoNews is available as a backbone-
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 4                    2 Dec 1996


     distributed echomail area, where the newsletter is automatically
     posted each week. I was just curious if this is common practice in
     other regions.

     The reason I ask is that, before I found out that it was available as
     an echo, I never did read it, since I then would have to add a file
     echo, and unzip the files and read them outside my Fidonet reader,
     which I never found time to, so they just kept laying around, unread.

     After the node that originally "did" the Swedish FidoNews echo
     disappeared, I took on that responsibility, so now my system posts
     FidoNews as soon as it arrives from my hub.

     If anyone is interested in the small program that I use for this, a
     small Turbo Pascal program that creates one text file for each page
     and a configuration file for my home-built message-poster Announcer,
     please feel free to contact me via netmail or Internet mail, and I'll
     send you the source code. (It can, of course, be customized to be used
     with any other automated message poster that uses text based
     configuration files, but you'll have to do that yourself).

     \\//
     Peter - R20_FNEWS maintainer - E-mail: Fidonet 2:206/221.0
                                            Internet dat95pkn@idt.mdh.se
     --- timEd/2 1.10+

     -----------------------------------------------------------------


     Never heard of ispell?
     by Lee Kindness, 2:259/7, lkindnes@csl.co.uk

     Well another issue without a detailed comment/new revision of the
     featured fts document... Never mind the pedantic spell checker
     can still be cast over fts-0006 to fts-0009 ;) Expect a detailed
     brake down of fts-0009 (and perhaps a comment or two on fts-0008)
     in a issue soon...


     fts-0006:

     62c62
     < Overdrive protocols are copyrighted by System Enhancment Associates.
     The
     ---
     > Overdrive protocols are copyrighted by System Enhancement
     Associates.  The


     fts-0007:

     213c213
     <     This means that an extended protocol must miminally do the
     following:
     ---
     >     This means that an extended protocol must minimally do the
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 5                    2 Dec 1996


     following:
     1714c1714
     <        then only NAK evry 32 blocks after the first NAK.  This
     allows buffer
     ---
     >        then only NAK every 32 blocks after the first NAK.  This
     allows buffer


     fts-0008:

     128c128
     <     will not be sent.  The requestor should set the date to the date
     of the
     ---
     >     will not be sent.  The requester should set the date to the date
     of the
     217c217
     <     The diagrams below desribe the session level protocol with Bark
     file
     ---
     >     The diagrams below describe the session level protocol with Bark
     file


     fts-0009:

     46c46
     <      considered to be the orginating address.  A double-quote
     character
     ---
     >      considered to be the originating address.  A double-quote
     character


     (of course the output from diff has been artificially reformatted)

     It still amazes me how such mistakes can be left unseen in technical
     documents!










     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 6                    2 Dec 1996


     =================================================================
                             GETTING TECHNICAL
     =================================================================


     [This is part of a continuing series of FidoNet Standards and
      Proposals. They also represent our FidoNet History series. This
      document has been reformatted for the 70 column limit. 80 column
      tables are disrupted. File-request FTS-0007.ZIP for a clear
      copy.] Ed.


     Document: FTS-0007
     Version:  003
     Date:     15-Oct-1990
     Updates:  FTS-0001

                       An Enhanced FidoNet(r) Technical Standard
                     Extending FTS-0001 to include SEAlink protocol
                         (Including Overdrive and File Restart)

                                  October 15, 1990

     Status of this document:

         This document specifies an optional standard for the FidoNet
         community.  Implementation of the protocols defined in this
         document is not mandatory, but all implementations of these
         protocols are expected to adhere to this standard.  Distribution
         of this document is subject to the limitations of the copyright
         notice displayed below.

         Copyright 1989-90 by Philip L. Becker.  Portions of this document
         are copyright 1986-90 by Randy Bush and are incorporated with his
         consent.  All rights reserved.  A right to distribute only without
         modification and only at no charge is granted.  Under no
         circumstances is this document to be reproduced or distributed as
         part of or packaged with any product or other sales transaction
         for which any fee is charged.  Any and all other reproduction or
         excerpting requires the explicit written consent of the copyright
         holders.

         Introduction

         While the basic FTS-0001 protocol has become reasonably
         standardized, it is technically inferior when used with modem
         speeds of 2400bps or higher, and results in considerably slower
         file transfers than more sophisticated protocols under many line
         and modem configurations.

         Very sophisticated protocols exist to allow absolute maximum
         efficiency, but these protocols are much more difficult to
         implement than the basic XMODEM used by FTS-0001.  A need exists
         for a standardized, easy to implement extension to the FTS-0001
         protocol which can gain much better performance.  SEAlink is such
         an extension.  It is nearly as easy to implement as the FTS-0001
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 7                    2 Dec 1996


         protocol with which it is fully backward compatible.  Despite its
         ease of implementation, it provides several significant
         performance advantages. Among these advantages are:

              o  Transparently communicates with strict FTS-0001
                 implementations.

              o  Transparently communicates with FTS-0001 variants which
                 omit either the MODEM7 file name or the TeLink header
                 block.

              o  Transparently becomes a sliding window XMODEM protocol
                 when communicating with a like implementation.  This
                 sliding window protocol gives significantly improved
                 throughput when there is an end-to-end delay.

              o  Offers a negotiated streaming mode for high speed
                 asymmetrical modems to further enhance throughput for such
                 links.

              o  Offers a negotiated file restart capability which allows
                 an interrupted transfer to restart where it left off,
                 reducing time spent to retransmit the file.

         This document defines the  data structures and communication
         protocols which a FidoNet SEAlink implementation must provide.
         The implementor of FidoNet compatible systems is the intended
         audience of this document.

         This document has the same overall format and state table
         descriptions as FTS-0001.  SEAlink is implemented by modifying the
         following tables:

            Session Layer:   Sender - S1
            Network Layer:   Batch File Sender - BS0
            Network Layer:   Batch File Receiver - BR0
            Data Link Layer: XMODEM/TeLink Sender - XS0
            Data Link Layer: XMODEM/TeLink Receiver - XR0


     1
                                   Table of Contents


         Page The purpose of the SEAlink protocol
         ...................................  3

         How SEAlink negotiates its enhancements
         ...............................  4

         Basic requirements for a FidoNet Implementation
         .......................  5

         Levels of Compliance
         ..................................................  5

     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 8                    2 Dec 1996


         The ISO/OSI Reference Model
         ...........................................  5

         Data Description Language
         .............................................  6

         Finite State Machine Notation
         .........................................  7

         Glossary of variables and terms
         .......................................  7

         Application layer
         .....................................................  8

         Presentation layer
         ....................................................  8

         Session layer protocol
         ................................................  8

         Session State Table: Sender (S0)
         .................................  9

         Session State Table: Receiver (R0)
         ...............................  10

         Transport layer
         ............................................... 10

         Network layer
         ......................................................... 11

         Data Definition: MODEM7 file name
         ................................  11

         Network State Table: Batch File Sender (BS0)
         ..................... 12

         Network State Table: Batch File Receiver (BR0)
         ...................  13

         Data Link Layer
         ................................. 14

         Data Definition: XMODEM data block (CRC)
         .........................  14

         Data Definition: XMODEM data block (Checksum)

         .................... 15

         Data Definition: TeLink header block
         ............................. 15

         Data Definition: SEAlink header block
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 9                    2 Dec 1996


         ............................  16

         Data Definition: SEAlink RESYNC packet
         ...........................  16

         DDL Definition: XMODEMBlock, TeLink header
         ....................... 17

         DDL Definition: SEAlink header, ACK, NAK, RESYNC block
         ........... 18

         Checksum and CRC calculation algorithms
         .......................... 19

         Data Link Layer protocol
         .........................................  20

         Data Link State Table: XMODEM/TeLink/SEAlink Sender (XS0)
         ........ 21

         Data Link State Table: Transmitter ACK/NAK check (AC0)
         ...........  22

         Data Link State Table: XMODEM/TeLink/SEAlink Receiver (XR0)
         ...... 24

         Data Link State Table: Send NAK (SN0)
         ............................ 26

         Data Link State Table: Send ACK (SA0)
         ............................ 26

         Data Link State Table: MODEM7 Filename Sender (MS0)
         .............. 27

         Data Link State Table: MODEM7 Filename Receiver (MR0)
         ............  27



         2

     The purpose of the SEAlink protocol

         The purpose of the SEAlink protocol is to provide a much higher
         level of capability than the XMODEM protocol provides, while
         retaining the ease of implementation which has made the XMODEM
         protocol ubiquitous.

         In order for an extended protocol to function in FidoNet, it has
         to be fully upward compatible with FTS-0001 mailers, and also
         those slight variants of FTS-0001 which can communicate well with
         FTS-0001 mailers.  To meet this requirement, any extension to the
         FTS-0001 protocol has to be capable of transparently negotiating
         away its extended capabilities and communicate with strict FTS-
         0001 mailers (and their approved variants) properly and reliably.
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 10                   2 Dec 1996


         This means that an extended protocol must miminally do the
         following:

             o  Detect that the other mailer can or cannot support its
                extensions automatically, and within the framework of a
                legitimate FTS-0001 protocol encounter.

             o  Support mail sessions with or without MODEM7 file names and
                with or without TeLink headers in either combination.

         To be useful such an extended protocol should also be able to
         reliably detect when the other mailer can support its extensions
         so they can be used to maximum benefits.

         The major problems which exist with a standard FidoNet FTS-0001
         session result from the use of the XMODEM protocol.  This is a
         half duplex protocol which forces a line turnaround on every
         transmitted block.  As a result, any end-to-end delay in the
         transmission link is directly added to each transmitted data block
         twice (once for each line turnaround).

         To dramatize how easily XMODEM is impacted by even small line
         delays, let's examine a 2400bps call on a line with 500ms (1/2
         second) delay on each line turnaround.  This is not an uncommon
         delay time on long distance calls.  A single data block in the
         XMODEM CRC format contains 133 characters.  This means it will be
         transmitted in 554ms.  The ACK/NAK response is a single character
         and will take 4ms.  Thus with no delay (an ideal link) an XMODEM
         transfer would send 128 data characters in 558ms for an effective
         data throughput of about 230cps.  With a 500ms line turnaround
         delay, these same 128 data bytes will take 1558ms resulting in a
         throughput of 82cps.  If faster modem speeds are used, the
         percentage impact is even greater.

         The solution to this problem is to enhance the XMODEM protocol by
         adding a "sliding window" capability which allows more than one
         block to be sent before an acknowledgment is received.  This
         converts the protocol to a full duplex protocol, and if the
         "window size" (the number of blocks which may be sent before the
         sender must wait for an acknowledgment) is larger that the line
         turnaround delay, then the ideal throughput can be restored even
         to lines with long turnaround delays.  SEAlink is such a protocol.

         The standard SEAlink window size is 6 blocks, but the state tables
         given below implement a receiver which will operate correctly with
         any window size up to 127 blocks.  Thus an implementation which
         uses a larger window size will be totally compatible with the
         standard 6 block window versions.

         A second problem with the XMODEM protocol arises when asymmetrical
         high speed modems are used.  These modems achieve much higher
         throughput when data is sent in only one direction.  Since they
         provide error free links, a protocol which does not send any
         positive acknowledgments, but only reports any bad blocks received
         will achieve a significantly higher

     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 11                   2 Dec 1996


         3

         throughput than a protocol which is either full duplex or which
         turns around between each block such as XMODEM or normal SEAlink.
         It is for this purpose that SEAlink Overdrive is provided.  It is
         a streaming version of SEAlink designed to provide much higher
         throughput on asymmetrical high speed links which provide end-to-
         end data flow control.

         Finally, there is the annoying problem which occurs when a large
         data file transfer has nearly completed and a loss of connection
         occurs.  Normally the entire file must be retransmitted on a new
         call, resulting in lost time and money.  The SEAlink RESYNC
         enhancement allows an interrupted file transfer to be resumed at
         the point it was interrupted thus minimizing the impact of such an
         interruption.

         How SEAlink Negotiates its enhancements

         SEAlink makes some assumptions about how FTS-0001 mailer
         implementations react to various stimuli in order to negotiate its
         enhancements.  For the sender, the test consists of two parts:

         1.  Send a SEAlink header and see if the other end acknowledges
             it.  In general it will, because most XMODEM implementations
             will think that the SEAlink header is a "previous block" and
             ACK and discard it.  If the receiver refuses to accept a
             SEAlink header block in three tries, then it clearly cannot do
             SEAlink protocol and the negotiation is over.

         2.  Since the receiver's acknowledgment of the SEAlink header is
             not a sufficient criteria to determine if the receiver in fact
             supports SEAlink, the sender dynamically examines the
             acknowledgments the receiver provides to determine if their
             format indicates support of SEAlink or not and adjusts its
             sending techniques accordingly.  This is also the technique
             used to detect whether the receiver is in fact supporting any
             extensions (such as SEAlink Overdrive) which have been
             requested in the header.

         For the receiver, the negotiation occurs during the receipt of the
         first valid block.

         1.   If the first block received is a valid SEAlink header, then
              the transmitter supports SEAlink and the receiver can switch
              to it.  This same header also indicates if the transmitter
              wants or can support the SEAlink options such as Overdrive
              and File RESYNC.

          2.  If the first block received is a valid TeLink header, then
              the transmitter supports a variant of FTS-0001 and SEAlink
              support may be assumed to be absent.

          3.  If the first block received is an XMODEM data block then
              SEAlink support may also be assumed to be absent.

     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 12                   2 Dec 1996


         If the receiver gets a SEAlink header, it can then arbitrarily
         decide which of any requested options it wishes to use.  It may
         not use an option for which support is not indicated in the
         sender's SEAlink header block.

         The remainder of this document provides the details for a full
         SEAlink implementation with Overdrive and RESYNC support.  A
         glossary of terms and indicators is provided along with a full
         state table description of the protocol implementation.



         4

         This document follows the format of FTS-0001 to allow ease of
         comparison of the two protocols.  This document could not have
         been generated without the tremendous efforts of those whose work
         resulted in FTS-0001.  FidoNet owes a great debt to those efforts.
         The following introduction is reprinted from FTS-0001.

         The layered metaphor of the ISO Open Systems Interface reference
         model has been used to view FidoNet from a standard perspective.
         As with most prospective ISO/OSI descriptions, FidoNet does not
         always make this easy.


        1. Basic Requirements for a FidoNet Implementation

           Compatibility is a set of abilities which, when taken as a
           whole, make it safe to list a net or node in the IFNA nodelist.
           In other words, if another node should attempt contact, does it
           have a reasonable chance of successful communication?  This is a
           social obligation, as the calling system pays money for the
           attempt.  Conversely, an implementation should be able to
           successfully contact other systems, as life is not a one-way
           street.

           A FidoNet implementation must be able to call other nodes and
           transfer messages and files in both directions.  This includes
           pickup and poll.

           A FidoNet implementation must be able to accept calls from other
           nodes and transfer messages and files in both directions.  This
           includes pickup.

           A FidoNet implementation must be able to receive and process the
           IFNA format nodelist, and transfer nodelists to other nodes.  A
           companion document, FTS-0005, defines the IFNA format nodelist
           and how to interpret and process it.

           A FidoNet implementation must route messages which do not have
           files attached through net hosts as shown in an IFNA format
           nodelist.


        2. Levels of Compliance
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 13                   2 Dec 1996


           This documents represents an extended FidoNet implementation.
           It defines a well tested extension which is optional but
           provides sufficient additional function that implementors should
           seriously consider it.  SEAdog(tm), from System Enhancement
           Associates, is the inspiration for this extended FidoNet
           implementation.  System Enhancement Associates is the creator of
           the SEAlink protocol.


        3. The ISO/OSI Reference Model (cribbed from "Protocol Verification
           via Executable Logic Specifications", D. P. Sidhu, in Rudin &
           West)

           In the ISO/OSI model, a distributed system consists of entities
           that communicate with each other according to a set of rules
           called a protocol.   The model is layered, and there are
           entities associated with each layer of the model which provide
           services to higher layers by exchanging information with their
           peer entities using the services of lower layers.  The only
           actual physical communication between two systems is at the
           lowest level.



           5

           Several techniques have been used in the specification of such
           protocols.  A common ingredient in all techniques is the notion
           of the extended finite state automata or machine.  Extensions
           include the addition of state variables for the storing of state
           information about the protocol.  The state of an automaton can
           change as a result of one of the following events:

           o Request from an upper network layer for service

           o Response to the upper layer

           o Request to the lower network layer to perform a service

           o Response from the lower layer

           o Interaction with the system and environment in which the
             protocol is implemented (e.g. timeouts, host operating system
             aborts, ...)

           A protocol specification, in a large part, consists of
           specifying state changes in automata which model protocol
           entities and in describing the data which they exchange.

           For historical reasons, the term packet is used in FidoNet to
           represent a bundle of messages, as opposed to the more common
           use as a unit of communication, which is known as a block in
           FidoNet.


        4. Data Description
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 14                   2 Dec 1996


           A language specific notation was avoided.  Please help stamp out
           environmental dependencies.   Don't panic, there are rectangular
           record layouts too.  The following defines the data description
           language used.

           (* non-terminals *)
           UpperCaseName - to be defined further on

           (* literals *)
           "ABC"         - ASCII character string, no termination implied
           nnH           - byte in hexadecimal

           (* terminals *)
           someName      - 16-bit integer, low order byte first (8080
                           style)
           someName[n]   - field of n bytes
           someName[.n]  - field of n bits
           someName(n)   - Null terminated string allocated n chars (incl
                           Null)
           someName{max} - Null terminated string of up to max chars (incl
                           Null)
           someName<max> - String of up to max chars, NOT null terminated

           (* punctuation *)
           a b           - one 'a' followed by one 'b'
           ( a | b )     - either 'a' or 'b', but not both
           { a }         - zero or more 'a's
           [ b ]         - zero or one 'b'
           (* comment *) - ignored

           (* predeclared constant *)
           Null          = 00H


      6 5. Finite State Machine Notation

         .-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
     ---+-----.
         |State| State    | Predicate(s)            | Action(s)
     | Next|
         |  #  | Name     |                         |
         | St  | +-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | fnn*|          |                         |
         |     | `-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----'

         State #      - Number of this state (e.g. R13).
                        f  - FSM initial (Window, Sender, Receiver, ...)
                        nn - state number
                        *  - state which represents a lower level protocol
                           which
                             is represented by yet another automation.

         State Name   - Descriptive name of this state.

     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 15                   2 Dec 1996


         Predicate(s) - Conditions which terminate the state.  If
                        predicates are non-exclusive, consider them
                        ordered.

         Action(s)    - Action(s) corresponding to predicate(s)

         Next State   - Subsequent state corresponding to predicate(s)

         Ideally, there should be a supporting section for each state which
         should give a prose description of the state, its predicates,
         actions, etc.  So much for ideals.  The following is a list of all
         of the terms and variables used in the following state machine
         descriptions:


                          Glossary of variables and terms

         SEAlink - Flag indicating SEAlink or XMODEM mode

         SLO - Flag indicating overdrive if in SEAlink mode

         RESYNC - Flag indicating whether transmitting end can honor RESYNC
                  file positioning requests or only NAKs

         MACFLOW - Flag indicating whether the sender supports the
                   Macintosh flow control option.  This is an optional
                   feature used by TABBY
                   because the Macintosh serial port does not support
                   RTS/CTS.

         CRC - Flag indicating whether block check is done using CRC or
               Checksum

         T1 and T2 - Timeout Timers which run asynchronously with the code

         WINDOW - Number of unacknowledged blocks which may be transmitted

         SendBLK - Next 128 byte block number in file to send.  May not
                   occur in sequential order, so file positioning may be
                   necessary when it is time to send this block

         ACKBLK - Highest block number in file which has been acknowledged
                  by the receiver as received without error

         Last Blk - Block number of last 128 byte block (or partial block)
                    in the file being sent.

         NumNAK - Number of NAKs received since last ACK

         ACKs Rcvd - Number of ACKs received since the start of this file
                     send



         7

     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 16                   2 Dec 1996


                      Glossary of variables and terms (cont.)

         ACKST - State of ACK/NAK machine during auto-detect of SEAlink or
                 XMODEM style ACK/NAK block receipt

         RESYNC BLK# - Block number in file requested by a received RESYNC
                       packet

         ARBLK8 - Block # (0-255) received in a SEAlink style ACK/NAK
                  packet

         ARBLK - Block # in file (calculated from ARBLK8) which is the
                 actual block being referenced in the SEAlink ACK/NAK
                 packet

         blocknum - Block # (0-255) sent in a SEAlink style ACK/NAK packet

         WriteBLK - Block # in file to write next correctly received data
                    block.  Note: Block 1 is the first byte of the file.

         CHR - Temp holding variable for received character during send
               operation


      B. Application Layer : the System from the User's View

         This is unchanged from FTS-0001.


      C. Presentation Layer : the User from the System's View

         This is unchanged from FTS-0001.


      D. Session Layer Protocol : Connecting to Another FidoNet Machine

         A session is a connection between two FidoNet machines.  It is
         currently assumed to be over the DDD telephone network via modems.
         The calling machine starts out as the sender and the called
         machine as the receiver.  The pickup feature is described by the
         sender and receiver changing roles midway through the session,
         after the sender has transferred the message packet and any
         attached files.  Due to the lack of security in the pickup
         protocol (danger of pickup by a fake node), extensions to the
         basic Session protocol have been developed.  This document
         describes only the minimum Session Layer protocol (as in FTS-
         0001).

         Once a connection has been established, each system should ensure
         that the physical connection remains throughout the session.  For
         physical layers implemented through modems, this means monitoring
         the carrier detect signal, and terminating the session if it is
         lost.

         Error detection at the physical layer should be monitored for both
         sent and received characters.  Parity, framing, and other physical
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 17                   2 Dec 1996


         errors should be detected.

         The only change to the Session Layer state tables from FTS-0001 is
         in the Sender state "S1", Predicate "1" (S1.1) entry.



         8

         Sender

         .-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
     ---+-----.
         |State| State    | Predicate(s)            | Action(s)
     | Next|
         |  #  | Name     |                         |
         | St  | +-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | S0  | SendInit |                         | dial modem
         | S1  | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | S1  | WaitCxD  |1| carrier detected      | delay 1-5 seconds
         | S2  |
         |     |  (*1)    | |                       | Set SLO if > 2400bps,
         |     |
         |     |          | |                       | Reset SLO if <=
         2400bps |     |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| busy, etc.            | report no connection
         | exit|
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |3| voice                 | report no carrier
         | exit|
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |4| carrier not detected  | report no connection
         | exit|
         |     |          | | within 60 seconds     |
         |     | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | S2  | WhackCRs |1| over 30 seconds       | report no response
         <cr> | exit|
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| ?? <cr>s received     | delay 1 sec
         | S3  |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |3| <cr>s not received    | send <cr> <sp> <cr>
         <sp>| S2  |
         |     |          | |                       |   delay ??? secs
         |     | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | S3  | WaitClear|1| no input for 0.5 secs | send TSYNCH = AEH
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 18                   2 Dec 1996


         | S4  |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| over 60 seconds       | hang up, report
         garbage | exit|
         |     |          | | and line not clear    |
         |     | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | S4* | SendMail |                         | (XMODEM send packet
         XS0)| S5  | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+----------
         ---------------+-----+
         | S5  | CheckMail|1| XMODEM successful     | (Fido registers
         success)| S6  |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| XMODEM fail or timeout| hang up, report mail
         bad| exit| +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+-----------
         --------------+-----+
         | S6* | SendFiles|                         | (BATCH send files
         BS0)  | S7  | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------
         -----------------+-----+
         | S7  | CheckFile|1| BATCH send successful |
         | S8  |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| BATCH send failed     | hang up, rept files
         fail| exit| +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+----------
         ---------------+-----+
         | S8  | TryPickup|1| wish to pickup        | note send ok
         | R2* |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| no desire to pickup   | delay 5 secs
         | exit|
         |     |          | |                       |   hang up, rept send
         ok |     | `-----+----------+-+-----------------------+-----------
         --------------+-----' Although the above shows the sender emitting
         only one TSYNCH, it is recommended that a timeout of 5-20 seconds
         should initiate another TSYNCH.  The receiver should tolerate
         multiple TSYNCHs.

         *1 - The action for (S1.1) is the only change from the
              corresponding FTS-0001 state table.



         9

         Receiver

         The receiving FSM is given an external timer, the expiration of
         which will cause termination with a result of 'no calls' (R0.2).

         .-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
     ---+-----.
         |State| State    | Predicate(s)            | Action(s)
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 19                   2 Dec 1996


     | Next|
         |  #  | Name     |                         |
         | St  | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | R0  | WaitCxD  |1| carrier detected      |
         | R1  |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| external timer expires| report no calls
         | exit| +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | R1  | WaitBaud |1| baud rate detected    | send signon with
         <cr>s  | R2  |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| no detect in ?? secs  | hang up, report no
         baud | exit| +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+---------
         ----------------+-----+
         | R2  | WaitTsync|1| TSYNCH received       | ignore input not
         TSYNCH | R3  |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| 60 seconds timeout    | hang up, report not
         Fido| exit| +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+----------
         ---------------+-----+
         | R3* | RecMail  |                         | (XMODEM rec packet
         XR0) | R4  | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+---------
         ----------------+-----+
         | R4  | XRecEnd  |1| XMODEM successful     | delay 1 second
         | R5  |
         |     |          | |                       |   flush input
         |     |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| XMODEM failed         | hang up, rept mail
         fail | exit| +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+---------
         ----------------+-----+
         | R5* | RecFiles |                         | (BATCH rec files BR0)
         | R6  | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | R6  | ChkFiles |1| BATCH recv successful | delay 2 secs
         | R7  |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| BATCH recv failed     | hang up, report bad
         file| exit| +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+----------
         ---------------+-----+ | R7  | AllowPkup|1| have pickup for
         sender| receiver becomes sender | S3* |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| nothing to pickup     | hang up, rept recv ok
         | exit| `-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----'

         There is no change in the Session Layer Receiver state table from
         FTS-0001.
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 20                   2 Dec 1996


      E. Transport Layer : ?????

         This is unchanged from FTS-0001.



      10

      F. Network Layer : the Network's View of the System, Routing and
                         Packets

        1. Network Layer Data Definition : the Packet Header

           This is unchanged from FTS-0001.


        2. Network Layer Data Description : a File with Attributes

           The BATCH protocol uses the MODEM7 filename and/or
           SEAlink/TeLink/XMODEM file transfer protocols to transfer the
           file with attributes.

           When a file is transferred via FidoNet, an attempt is made to
           also pass the operating system's attributes for the file such as
           length, modification date, etc.  FidoNet does this via a special
           prefix block to the XMODEM file transfer using a protocol known
           as TeLink.  As the TeLink protocol relies on a modification to
           the XMODEM file transfer protocol, it is documented at the data
           link layer level.  Optionally, if both sender and receiver
           implement the SEAlink extension, file information is passed
           using the SEAlink header block which also contains feature
           negotiation information.

           The MODEM7 file name is redundant if there is also a TeLink or
           SEAlink block, in which case the name may be taken from either
           or both.  In this extended implementation, the MODEM7 file name
           is never required.  It is sent, however, if it appears that the
           other node is using a strict FTS-0001 implementation.  This
           implementation will adapt to an FTS-0001 variant which only
           sends the TeLink header without the MODEM7 filename also so that
           it is compatible with all know variants of FTS-0001 which
           are currently in the FidoNet network.


                               FileName as Sent by MODEM7
            Offset
           dec hex
                   .-----------------------------------------------.
             0   0 |                   fileName                    |
                   ~                   8  bytes                    ~
                   |           left adjusted blank filled          |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
             8   8 |                    fileExt                    |
                   ~                    3  bytes                   ~
                   |           left adjusted blank filled          |
                   `-----------------------------------------------'
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 21                   2 Dec 1996


      11

         3. Network Layer Protocol : BATCH File Finite State Machines

         BATCH File Sender

         .-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
     ---+-----.
         |State| State    | Predicate(s)            | Action(s)
     | Next|
         |  #  | Name     |                         |
         | St  | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | BS0 | MoreFiles|1| more files to send    |
         | BS1 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| no more files to send |
         | BS4 | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | BS1 | WaitType |1| rec NAK               | (MODEM7 FName send
         MS0) | BS2 |
         |     |    (*1)  +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| rec 'C'               | (SEAlink send file
         XS0) | BS3 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |3| rec other char        | eat character
         | BS1 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |4| > 20 sec in BS1       | report name send bad
         | exit| +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | BS2 | CheckFNm |1| MODEM7 Filename ok    | (TeLink send file
         XS0T) | BS3 |
         |     |    (*2)  +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| MODEM7 Filename bad   | report name send bad
         | exit| +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | BS3 | CheckFile|1| File send ok          |
         | BS0 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| File send bad         | report file send bad
         | exit| +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | BS4 | EndSend  |1| rec NAK or 'C'        | send EOT, report send
         ok| exit|
         |     |    (*3)  +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| 10 secs no NAK or 'C' | send EOT, report no
         NAK | exit| `-----+----------+-+-----------------------+----------
         ---------------+-----'
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 22                   2 Dec 1996


         *1 - Note: Filenames must be upper case ASCII.  The data link
              layer uses lower case "u" as a control character during
              MODEM7 name transmission.

         *2 - Note: SEAdog (through version 4.51b) does not possess a state
              "XS0T".  It therefore calls XS0 from state BS2, resulting in
              a MODEM7 file name being sent with no TeLink header on batch
              file transmissions when it is not in SEAlink mode.

         *3 - When no files remain, the sender responds to the receiver's
              NAK with an EOT.  The EOT is not ACK/NAKed by the receiver.



        12

          BATCH File Receiver

         .-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
     ---+-----.
         |State| State    | Predicate(s)            | Action(s)
     | Next|
         |  #  | Name     |                         |
         | St  | +-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | BR0 | TestSL   |                         | Send 'C',
         | BR1 |
         |     |          |                         |   Set T1 to 10 sec
         |     |
         |     |          |                         |   Set T2 to 120 sec
         |     | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | BR1 | CheckSL  |1| > 2 sec with no data  | Send 'C'
         | BR1 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| Timer T2 expired      | (MODEM7 FName recv
         MR0) | BR2 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |3| Character Waiting     | "Peek" char to CHR
         (*1) | BR4 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |4| Timer T1 expired      | (MODEM7 FName recv
         MR0) | BR2 | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+---------
         ----------------+-----+
         | BR2 | CheckFNm |1| no more files         | report files recd ok
         | exit|
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| Filename ok           | (Rcv file Telink XR0)
         | BR3 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |3| Filename bad          | report name recv bad
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 23                   2 Dec 1996


         | exit| +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | BR3 | CheckFile|1| File received ok      |
         | BR0 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| File received bad     | report file recv bad
         | exit| +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | BR4 | FindType |1| CHR = NUL             | eat character,
         | BR1 |
         |     |          | |                       |   Reset T1 to 20 secs
         |     |
         |     |   (*2)   +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| CHR = SOH             | (Rcv File SEAlink
         XR0B) | BR3 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |3| CHR = SYN             | (Rcv File Telink
         XR0B)  | BR3 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |4| CHR = EOT or          | eat character,
         | exit|
         |     |          | | CHR = SUB             |   report files recd
         ok  |     |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |5| CHR = Other char      | eat character
         | BR1 | `-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----'

         *1 - "Peek" a character means to place it in CHR but leave it in
              the input buffer so the next read operation will re-read it.

         *2 - "Eat" a character means to remove it from the input buffer.



      13

        G. Data Link Layer : Error-Free Data Transfer

        1. Data Link Layer Data Definition : XMODEM/TeLink/SEAlink Blocks

           XMODEM transfers are in blocks of 128 uninterpreted data bytes
           preceded by a three byte header and followed by either a one
           byte checksum or a two byte crc remainder.  XMODEM makes no
           provision for data streams which are not an integral number of
           blocks long.  Therefore, the sender pads streams whose length is
           not a multiple of 128 bytes with the end-of-file character (^Z
           for MS-DOS), and uses some other means to convey the true data
           length to the receiver (e.g. SEAlink or TeLink file info header
           block).

     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 24                   2 Dec 1996


           Data blocks contain sequence numbers so the receiver can ensure
           it has the correct block.  Data block numbers are sequential
           unsigned eight bit integers beginning with 01H and wrapping to
           00H.  A TeLink or SEAlink header block is given sequence number
           00H.

           For files which are attached to the mail packet (but not the
           mail packet itself), if the sending system is aware of the file
           attributes as they are known to the operating system, then the
           first block of the XMODEM transfer may be a special TeLink block
           to transfer that information.  This block differs in that the
           first byte is a SYN character as opposed to an SOH, and it is
           always sent checksum as opposed to CRC.  Should the receiver be
           unwilling to handle such information, after four NAKs (or "C"s),
           the sender skips this special block and goes on to the data
           itself.

           In this extended protocol the TeLink header block may be
           replaced by the SEAlink header block which conveys protocol
           negotiation information in addition to the file attributes if
           both nodes implement SEAlink.


                             XMODEM Data Block (CRC mode)
            Offset
           dec hex
                   .-----------------------------------------------.
             0   0 |        SOH  -  Start Of Header -  01H         |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
             1   1 |                 BlockNumber                   |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
             2   2 |               BlockComplement                 |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
             3   3 |                128 bytes  of                  |
                   ~                uninterpreted                  ~
                   |                    data                       |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
           131  83 |             CRC high order byte               |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
           132  84 |             CRC  low order byte               |
                   `-----------------------------------------------'




         14

                          XMODEM Data Block (Checksum mode)
            Offset
           dec hex
                   .-----------------------------------------------.
             0   0 |        SOH  -  Start Of Header -  01H         |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
             1   1 |                 BlockNumber                   |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
             2   2 |               BlockComplement                 |
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 25                   2 Dec 1996


                   +-----------------------------------------------+
             3   3 |                128 bytes  of                  |
                   ~                uninterpreted                  ~
                   |                    data                       |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
           131  83 |                Checksum byte                  |
                   `-----------------------------------------------'


                            TeLink File Descriptor Block
            Offset
           dec hex
                   .-----------------------------------------------.
             0   0 |       SYN  -  File Info Header -  16H         |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
             1   1 |                     00H                       |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
             2   2 |                     FFH                       |  dec
                   hex +-----------------------------------------------+
             3   3 |     File Length, least significant byte       |  0
                   0 +-----------------------------------------------+
             4   4 | File Length, second to least significant byte |  1
                   1 +-----------------------------------------------+
             5   5 |  File Length, second to most significant byte |  2
                   2 +-----------------------------------------------+
             6   6 |      File Length, most significant byte       |  3
                   3 +-----------------------------------------------+
             7   7 |            Creation Time of File              |  4
     4
                   |                "DOS Format"                   |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
             9   9 |            Creation Date of File              |  6
     6
                   |                "DOS Format"                   |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
            11   B |                 File  Name                    |  8
     8
                   ~                  16 chars                     ~
                   |        left justified  blank filled           |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
            27  1B |                    00H                        | 24
                   18 +-----------------------------------------------+
            28  1C |            Sending Program Name               | 25
     19
                   ~                  16 chars                     ~
                   |         left justified  Null filled           |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
            44  2B |            01H (for CRC) or 00H               | 41
                   29 +-----------------------------------------------+
            45  2C |                    fill                       | 42
     2A
                   ~                  86 bytes                     ~
                   |                  all zero                     |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
           131  83 |                Checksum byte                  |
                   `-----------------------------------------------'
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 26                   2 Dec 1996


     15
           Offset           SEAink File Descriptor Block
           dec hex
                   .-----------------------------------------------.
             0   0 |       SOH  -  Start of Header -   01H         |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
             1   1 |                     00H                       |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
             2   2 |                     FFH                       |  dec
                   hex +-----------------------------------------------+
             3   3 |         File Length, (4 bytes, LSB first)     |  0
                   0 +-----------------------------------------------+
             7   7 |            Creation Date/Time of File         |  4
     4
                   |   (4 bytes, LSB first, seconds since 1979)    |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
            11   B |                 File  Name                    |  8
     8
                   ~                  17 chars                     ~
                   |        left justified   Null filled           |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
            28  1C |            Sending Program Name               | 25
     19
                   ~                  15 chars                     ~
                   |         left justified  Null filled           |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
            43  2B |            > 0 if SLO Requested               | 40
                   28 +-----------------------------------------------+
            44  2C |           > 0 if RESYNC Supported             | 41
                   29 +-----------------------------------------------+
            45  2D |           > 0 if MACFLOW Supported            | 42
                   2A +-----------------------------------------------+
            46  2E |                    fill                       | 43
     2B
                   ~                  85 bytes                     ~
                   |                  all zero                     |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
           131  83 |            CRC high order byte                |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
           132  84 |            CRC  low order byte                |
                   `-----------------------------------------------'


           Offset                SEAlink RESYNC packet
           dec hex
                   .-----------------------------------------------.
             0   0 |       SYN - Start of RESYNC packet - 16H      |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
             1   1 |     ASCII Decimal 128 byte block number in    |
                   ~     file to restart sending.  (No leading     ~
             n     |     or trailing blanks, MSD first).           |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
             n+1   |       ETX -  End of RESYNC packet  - 03H      |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
             n+2   |     (*1)     CRC  low order byte              |
                   +-----------------------------------------------+
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 27                   2 Dec 1996


             n+3   |     (*1)     CRC high order byte              |
                   `-----------------------------------------------'

                   *1 - CRC does not include the SYN or ETX and is
                        in the reverse byte order from the CRC in a
                        normal XMODEM data packet.  The following is
                        a sample RESYNC packet for file block 27 (1BH).

                          SYN   '2'   '7'   ETX  CRCLO CRCHI .-----+-----+-
                        ----+-----+-----+-----.
                        | 16H | 32H | 37H | 03H | 43H | 25H | `-----+-----
                        +-----+-----+-----+-----'



         16

           Data Description language definitions of block types:

           XMODEMData   =   XMODEMBlock    (* block of data with hdr and
                                            trailer *)
                          | SEALinkBlock   (* SEALink File Descriptor Block
                                            *)
                          | TeLinkBlock    (* TeLink File Descriptor Block
                                            *)
                          | ReSyncBlock    (* SEAlink RESYNC request packet
                                            *)
                          | ACK            (* acknowledge data received ok
                                            *)
                          | NAK            (* negative ACK & poll 1st block
                                            *)
                          | SEAlinkACK     (* acknowledge data received ok
                                            *)
                          | SEAlinkNAK     (* negative ACK & poll 1st block
                                            *)
                          | EOT            (* end of xfer, after last block
                                            *)
                          | "C"            (* 43H *)


           XMODEMBlock  = SOH              (* Start of Header, XMODEM Block
                                            *)
                          blockNumber[1]   (* sequence, i'=mod( i+1, 256 )
                                            *)
                          blockCompl[1]    (* one's complement of
                                            blockNumber *)
                          data[128]        (* uninterpreted user data block
                                            *)
                          (CRC | Checksum) (* error detect/correction code
                                            *)

           TeLinkBlock  = SYN              (* File Info Header *)
                          00H              (* block no, must be first block
                                            *)
                          FFH              (* one's complement of block no
                                            *)
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 28                   2 Dec 1996


                          fileLength[4]    (* length of data in bytes *)
                     (*2) CreationTime[2]  (* time file last modified or
                                            zero *)
                     (*2) CreationDate[2]  (* date file last modified or
                                            zero *)
                          fileName(16)     (* name of file, not vol or dir
                                            *)
                          00H              (* header version number *)
                          sendingProg(16)  (* name of program on send side
                                            *)
                     (*1) crcMode[1]       (* 01H for CRC 00H for Checksum
                                            *)
                          fill[87]         (* zeroed *)
                          Checksum         (* error detect/correction code
                                            *)

         *1 -  Note that the crcMode is always set to 01H in current
               implementations as all TeLink/XMODEM implementations use the
               CRC method.  Therefore, it is always set to 01H by the
               sender, and is ignored by the receiver.

         *2 -  CreationDate and CreationTime are MS-DOS format as follows:

           CreationDate = year[.7]         (* 7 bits, years since 1980, 0-
                                            127  *)
                          month[.4]        (* 4 bits, month of year, 1-12
                                            *)
                          day[.5]          (* 5 bits, day of month, 1-31 *)

           CreationTime = hour[.5]         (* 5 bits, hour of day, 0-23 *)
                          minute[.6]       (* 6 bits, minute of hour, 0-60
                                            *)
                          biSeconds[.2]    (* 6 bits, seconds/2, 0-29 *)



         17

             Data Description Language definition of the block types added
         by this extended protocol specification:

          SEALinkBlock  = SOH              (* File Info Header *)
                          00H              (* block no, must be first block
                                            *)
                          FFH              (* one's complement of block no
                                            *)
                          fileLength[4]    (* length of data in bytes *)
                   (*1)   Creation[4]      (* Seconds since 1979 file last
                                            chgd *)
                          fileName(17)     (* name of file, not vol or dir
                                            *)
                          sendingProg(15)  (* name of program on send side
                                            *)
                          SLO[1]           (* 01H for Overdrive supported
                                            *)
                          RESYNC[1]        (* 01H for file Restart
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 29                   2 Dec 1996


                                            supported *)
                          MACFLOW[1]       (* 01H for Macintosh flow
                                            supported *)
                          fill[85]         (* zeroed *)
                          CRC              (* error detect/correction code
                                            *)

         *1 - Creation is a long integer number of seconds since January 1,
     1979.

          SEAlinkACK    = ACK              (* indicator data block received
                                            ok *)
                          blockNumber[1]   (* sequence, i'=mod( i+1, 256 )
                                            *)
                          blockCompl[1]    (* one's complement of
                                            blockNumber *)

          SEAlinkNAK    = NAK              (* indicator block not received
                                            ok *)
                          blockNumber[1]   (* sequence, i'=mod( i+1, 256 )
                                            *)
                          blockCompl[1]    (* one's complement of
                                            blockNumber *)

          ReSyncBlock   = SYN              (* File Restart Position *)
                     (*1) RestartBlock<20> (* ASCII decimal file block # *)
                          ETX              (* End of block number text *)
                          CRC(rev order)   (* error detection code *)

          *1 - RestartBlock is a text ASCII version of the decimal block
     number in the file desired.  Note:  The first block of the file is
     block 1.


         Definitions of Single byte Character values used in protocol:

           ACK          = 06H              (* acknowledge data received ok
                                            *)
           NAK          = 15H              (* negative ACK & poll 1st block
                                            *)
           SOH          = 01H              (* start of header, begins block
                                            *)
           SYN          = 16H              (* start of TeLink file info blk
                                            *)
           EOT          = 04H              (* end of xfer, after last block
                                            *)
           ETX          = 03H              (* end of RESYNC request data
                                            field*)



         18

             Block Verification calculated values used by this protocol:

           CRC          = crc[2]           (* CCITT Cyclic Redundancy Check
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 30                   2 Dec 1996


                                            *)

           Checksum     = checksum[1]      (* low 8 bits of sum of data
                                            bytes using unsigned 8 bit
                                            arithmetic *)

         Calculating Checksum
         --------------------

         For blocks which use a checksum to do error detection, the
         checksum is calculated by initializing an accumulator to zero and
         doing successive addition of each character in the data field.
         Carry is discarded on each addition.  The resulting 8 bit value is
         the checksum.

         Calculating CRC
         ---------------

         For blocks which use CRC to do error detection, the CRC is
         calculated using the CCITT V.41 generator polynomial.  An
         accumulator is initialized to zero, and then each character of the
         data field is processed by the CRC generator polynomial.  This
         process can be quite complex to explain, but is not so complex in
         practice.  The following CRC routine is given here as an aid to
         understanding the CRC generation process.

         8086 assembler routine to implement CCITT V.41 CRC algorithm
         ;---------------------------------------------------------------+
         ;       CRCUPD - Update CRC value from character in AL          |
         ;                                                               |
         ;  CRC is calculated using the CCITT V.41 generator polynomial. |
         ;    That polynomial is: X^16 + X^12 + X^5 + 1 (X^0)            |
         ;                                                               |
         ;  As an aid to understanding, remember that XOR is bitwise     |
         ;    addition without carry.                                    |
         ;---------------------------------------------------------------+
         CRCVAL  DW      0                   ;16 bit CRC accumulator
         ;
         CRCUPD: PUSH    AX                  ;All registers preserved
                 PUSH    CX
                 PUSH    DX
                 MOV     DX,[CRCVAL]
                 XOR     DH,AL               ;init X^16 term
                 XOR     DL,DL
                 MOV     CX,8
         CRCUP1: SHL     DX,1
                 JNC     CRCUP2
                 XOR     DX,1021h            ;X^12 + X^5 + 1
         CRCUP2: LOOP    CRCUP1
                 XOR     DH,BYTE PTR[CRCVAL] ;finish X^16 term
                 MOV     [CRCVAL],DX         ;update CRC accumulator
                 POP     DX
                 POP     CX
                 POP     AX
                 RET

     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 31                   2 Dec 1996


      19

         2. Data Link Layer Protocol : XMODEM/TeLink/SEAlink Finite State
            Machines

         The protocol is receiver driven, the receiver polling the sender
         for each block.  If the receiver polls for the first block using a
         "C" (43H) as  the poll character, it would prefer to have the CRC-
         CCITT V.41 polynomial remainder error detection code at the end of
         each block as opposed to a one byte unsigned checksum.  The sender
         will respond to the "C" poll if it can  comply. If the sender
         chooses checksum as opposed to CRC, it waits for the receiver to
         poll with  NAK (15H).  Should the checksum method be preferable to
         the receiver, it polls with NAK rather than "C".

         The sender returns an EOT instead of a data block when no data
         remain.

         With this extended implementation, the sender and the receiver may
         send blocks or ACK/NAK responses while there is data being
         received, once the SEAlink protocol has been negotiated.  This
         full duplex operation allows the throughput gains of a sliding
         window protocol.  When SEAlink is not set the window size of 1
         prohibits data being sent at the same time and restores the
         attributes of a standard XMODEM protocol.

         ------------------
         In this extended protocol, the FTS-0001 single state table
         "XMODEM Sender" is replaced by two state tables.

         The top level table is equivalent to the FTS-0001 XMODEM Sender
         table.  It in turn calls the new state table named "Transmitter
         ACK/NAK Check" which implements the full duplex adaptive
         SEAlink/XMODEM dynamic switching along with the Overdrive and file
         Restart sending features of the extended protocol.

         -----------------
         In this extended protocol, the FTS-0001 single state table
         "XMODEM Receiver" is replaced by three state tables.

         The top level table is equivalent to the FTS-0001 XMODEM Receiver
         table.  It in turn calls the two new state tables named "Send NAK"
         and "Send ACK" which implement the full duplex adaptive
         SEAlink/TeLink/XMODEM dynamic switching along with the Overdrive
         and file Restart receiving features of the extended protocol.


         Caution!!!!
         -----------
         Many current implementations keep file block numbers as 16 bit
         numbers.  This limits the max file size to either 4 megabytes (if
         number is signed) or 8 megabytes (if number is unsigned).  To
         handle files up to the maximum size DOS allows (4 gigabytes) at
         least 25 bits plus sign are required for these numbers.  Good
         practice is to make file block numbers 32 bit values.

     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 32                   2 Dec 1996


         20

            XMODEM/TeLink/SEAlink - Sender

         .-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
     ---+-----.
         |State| State    | Predicate(s)            | Action(s)
     | Next|
         |  #  | Name     |                         |
         | St  | +-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | XS0 | XmtStart |  Normal Entry Point     | reset SEAlink flag,
         | XS1 |
         |     |          |  for file send          |   SendBLK=1, ACKST=0,
         |     |
         |     |          |                         |   ACKBLK= -1,
         WINDOW=1, |     |
         |     |          |                         |   ACKs Rcvd=0,
         |     |
         |     |          |                         |   NumNAK=0,
         |     |
         |     |          |                         |   T1=30 seconds,
         |     |
         |     |          |                    (*1) |   Build SEAlink hdr
         blk |     | +-----+----------+-------------------------+----------
         ---------------+-----+
         | XS0T| XmTeStrt |  Alternate entry from   | reset SEAlink flag,
         | XS1 |
         |     |          |  Batch Send if TeLink   |   SendBLK=1, ACKST=0,
         |     |
         |     |          |  mode send required     |   ACKBLK= -1,
         WINDOW=1, |     |
         |     |          |                         |   ACKs Rcvd=0,
         |     |
         |     |          |                         |   NumNAK=0,
         |     |
         |     |          |                         |   T1=30 seconds,
         |     |
         |     |          |                         |   Build TeLink hdr
         blk  |     | +-----+----------+-------------------------+---------
         ----------------+-----+
         | XS1 | CheckACK |                         | (Check ACK/NAK AC0)
         | XS2 | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | XS2 | SendBlk  |1| NumNAK > 4 &          | If header = SEAlink
         | XS0T|
         |     |   (*2)   | |   SendBLK = 0         +----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          | |                       | If header = TeLink,
         | XS2 |
         |     |          | |                       |   NumNAK = 0,
         |     |
         |     |          | |                       |   Incr ACKBLK,
         |     |
         |     |          | |                       |   Incr SendBLK
         |     |
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 33                   2 Dec 1996


         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| NumNAK > 10           | report too many
         errors  | exit|
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |3| Timer T1 expired      | report fatal timeout
         | exit|
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |4| SendBLK > Last Blk+1  |
         | XS3 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |5| SendBLK >ACKBLK+Window|
         | XS1 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |6| SendBLK = Last Blk+1  | Send EOT, Incr
         SendBLK, | XS1 |
         |     |          | |                       |   Set T1 to 30
         seconds  |     |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |7| SLO set & SEAlink set | Send SendBLK, (*3)
         | XS1 |
         |     |          | |                       |   ACKBLK = SendBLK,
         |     |
         |     |          | |                       |   Incr SendBLK,
         |     |
         |     |          | |                       |   Set T1 to 60
         seconds  |     |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |8| SLO reset or          | Send SendBLK, (*3)
         | XS1 |
         |     |          | |     SEAlink reset     |   Incr SendBLK,
         |     |
         |     |          | |                       |   Set T1 to 30
         seconds  |     | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+-----
         --------------------+-----+
         | XS3 | WaitEnd  |1| ACKBLK < Last Blk+1   |
         | XS1 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| ACKBLK = Last Blk+1   | report send success
         | exit| `-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----'

         *1 - Build SEAlink Header block with RESYNC set.  Set SLO if line
              speed > 2400 bps, reset SLO otherwise.

         *2 - State (XS2.1) allows the receiver to refuse one or both
              header blocks.

         *3 - If SendBLK = 0, then send the SEAlink (or TeLink) header
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 34                   2 Dec 1996


              block.
              If SendBLK > 0, send the corresponding 128 byte file data
                              block where block #1 begins with the first
                              byte of the file.


         21

            XMODEM/TeLink/SEAlink - Transmitter ACK/NAK Check

         .-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
     ---+-----.
         |State| State    | Predicate(s)            | Action(s)
     | Next|
         |  #  | Name     |                         |
         | St  | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | AC0 | ChkRcvd  |1| No character waiting  |
         | exit|
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| Character waiting     | Read character to CHR
         | AC1 | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | AC1 | SLCheck  |1| ACKST > 2             |
         | AC2 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| ACKST <=2             |
         | AC6 | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | AC2 | SLVerify |1| ARBLK8 = 1's comp(CHR)| ARBLK = SendBLK -
         | AC3 |
         |     |          | |                       | ((SendBLK-
         ARBLK8)&0FFh) |     |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| ARBLK8 # 1's comp(CHR)| Reset SEAlink flag,
         | AC6 |
         |     |          | |                       |   WINDOW=1,
         |     |
         |     |          | |                       |   ACKST=0
         |     | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | AC3 | SLACKNAK |1| ARBLK not valid (*1)  |
         | exit|
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| ACKST = 3             | Set SEALink flag,
         | AC5 |
         |     |     (*2) | |                       |   WINDOW = 6,
         |     |
         |     |          | |                       |   ACKBLK = ARBLK,
         |     |
         |     |          | |                       |   Incr ACKs Rcvd,
         |     |
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 35                   2 Dec 1996


         |     |          | |                       |   ACKST=0
         |     |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |3| ACKST = 4             | SendBLK = ARBLK,
         | AC4 |
         |     |          | |                       |   ACKST=0
         |     | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | AC4 | XMCheck  |1| NumNAK < 4            | Set SEAlink Flag,
         | exit|
         |     |          | |                       |   WINDOW = 6
         |     |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| NumNAK >= 4           | Reset SEAlink flag,
         | exit|
         |     |          | |                       |   WINDOW = 1
         |     | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | AC5 | SLOCheck |1| SLO Reset             |
         | exit|
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| ACKs Rcvd < 10        |
         | exit|
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |3| ACKs Rcvd >= 10       | Reset SLO
         | exit| +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | AC6 | SL1Check |1| ACKST = 1 or 2        | ARBLK8 = CHR,
         | AC6 |
         |     |          | |                       |   ACKST = ACKST+2
         |     |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| SEAlink reset         |
         | AC7 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |3| ACKST = 0             |
         | AC7 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |4| ACKST > 2             |
         | exit| `-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----'

                                 (Continued on next page)

         *1 - ARBLK is valid only if all of the following are true:

              a. ARBLK >= 0
              b. ARBLK <= SendBLK
              c. ARBLK >  SendBLK-128
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 36                   2 Dec 1996


         *2 - Software error if ACKST is not 3 or 4 in state AC3



         22

             XMODEM/TeLink/SEAlink - Transmitter ACK/NAK Check

         .-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
     ---+-----.
         |State| State    | Predicate(s)            | Action(s)
     | Next|
         |  #  | Name     |                         |
         | St  | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | AC7 | ACKNAK   |1| CHR = ACK             | ACKST = 1
         | AC8 |
         |     |          | |                       |   NumNAK = 0
         |     |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| CHR = NAK or 'C'      | Set CRC/Chksm if 1st,
         | AC9 |
         |     |     (*1) | |                       |   ACKST = 2,
         |     |
         |     |          | |                       |   Incr NumNAK,
         |     |
         |     |          | |                       |   Delay 0.6 seconds
         |     |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |     (*1) |3| CHR = SYN             | Receive RESYNC
         packet,  | AC10|
         |     |          | |                       |   ACKST = 0
         |     |
         |     |     (*2) +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |4| CHR = other           |
         | exit| +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | AC8 | XMACK    |1| SEAlink set           |
         | exit|
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| SEAlink reset         | Incr ACKBLK
         | exit| +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | AC9 | XMNAK    |1| SEAlink set           |
         | exit|
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| SEAlink reset         | SendBLK = ACKBLK+1
         | exit| +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | AC10| RESYNC   |1| RESYNC pkt invalid    | Send NAK
         | exit|
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 37                   2 Dec 1996


         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| RESYNC pkt valid      | Set SEAlink flag,
         | exit|
         |     |          | |                       |   WINDOW = 6,
         |     |
         |     |          | |                       |   SendBLK = RESYNC
         Blk#,|     |
         |     |          | |                       |   ACKBLK = SendBLK-1,
         |     |
         |     |          | |                       |   Send ACK
         |     | `-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----'

         *1 - If the output is buffered in local computer memory, any
              characters which remain in the local buffer should be purged
              before leaving states (AC7.2) or (AC7.3) to aid in
              resynchronizing the link.

         *2 - If the implementation is honoring MACFLOW protocol, set the
              flag in the SEAlink header block and add the following state
              to (AC7):

         .-----+--------+---+-----------------------+----------------------
     ---+-----.
         | AC7 |        |3.5| CHR = ^S (13H) &      | Delay 10 seconds or
     | exit|
         |     |        |   |   SEAlink set &       |   until ^Q (11H) rcvd
     |     |
         |     |        |   |   ACKST = 0           |
         |     | `-----+--------+---+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----'



         23

            XMODEM/TeLink/SEAlink - Receiver

         .-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
     ---+-----.
         |State| State    | Predicate(s)            | Action(s)
     | Next|
         |  #  | Name     |                         |
         | St  | +-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | XR0 | RecInit  |                         | reset SEAlink flag,
         | XR1 |
         |     |          |                         |   reset SLO flag,
         |     |
         |     |          |                         |   reset RESYNC flag,
         |     |
         |     |          |                         |   set CRC flag,
         |     |
         |     |          |                         |   set blocknum=0,
         |     |
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 38                   2 Dec 1996


         |     |          |                         |   set WriteBLK=1,
         |     |
         |     |          |                         |   reset retry cnt
         |     | +-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | XR0B| BrecInit |  Alternate Entry from   | reset SEAlink flag,
         | XR2 |
         |     |          |  Batch Receive (BR4.2)  |   reset SLO flag,
         |     |
         |     |          |  or (BR4.3)             |   reset RESYNC flag,
         |     |
         |     |          |                         |   set CRC flag,
         |     |
         |     |          |                         |   set blocknum=0,
         |     |
         |     |          |                         |   set WriteBLK=1,
         |     |
         |     |          |                         |   reset retry cnt
         |     | +-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | XR1 | RecStart |                         | (Send NAK SN0)
         | XR2 | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+ | XR2 | WaitFirst|1| 10 retries or 1 minute|
         report receive failure  | exit|
         |     |          | |   w/o valid input     |
         |     |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| > 3 retries or 30 secs| reset CRC flag
         | XR1 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |3| EOT received          | (Send ACK SA0),
         | exit|
         |     |          | |                       |   report no file
         |     |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |     (*1) |4| TeLink block recd     | (Send ACK SA0),
         | XR3 |
         |     |          | |                       |   reset retry cnt
         |     |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |     (*2) |5| SEAlink block recd    | set SEAlink,
         | XR4 |
         |     |          | |                       |   set RESYNC as
         |     |
         |     |          | |                       |   indicated by header
         |     |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |     (*3) |6| XMODEM data block 1   | Write block to file,
         | XR3 |
         |     |          | |   received            |   Incr WriteBLK,
         |     |
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 39                   2 Dec 1996


         |     |          | |                       |   Incr blocknum,
         |     |
         |     |          | |                       |   (Send ACK SA0),
         |     |
         |     |          | |                       |   reset retry cnt
         |     |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |7| bad block or 2-10 secs| incr retry count
         | XR1 |
         |     |          | |   without input       |
         |     | `-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----'

                                   (Continued on next page)

         *1 - A TeLink header packet has the standard XMODEM data block
              format except that it begins with an SYN instead of an SOH
              character and has a block number of 0.  Note: SEAdog (through
              version 4.51b) does not possess (XR2.4) and therefore will
              consider a TeLink header a bad block and process it according
              to (XR2.7) when communicating with mailers which do not do
              SEAlink protocol.

         *2 - A SEAlink header packet has the standard XMODEM data block
              format
         *3   except that is has a block number of 0. The first block is an
              XMODEM data block if its block number is not 0.



         24

             XMODEM/TeLink/SEAlink - Receiver (cont.)

         .-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
     ---+-----.
         |State| State    | Predicate(s)            | Action(s)
     | Next|
         |  #  | Name     |                         |
         | St  | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+ | XR3 | WaitBlock|1| 10 retries or 1 minute|
         report receive failure  | exit|
         |     |          | |   w/o expected block  |
         |     |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| EOT received          | reset SLO flag,
         | exit|
         |     |          | |                       |   (Send ACK SA0)
         |     |
         |     |          | |                       |   report recd ok
         | exit|
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |3| expected data         | Decrement blocknum,
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 40                   2 Dec 1996


         | XR3 |
         |     |          | |   block-1 received    |   (Send ACK SA0)
         |     |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |4| expected data         | Write block to file,
         | XR3 |
         |     |          | |   block received      |   Incr WriteBLK,
         |     |
         |     |          | |                       |   (Send ACK SA0),
         |     |
         |     |          | |                       |   reset retry cnt
         |     |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |5| SEAlink set &         | Discard block -
         resync  | XR3 |
         |     |          | |   expected block+1 to |   in progress,
         |     |
         |     |          | |   expected block+127  | Send Conditional
         NAK(*5)|     |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |6| bad block or 2-10 secs| (Send NAK SN0),
         | XR3 |
         |     |          | |   without input       |   incr retry cnt
         |     | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | XR4 | Restart  |1| Want entire file      | (Send ACK SA0),
         | XR5 |
         |     |          | |   or RESYNC not set   | reset retry cnt
         |     |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| Want to resume an     |  WriteBLK = file
         restart| XR5 |
         |     |          | |   interrupted xfer    |    block number,
         |     |
         |     |          | |   and RESYNC is set   |
         blocknum=WriteBLK&0FFh,|     |
         |     |          | |                       |    (Send NAK SN0)
         |     | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | XR5 | SetOvrdr |                         | Set SLO as indicated
         | XR3 |
         |     |          |                         |   by SEAlink header
         |     | `-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----' Note: The routine that receives a header/data
         block should do the following:

         1. Report a bad block if the checksum or CRC is not correct or if
            the physical layer encounters errors (e.g. parity, framing,
            etc.) regardless of checksum or CRC.  Report a bad block if the
            length of the block is less than expected (Use a 5 second
            timeout to detect short blocks).
         2. If the block's sequence number does not match the complement,
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 41                   2 Dec 1996


            then report a bad block if not in SEAlink. If in SEAlink mode
            don't report this as a bad block, just restart the block search
            looking for SOH.  Check for SOH, BLK, ~BLK characters in a
            "sliding" fashion and keep cycling until a valid start of block
            (or timeout) is detected before assembling the remainder of the
            block.  This procedure makes a resync occur much more rapidly,
            and with far fewer errors reported.
         3. If the sequence number and block are good but not the expected
            number, report state (XR3.3) if previous block.  If not in
            SEAlink, abort on any other out of sequence block.  If in
            SEAlink, report back state (XR3.5) or (XR3.6) as indicated by
            the out of sequence received block number.
         4. If an EOT is received on a data block prior to the filesize
            specified in the SEAlink or TeLink header block, a NAK should
            be issued to ensure that spurious data did not cause a
            premature EOF.  A NAK should also be issued for the first EOT
            received in an Xmodem transfer when the final file size is not
            known.  A second EOT without intervening data would ensure that
            the file really has been sent, and should be ACK'd.
         5. If you last sent an ACK, then send a NAK here.  If you last
            sent a NAK then only NAK evry 32 blocks after the first NAK.
            This allows buffer drain in overdrive.  Use (Send NAK SN0) to
            send the NAK.

         25

            XMODEM/TeLink/SEAlink - Send NAK

         .-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
     ---+-----.
         |State| State    | Predicate(s)            | Action(s)
     | Next|
         |  #  | Name     |                         |
         | St  | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | SN0 | ClearLine|1| RESYNC flag set       | Send RESYNC packet
         | SN3 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| SEAlink flag set      |
         | SN1 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |3| > 30 sec contin data  | report failure
         | exit|
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |4| character waiting     | eat character
         | SN0 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |5| clear line            |
         | SN1 | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | SN1 | SendNAK  |1| CRC flag set          | Send "C"
         | SN2 |
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 42                   2 Dec 1996


         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| CRC flag reset        | send NAK
         | SN2 | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | SN2 | SEAlink  |1| SEAlink flag reset    |
         | exit|
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| SEAlink flag set      | send blocknum,
         ~blocknum| exit| +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+-----
         --------------------+-----+
         | SN3 | AckResync|1| Rcv ACK               |
         | exit|
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| Rcv NAK               | Resend RESYNC packet
         | SN3 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |3| Rcv Other Char        | eat character
         | SN3 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |4| No char for 10 secs   | Resend RESYNC packet
         | SN3 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |5| 30 seconds in SN3     |
         | exit| `-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----' Note: RESYNC packet should send WriteBLK as its
         desired block number.


         XMODEM/TeLink/SEAlink - Send ACK

         .-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
     ---+-----.
         |State| State    | Predicate(s)            | Action(s)
     | Next|
         |  #  | Name     |                         |
         | St  | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | SA0 | ClearLine|1| SLO flag set          |
         | SA3 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| SEAlink flag set      |
         | SA1 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |3| > 30 sec contin data  | report failure
         | exit|
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |4| character waiting     | eat character
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 43                   2 Dec 1996


         | SA0 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |5| No char waiting       |
         | SA1 | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | SA1 | SendACK  |                         | Send ACK
         | SA2 | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | SA2 | SEAlink  |1| SEAlink flag reset    |
         | SA3 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| SEAlink flag set      | send blocknum,
         ~blocknum| SA3 | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+-----
         --------------------+-----+
         | SA3 | IncBlk   |                         | Incr blocknum
         | exit| `-----+----------+-------------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----'


      26

         3. Data Link Layer Protocol : MODEM7 Filename Finite State
            Machines (There is no change to the MODEM7 state tables from
            FTS-0001).

         MODEM7 Filename Sender

         .-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
     ---+-----.
         |State| State    | Predicate(s)            | Action(s)
     | Next|
         |  #  | Name     |                         |
         | St  | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+
         | MS0 | WaitNak  |1| 20 retries or 1 minute| filename send failed
         | exit|
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| NAK received          | send ACK & 1st ch of
         fn | MS1 | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+-----------
         --------------+-----+
         | MS1 | WaitChAck|1| ACK rcd, fname done   | send SUB = 1AH
         | MS2 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| ACK rcd, fname ~done  | send next ch of fname
         | MS1 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |3| other char or 1 sec   | send "u", incr retry
         cnt| MS0 | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+-----------
         --------------+-----+
         | MS2 | WaitCksm |1| cksum recd and ok     | send ACK, report fn
         ok  | exit|
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 44                   2 Dec 1996


         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| cksum recd but bad    | send "u", incr retry
         cnt| MS0 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |3| no cksum in 1 sec     | send "u", incr retry
         cnt| MS0 | `-----+----------+-+-----------------------+-----------
         --------------+-----'


         MODEM7 Filename Receiver

         .-----+----------+-------------------------+----------------------
     ---+-----.
         |State| State    | Predicate(s)            | Action(s)
     | Next|
         |  #  | Name     |                         |
         | St  | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+ | MR0 | SendNak  |1| 20 tries or 1 minute  |
         report filename failure | exit|
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2|                       | send NAK, incr try
         cnt  | MR1 | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+---------
         ----------------+-----+
         | MR1 | WaitAck  |1| rcd ACK               |
         | MR2 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| rcd EOT               | report no files
         remain  | exit|
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |3| 5 secs & no ACK/EOT   |
         | MR0 | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+ | MR2 | WaitChar |1| recd EOT (can happen?)|
         report no files remain  | exit|
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| recd SUB              | send checksum byte
         | MR3 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |3| recd "u"              |
         | MR0 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |4| recd char of name     | send ACK
         | MR2 |
         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |5| no char in 1 second   |
         | MR0 | +-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----+ | MR3 | WaitOkCk |1| recd ACK within 1 sec |
         report recd filename ok | exit|
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 45                   2 Dec 1996


         |     |          +-+-----------------------+----------------------
         ---+-----+
         |     |          |2| recd "u" or other char|
         | MR0 | `-----+----------+-+-----------------------+--------------
         -----------+-----'

         SUB  is the ASCII character ^Z or 1AH.  The checksum is the
         unsigned low order eight bits of the sum of the characters in the
         transferred filename including the SUB.

         Although 1 second timeouts are used successfully by Fido and
         SEAdog, some fear that this is too small a value for some
         satellite and packet networks.


     27

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 46                   2 Dec 1996


     =================================================================
                            COORDINATORS CORNER
     =================================================================


     Nodelist-statistics as seen from Zone-2 for day 334
     By Ward Dossche, 2:292/854
        ZC/2

      +----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+
      |Zone|Nl-306|Nodelist-313|Nodelist-320|Nodelist-327|Nodelist-334|%%|
      +----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+
      |  1 | 11332|11332     0 |11127  -205 |11127     0 |10931  -196 |37|
      |  2 | 16307|16157  -150 |16300   143 |16291    -9 |16240   -51 |54|
      |  3 |   954|  942   -12 |  929   -13 |  905   -24 |  886   -19 | 3|
      |  4 |   624|  620    -4 |  620     0 |  589   -31 |  584    -5 | 2|
      |  5 |    95|   95     0 |   95     0 |   94    -1 |   94     0 | 0|
      |  6 |  1007| 1007     0 |  999    -8 | 1008     9 | 1008     0 | 3|
      +----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+
           | 30319|30153  -166 |30070   -83 |30014   -56 |29743  -271 |
           +------+------------+------------+------------+------------+

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 47                   2 Dec 1996


     =================================================================
                               WE GET EMAIL
     =================================================================


     Date: Thu, 28 Nov 1996 17:18:34 +0100
     X-Sender: ctijmes@pop.knoware.nl
     To: cbaker84@digital.net
     From: Melle <ctijmes@knoware.nl>
     Subject: A message from Sylvia Maxwell

      * FORWARDED MESSAGE FROM SYLVIA MAXWELL PLEASE POST

     >Dear Melle,
     >
     >It is so very warm to hear from you.  I have a favour to ask.  Could
     >you please post the following in Fidonews?
     >
     >-----------------cut here-------------------------
     >Erin Gilmour was murdered by the AIDS of president
     >Nixon, who had been secunded to act as my security.
     >I am the illigitimate child of John F. Kennedy, and
     >have been party to military secrets which are being
     >hushed up by the CIA and the Kennedy family.  The
     >Canadian Government is complicit.
     >voice (519) 821-4165
     >max@sentex.net
     >------------------------cut here------------------
     >
     >Doeg,
     >Sylvia

     Greetings,
     Melle (2:281/731.29)

     --
               Greetings from the Netherlands,
               Melle Koning      Fidonet(2:281/731.29)
               ctijmes@knoware.nl      melle@geocities.com
               http://www.geocities.com/colosseum/1334
               +--------------------------------------+
               | Not tonight dear... I have a modem.. |
               +--------------------------------------+

      -30-

     -----------------------------------------------------------------


     From: andrea.santos@santronics.com (Andrea Santos)
     Subject: fido1348.nws
     Date: Sun, 01 Dec 1996 03:48:16 GMT
     Organization: Santronics Software, http://www.santronics.com,
     (305)-248-3204
     To: cbaker84@digital.net

     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 48                   2 Dec 1996


     Hi Chris!

     With regard to the "Open letter to Developers of Message Readers" in
     fido1348.news, dated 11/25, the Silver Xpress Offline Mail Reader has
     the ability to SORT echomail messages by (T)hread, (N)umber,
     (R)ecipient, (A)uthor and (D)ate.  Current version of Silver Xpress is
     SXR43.ZIP or SXR43P.ZIP (386 protected mode), available from the
     Xpress Support Center BBS, 1:135/382, 305-248-7815 and
     http://www.santronics.com

     Happy Holidays!

     Andrea Santos/Santronics Software

     ... Experience the Power Today....Platinum Xpress/WINS!!!!

      -30-


     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 49                   2 Dec 1996


     =================================================================
                                 NET HUMOR
     =================================================================


     From: "Mike Riddle" <mriddle@monarch.papillion.ne.us>
     To: "Baker, Christopher" <cbaker84@digital.net (Christopher Baker)
     Date: Wed, 27 Nov 96 17:37:06 -0500
     Reply-To: "Mike Riddle" <mriddle@monarch.papillion.ne.us>
     Subject: Fwd: Holiday Techie Tripe

     ==================BEGIN FORWARDED MESSAGE==================
     >Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 10:34:14 -0500
     >Message-Id: <3.0.32.19961127090555.0135f858@popd.ix.netcom.com>
     >Comment: ABA Network 2d List
     >Originator: network2d-l@austin.onu.edu
     >Errors-To: david@drw.onu.edu
     >Reply-To: network2d-l@austin.onu.edu
     >Sender: network2d-l@austin.onu.edu
     >Version: 5.5 -- Copyright (c) 1991/92, Anastasios Kotsikonas
     >From: Ross Kodner <rkodner@ix.netcom.com>
     >To: mriddle@monarch.papillion.ne.us
     >Subject: Holiday Techie Tripe


     From my pal, super legal librarian Jill Farmer (she actually calls
     herself an Information Specialist <g>), this bit of holiday techie
     humor. Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

     "The 12 Days of Technology Before Christmas

     On the first day of Christmas, technology gave to me:
            A database with a broken b-tree (what the hell is a b-tree
            anyway?)

     On the second day of Christmas, technology gave to me:
            Two transceiver failures (CRC errors? Collisions? What is going
            on?) And a database with a broken b-tree (Rebuild WHAT? It's a
            10GB database!)

     On the third day of Christmas, technology gave to me:
            Three French users (who, of course, think they know everything)
            Two transceiver failures (which are now spewing packets all
            over the net)
            And a database with a broken b-tree (Backup? What backup?)

     On the fourth day of Christmas, technology gave to me:
            Four calls for support (playing the same Christmas song over
                    and over)
            Three French users (Why do they like to argue so much over
                    trivial things?)
            Two transceiver failures (How the hell do I know which ones
                    they are?)
            And a database with a broken b-tree (Pointer error? What's a
                     pointer error?)

     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 50                   2 Dec 1996


     On the fifth day of Christmas, technology gave to me:
            Five golden SCSI contacts (Of course they're better than
            silver!) Four support calls (Ever notice how time stands still
            when on hold?  Three French users (No, we don't have footpedals
            on PC's.
                    Why do you ask?)
            Two transceiver failures (If I knew which ones were bad, I
                    would know which ones to fix!)
            And a database with a broken b-tree (Not till next week? Are
                    you nuts?!?!)

     On the sixth day of Christmas, technology gave to me:
            Six games a-playing (On the production network, of course!)
            Five golden SCSI contacts (What do you mean "not terminated!")
            Four support calls (No, don't transfer me again - do you HEAR?
                    Damn!)
            Three French users (No, you cannot scan in by putting the page
                    to the screen...)
            Two transceiver failures (I can't look at the LEDs - they're
                    in the ceiling!)
            And a database with a broken b-tree (Norway? That's where this
                    was written?)

     On the seventh day of Christmas, technology gave to me:
            Seven license failures (Expired? When?)
            Six games a-playing (Please stop tying up the PBX to talk to
                    each other!)
            Five golden SCSI contacts (What do you mean I need "wide"
            SCSI?) Four support calls (At least the Muzak is different this
            time...) Three French Users (Well, monsieur, there really isn't
            an
                   "any" key, but...)
            Two transceiver failures (SQE? What is that? If I knew I would
                   set it myself!)
            And a database with a broken b-tree (No, I really need to talk
                   to Lars - NOW!)

     On the eighth day of Christmas, technology gave to me:
            Eight MODEMs dialing (Who bought these? They're a security
                  violation!)
            Seven license failures (How many WEEKS to get a license?)
            Six games a-playing (What do you mean one pixel per packet on
                  updates?!?)
            Five golden SCSI contacts (Fast SCSI? It's supposed to be
                  fast, isn't it?)
            Four support calls (I already told them that! Don't transfer
                  me back - DAMN!)
            Three French users (No, CTL-ALT-DEL is not the proper way to
                  end a program)
            Two transceiver failures (What do you mean "babbling
            transceiver"?) And a database with a broken b-tree (Does anyone
            speak English in Oslo?)

     On the ninth day of Christmas, technology gave to me:
            Nine lady executives with attitude (She said do WHAT with the
                 servers?)
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 51                   2 Dec 1996


            Eight MODEMs dialing (You've been downloading WHAT?)
            Seven license failures (We sent the P.O. two months ago!)
            Six games a-playing (HOW many people are doing this to the
            network?) Five golden SCSI contacts (What do you mean two have
            the same ID?) Four support calls (No, I am not at the console -
            I tried that already.)
            Three French users (No, only one floppy fits at a time? Why do
                 you ask?)
            Two transceiver failures (Spare? What spare?)
            And a database with a broken b-tree (No, I am trying to find
                  Lars!  L-A-R-S!)

     On the tenth day of Christmas, technology gave to me:
            Ten SNMP alerts flashing (What is that Godawful beeping?)
            Nine lady executives with attitude (No, it used to be a men's
                  room?  Why?)
            Eight MODEMs dialing (What Internet provider? We don't allow
                  Internet here!)
            Seven license failures (SPA? Why are they calling us?)
            Six games a-playing (No, you don't need a graphics accelerator
                  for Lotus! )
            Five golden SCSI contacts (You mean I need ANOTHER cable?)
            Four support calls (No, I never needed an account number
            before...) Three French users (When the PC sounds like a cat,
            it's a head crash!)
            Two transceiver failures (Power connection? What power
            connection?) And a database with a broken b-tree (Restore what
            index pointers?)

     On the eleventh day of Christmas, technology gave to me:
            Eleven boards a-frying (What is that terrible smell?)
            Ten SNMP alerts flashing (What's a MIB, anyway? What's an
                 extension?)
            Nine lady executives with attitude (Mauve? Our computer room
                 tiles in mauve?)
            Eight MODEMs dialing (What do you mean you let your roommate
                 dial-in?)
            Seven license failures (How many other illegal copies do we
                 have?!?!)
            Six games a-playing (I told you - AFTER HOURS!)
            Five golden SCSI contacts (If I knew what was wrong, I
                 wouldn't be calling!)
            Four support calls (Put me on hold again and I will slash your
                 credit rating!)
            Three French users (Don't hang your floppies with a magnet
            again!) Two transceiver failures (How should I know if the
            connector is bad?)
            And a database with a broken b-tree (I already did all of
            that!)

     On the twelfth day of Christmas, technology gave to me:
            Twelve virtual pipe connections (There's only supposed to be
            two!) Eleven boards a-frying (What a surge suppressor supposed
            to do, anyway?)
            Ten SNMP alerts flashing (From a distance, it does kinda look
                 like XMas lights.)
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 52                   2 Dec 1996


            Nine lady executives with attitude (What do you mean aerobics
                 before backups?)
            Eight MODEMs dialing (No, we never use them to connect during
                 business hours.)
            Seven license failures (We're all going to jail, I just know
            it.) Six games a-playing (No, no - my turn, my turn!)
            Five golden SCSI contacts (Great, just great! Now it won't even
                 boot!)
            Four support calls (I don't have that package! How did I end
                 up with you!)
            Three French users (I don't care if it is sexy, no more nude
                 screen backgrounds!)
            Two transceiver failures (Maybe we should switch to token
            ring...) And a database with a broken b-tree (No, operator -
            Oslo,
                 Norway.  We were just talking and were cut off...)"

     --------------
     Ross <g>
     _____________________________________________________

     Ross L. Kodner, Esq.            Voice: 414-476-8433
     MicroLaw, Inc.                  FAX: 414-476-8461
     825 S. 60th St.         E-Mail: rkodner@ix.netcom.com
     Milwaukee, WI  53214            Web: http://www.microlaw.com

     ABA LPM "Network 2d" Ass't Editor Always Seeking Great Articles!
     _____________________________________________________

     ===================END FORWARDED MESSAGE===================

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 53                   2 Dec 1996


     =================================================================
                                  NOTICES
     =================================================================

                                Future History

     12 Dec 1996
        Constitution Day, Russia

     26 Jan 1997
        Australia Day, Australia.

      6 Feb 1997
        Waitangi Day, New Zealand.

     16 Feb 1997
        Eleventh Anniversary of invention of Echomail by Jeff Rush.

     29 Feb 1997
        Nothing will happen on this day.

     25 May 1997
        Independence Day, Argentina

     11 Jun 1997
        Independence Day, Russia

      1 Dec 1998
        Fifteenth Anniversary of release of Fido version 1 by
        Tom Jennings.

     31 Dec 1999
        Hogmanay, Scotland. The New Year that can't be missed.

     15 Sep 2000
        Sydney (Australia) Summer Olympiad opens.

     -- If YOU have something which you would like to see in this
        Future History, please send a note to the FidoNews Editor.

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 54                   2 Dec 1996


     =================================================================
                         FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING
     =================================================================


     Latest Greatest Software Versions
     by Peter E. Popovich, 1:363/264

     Ugh. It's been an interesting couple of weeks. Between RAM failures,
     hard drive failures, CMOS config screwups, leaving cables unplugged,
     forcibly scraping NT 4.0 off a hard drive, and a Win '95 installation
     that just wouldn't work right... It's all fixed now, but it was more
     than a little interesting dealing with me last weekend... ;-)

     As usual, I'm way behind. I learned a new phrase that describes my
     situation well:

        Due to budgetary cutbacks, the light at the end of the tunnel
        has been turned off turned off until further notice.

     I'm going to start running two phase-outs a week. I figure that'll
     start cutting down the dead listings a little faster...

     Phased out this week: Merlin 1.39n and Lynx 1.30

     Phase-out highlights:
       This week: PCBoard 14.5a and Phoenix 1.07
             Deadline for info: 13 Dec 1996.
       This week: Oracomm 5.M.6P and Oracomm Plus 6.E
             Deadline for info: 6 Dec 1996.

     -=- Snip -=-

     Submission form for the Latest Greatest Software Versions column

     OS Platform                             :
     Software package name                   :
     Version                                 :
     Function(s) - BBS, Mailer, Tosser, etc. :
     Freeware / Shareware / Commercial?      :
     Author / Support staff contact name     :
     Author / Support staff contact node     :
     Magic name (at the above-listed node)   :

     Please include a sentence describing what the package does.

     Please send updates and suggestions to: Peter Popovich, 1:363/264

     -=- Snip -=-

     MS-DOS:
     Program Name   Version    F C Contact Name      Node        Magic Name
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     Act-Up         4.6        G D Chris Gunn        1:15/55     ACT-UP
     ALLFIX         4.33       T S Harald Harms      2:281/415   ALLFIX
     Announcer      1.1        O S Peter Karlsson    2:206/221   ANNOUNCE
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 55                   2 Dec 1996


     BGFAX          1.60       O S B.J. Guillot      1:106/400   BGFAX
     CheckPnt       0.5 beta   O F Michiel van der Vlist
                                                     2:500/9     CHECKPNT
     FidoBBS (tm)   12u        B S Ray Brown         1:1/117     FILES
     FrontDoor      2.12       M S JoHo              2:201/330   FD
     FrontDoor      2.20c      M C JoHo              2:201/330   FDINFO
     GIGO           07-14-96   G S Jason Fesler      1:1/141     INFO
     Imail          1.75       T S Michael McCabe    1:297/11    IMAIL
     ImCrypt        1.04       O F Michiel van der Vlist
                                                     2:500/9     IMCRYPT
     InfoMail       1.11       O F Damian Walker     2:2502/666  INFOMAIL
     InfoMail/386   1.20       O F Damian Walker     2:2502/666  INFO386
     InterEcho      1.19       T C Peter Stewart     1:369/35    IEDEMO
     InterMail      2.29k      M C Peter Stewart     1:369/35    IMDEMO
     InterPCB       1.52       O S Peter Stewart     1:369/35    INTERPCB
     IPNet          1.11       O S Michele Stewart   1:369/21    IPNET
     Jelly-Bean     1.01       T S Rowan Crowe       3:635/727   JELLY
     Jelly-Bean/386 1.01       T S Rowan Crowe       3:635/727   JELLY386
     MakePl         1.8        N F Michiel van der Vlist
                                                     2:500/9     MAKEPL
     Marena         1.1 beta   O F Michiel van der Vlist
                                                     2:500/9     MARENA
     Maximus        3.01       B P Tech              1:249/106   MAX
     McMail         1.0g5      M S Michael McCabe    1:1/148     MCMAIL
     MDNDP          1.18       N S Bill Doyle        1:388/7     MDNDP
     MsgEd          4.00       O G Paul Edwards      3:711/934   MSGED
     Opus CBCS      1.73a      B P Christopher Baker 1:374/14    OPUS
     O/T-Track      2.63a      O S Peter Hampf       2:241/1090  OT
     PcMerge        2.7        N F Michiel van der Vlist
                                                     2:500/9     PCMERGE
     PlatinumXpress 1.1        M C Gary Petersen     1:290/111   PX11TD.ZIP
     RAR            2.00       C S Ron Dwight        2:220/22    RAR
     RemoteAccess   2.50       B S Mark Lewis        1:3634/12   RA
     Silver Xpress
       Door         5.4        O S Gary Petersen     1:290/111   FILES
       Reader       4.3        O S Gary Petersen     1:290/111   SXR43.ZIP
     Squish         1.11       T P Tech              1:249/106   SQUISH
     StealTag UK    1.c...     O F Fred Schenk       2:284/412   STEAL_UK
     StealTag NL    1.c...     O F Fred Schenk       2:284/412   STEAL_NL
     T-Mail         2.599I     M S Ron Dwight        2:220/22    TMAIL
     Terminate      4.00       O S Bo Bendtsen       2:254/261   TERMINATE
     Tobruk         0.33       T G Paul Edwards      3:711/934   TOBRUK
     TriBBS         10.0       B S Patrick Driscoll  1:372/19    TRIBBS
     TriDog         10.0       M S Patrick Driscoll  1:372/19    TRIDOG
     TriToss        10.0       T S Patrick Driscoll  1:372/19    TRITOSS
     WWIV           4.24a      B S Craig Dooley      1:376/126   WWIV
     WWIVTOSS       1.30       T S Craig Dooley      1:376/126   WWIVTOSS
     xMail          2.00       T S Thorsten Franke   2:2448/53   XMAIL
     XRobot         3.01       O S JoHo              2:201/330   XRDOS

     OS/2:
     Program Name   Version    F C Contact Name      Node        Magic Name
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     BGFAX          1.60       O S B.J. Guillot      1:106/400   BGFAX
     FleetStreet    1.18       O S Michael Hohner    2:2490/2520 FLEET
     GIGO           07-14-96   G S Jason Fesler      1:1/141     INFO
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 56                   2 Dec 1996


     ImCrypt        1.04       O F Michiel van der Vlist
                                                     2:500/9     IMCRYPT
     Maximus        3.01       B P Tech              1:249/106   MAXP
     MsgEd          4.00       O G Paul Edwards      3:711/934   MSGED
     PcMerge        2.3        N F Michiel van der Vlist
                                                     2:500/9     PCMERGE
     RAR            2.00       C S Ron Dwight        2:220/22    RAR2
     Squish         1.11       T P Tech              1:249/106   SQUISHP
     T-Mail         2.599I     M S Ron Dwight        2:220/22    TMAIL2
     Tobruk         0.33       T G Paul Edwards      3:711/934   TOBRUK
     XRobot         3.01       O S JoHo              2:201/330   XROS2

     Windows (16-bit apps):
     Program Name   Version    F C Contact Name      Node        Magic Name
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     BeeMail        1.0        M C Andrius Cepaitis  2:470/1     BEEMAIL

     Windows (32-bit apps):
     Program Name   Version    F C Contact Name      Node        Magic Name
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     BeeMail        1.0        M C Andrius Cepaitis  2:470/1     BEEMAIL
     Maximus        3.01       B P Tech              1:249/106   MAXN
     PlatinumXpress 2.00       M C Gary Petersen     1:290/111   PXW-INFO
     T-Mail         2.599I     M S Ron Dwight        2:220/22    TMAILNT

     Unix:
     Program Name   Version    F C Contact Name      Node        Magic Name
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     ifmail         2.8g       M G Eugene Crosser    2:293/2219  IFMAIL
     ifmail-tx      2.8g-tx7.8 M G Pablo Saratxaga   2:293/2219  IFMAILTX
     MsgEd          4.00       O G Paul Edwards      3:711/934   MSGED
     Tobruk         0.33       T G Paul Edwards      3:711/934   TOBRUK

     Amiga:
     Program Name   Version    F C Contact Name      Node        Magic Name
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     CrashMail      1.23       T X Fredrik Bennison  2:205/324   CRASHMAIL
     CrashTick      1.1        O F Fredrik Bennison  2:205/324   CRASHTICK
     MsgEd          4.00       O G Paul Edwards      3:711/934   MSGED
     Tobruk         0.33       T G Paul Edwards      3:711/934   TOBRUK

     Function: B-BBS, M-Mailer, N-Nodelist, G-Gateway, T-Tosser,
               C-Compression, O-Other. Note: Multifunction will be listed
               by the first match.

     Cost: P-Free for personal use, F-Freeware, S-Shareware, C-Commercial,
           X-Crippleware, D-Demoware, G-Free w/ Source


     Old info from: 01/27/92
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------

                             MS-DOS Systems
                             --------------

     BBS Software            NodeList Utilities      Other Utilities
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 57                   2 Dec 1996


     Name         Version    Name         Version    Name         Version
     --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
     Oracomm       5.M.6P@   EditNL          4.00    MailBase       4.11a@
     Oracomm Plus     6.E@   FDND            1.10    MSG              4.5*
     PCBoard        14.5a    MakeNL          2.31    MsgLnk          1.0c
     Phoenix         1.07*   Parselst        1.33    MsgMstr        2.03a
     ProBoard        1.20*   Prune           1.40    MsgNum         4.16d
     QuickBBS        2.75    SysNL           3.14    MSGTOSS          1.3
     RBBS           17.3b    XlatList        2.90    Netsex         2.00b
     RemoteAccess    1.11*   XlaxNode/Diff   2.53    OFFLINE         1.35
     SimplexBBS      1.05                            Oliver          1.0a
     SLBBS          2.15C*   Other Utilities         OSIRIS CBIS     3.02
     Socrates        1.11    Name         Version    PKInsert        7.10
     SuperBBS        1.12*   --------------------    PolyXarc        2.1a
     SuperComm       0.99    2DAPoint        1.50*   QM             1.00a
     TAG             2.5g    4Dog/4DMatrix   1.18    QSort           4.04
     TBBS             2.1    ARCAsim         2.31    RAD Plus        2.11
     TComm/TCommNet   3.4    ARCmail         3.00*   Raid            1.00
     Telegard         2.7*   Areafix         1.20    RBBSMail        18.0
     TPBoard          6.1    ConfMail        4.00    ScanToss        1.28
     WildCat!        3.02*   Crossnet         1.5    ScMail          1.00
     XBBS            1.77    DOMAIN          1.42    ScEdit          1.12
                             DEMM            1.06    Sirius          1.0x
     Network Mailers         DGMM            1.06    SLMail         2.15C
     Name         Version    DOMAIN          1.42    StarLink        1.01
     --------------------    EEngine         0.32    TagMail         2.41
     BinkleyTerm     2.50    EMM             2.11*   TCOMMail         2.2
     D'Bridge        1.30    EZPoint          2.1    Telemail         1.5*
     Dreamer         1.06    FGroup          1.00    TGroup          1.13
     Dutchie        2.90c    FidoPCB         1.0s@   TIRES           3.11
     Milqtoast       1.00    FNPGate         2.70    TMail           1.21
     PreNM           1.48    GateWorks      3.06e    TosScan         1.00
     SEAdog          4.60    GMail           2.05    UFGATE          1.03
     SEAmail         1.01    GMD             3.10    VPurge         4.09e
     TIMS       1.0(mod8)    GMM             1.21    WEdit            2.0@
                             GoldEd         2.31p    WildMail        2.00
     Compression             GROUP           2.23    WMail            2.2
     Utilities               GUS             1.40    WNode            2.1
     Name         Version    Harvey's Robot  4.10    XRS             4.99
     --------------------    HeadEdit        1.18    XST             2.3e
     ARC             7.12    HLIST           1.09    YUPPIE!         2.00
     ARJ             2.20    ISIS            5.12@   ZmailH          1.25
     LHA             2.13    Lola           1.01d    ZSX             2.40
     PAK             2.51    Mosaic         1.00b
     PKPak           3.61
     PKZip           1.10




                             OS/2 Systems
                             ------------

     BBS Software            Other Utilities(A-M     Other Utilities(N-Z)
     Name         Version    Name         Version    Name         Version
     --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 58                   2 Dec 1996


     Kitten          1.01    ARC             7.12    oMMM            1.52
     SimplexBBS   1.04.02+   ARC2            6.01    Omail            3.1
                             ConfMail        4.00    Parselst        1.33
                             EchoStat         6.0    PKZip           1.02
     Network Mailers         EZPoint          2.1    PMSnoop         1.30
     Name         Version    FGroup          1.00    PolyXOS2        2.1a
     --------------------    GROUP           2.23    QSort            2.1
     BinkleyTerm     2.50    LH2             2.11    Raid             1.0
     BinkleyTerm(S)  2.50    MSG              4.2    Remapper         1.2
     BinkleyTerm/2-MT        MsgLink         1.0c    Tick             2.0
                  1.40.02    MsgNum         4.16d    VPurge         4.09e
     SEAmail         1.01


                             Xenix/Unix 386
                             --------------

     BBS Software            Network Mailers         Other Utilities
     Name         Version    Name         Version    Name         Version
     --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
                                                     ARC             5.21
                                                     C-LHARC         1.00
      |Contact:  Willy Paine 1:343/15,|              MSGLINK         1.01
      |or Eddy van Loo 2:285/406      |              oMMM            1.42
                                                     Omail           1.00
                                                     ParseLst        1.32
                                                     Unzip           3.10
                                                     VPurge          4.08
                                                     Zoo             2.01


                             Macintosh
                             ---------

     BBS Software            Network Mailers         Other Software
     Name         Version    Name         Version    Name         Version
     --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
     FBBS            0.91    Copernicus       1.0    ArcMac           1.3
     Hermes         1.6.1    Tabby            2.2    AreaFix          1.6
     Mansion         7.15                            Compact Pro     1.30
     Precision Sys. 0.95b                            EventMeister     1.0
     Red Ryder Host   2.1                            Export          3.21
     Telefinder Host                                 Import           3.2
                  2.12T10                            LHARC           0.41
                                                     MacArd          0.04
                                                     Mantissa        3.21
     Point System                                    Mehitable        2.0
     Software                                        OriginatorII     2.0
     Name         Version                            PreStamp         3.2
     --------------------                            StuffIt Classic  1.6
     Copernicus      1.00                            SunDial          3.2
     CounterPoint    1.09                            TExport         1.92
     MacWoof          1.1                            TimeStamp        1.6
                                                     TImport         1.92
                                                     Tset             1.3
                                                     TSort            1.0
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 59                   2 Dec 1996


                                                     UNZIP          1.02c
                                                     Zenith           1.5
                                                     Zip Extract     0.10


                             Amiga
                             -----

     BBS Software            Network Mailers         Other Software
     Name         Version    Name         Version    Name         Version
     --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
     4D-BBS          1.65    BinkleyTerm     1.00    Areafix         1.48
     DLG Pro.       0.96b    TrapDoor        1.80    AReceipt         1.5
     Falcon CBCS     1.00    WelMat          0.44    ChameleonEdit   0.11
     Starnet         1.0q@                           ConfMail        1.12
     TransAmiga      1.07                            ElectricHerald  1.66
     XenoLink         1.0    Compression             FFRS             1.0@
                             Utilities               FileMgr         2.08
                             Name         Version    Fozzle           1.0@
     NodeList Utilities      --------------------    Login           0.18
     Name         Version    AmigArc         0.23    MessageFilter   1.52
     --------------------    booz            1.01    Message View    1.12
     ParseLst        1.66    LHARC           1.30    oMMM            1.50
     Skyparse        2.30    LhA             1.10    PolyXAmy        2.02
     TrapList        1.40    LZ              1.92    RMB             1.30
                             PkAX            1.00    Roof           46.15
                             UnZip            4.1    RoboWriter      1.02
                             Zippy (Unzip)   1.25    Rsh            4.07a
                             Zoo             2.01    Tick            0.75
                                                     TrapToss        1.20
     |Contact: Maximilian Hantsch 2:310/6|           Yuck!           2.02


                             Atari ST/TT
                             -----------

     BBS Software            Network Mailers         Other Utilities
     Name         Version    Name         Version    Name         Version
     --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
     FIDOdoor/ST    2.5.1    BinkleyTerm   2.40n9    ApplyList       1.00@
     FiFo            2.1v    The Box         1.95*   Burep            1.1
     LED ST          1.00                            ComScan         1.04
     QuickBBS/ST     1.06*                           ConfMail        4.10
                             NodeList  Utilities     Echoscan        1.10
                             Name         Version    FDrenum        2.5.2
     Compression             --------------------    FastPack        1.20
     Utilities               ParseList       1.30    Import          1.14
     Name         Version    EchoFix         1.20    oMMM            1.40
     --------------------    sTICK/Hatch     5.50    Pack            1.00
     ARC             6.02                            Trenum          0.10
     LHARC          2.01i
     PackConvert
     STZip            1.1*
     UnJARST         2.00
     WhatArc         2.02

     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 60                   2 Dec 1996


                             Tandy Color Computer 3 (OS-9 Level II)
                             --------------------------------------

     BBS Software            Compression Utility     Other Utilities
     Name         Version    Name         Version    Name         Version
     --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
     RiBBS           2.02+   Ar               1.3    Ascan            1.2
                             DeArc           5.12    AutoFRL          2.0
                             OS9Arc           1.0    Bundle           2.2
                             UnZip           3.10    CKARC            1.1
                             UnLZH            3.0    EchoCheck       1.01
                                                     FReq            2.5a
                                                     LookNode        2.00
                                                     ParseLST
                                                     PReq             2.2
                                                     RList           1.03
                                                     RTick           2.00
                                                     UnBundle         1.4
                                                     UnSeen           1.1

     --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --
     Key to old info:
           + - Netmail Capable (Doesn't Require Additional Mailer Software)
           * - Recently Updated Version
           @ - New Addition
     --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --

     Please send updates and suggestions to: Peter Popovich, 1:363/264

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 61                   2 Dec 1996


     =================================================================
                            FIDONEWS PUBLIC-KEY
     =================================================================


     [this must be copied out to a file starting at column 1 or
      it won't process under PGP as a valid public-key]


     -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
     Version: 2.6.2
     Comment: Clear-signing is Electronic Digital Authenticity!

     -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----


     Pending a formal decision about including 'encrypted' material inside
     FidoNews from the Zone Coordinator Council, the guts of the FidoNews
     public-key have been removed from this listing.

     File-request FNEWSKEY from 1:1/23 [1:18/14] or download it from the
     Rights On! BBS at 1-904-409-7040 anytime except 0100-0130 ET and Zone
     1 ZMH at 1200-9600+ HST/V32B.

     This section will contain only this disclaimer and instructions until
     a ZCC decision is forwarded to the Editor.

     Sorry for any inconvenience.

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 62                   2 Dec 1996


     =================================================================
                           FIDONEWS INFORMATION
     =================================================================

     ------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION -------

     Editor: Christopher Baker

     Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell,
                       Vince Perriello, Tim Pozar,
                       Tom Jennings, Sylvia Maxwell,
                       Donald Tees

     "FidoNews Editor"
         FidoNet  1:1/23
         BBS  1-904-409-7040,  300/1200/2400/14400/V.32bis/HST(ds)

      more addresses:
         Christopher Baker -- 1:18/14, cbaker84@digital.net
                                       cbak.rights@opus.global.org

     (Postal Service mailing address)
         FidoNews Editor
         P.O. Box 471
         Edgewater, FL 32132-0471
         U.S.A.


     voice:  1-904-409-3040 [1400-2100 ET only, please]
                            [1800-0100 UTC/GMT]

     ------------------------------------------------------

     FidoNews is published weekly by and for the members of the FIDONET
     INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR ELECTRONIC MAIL system.  It is a compilation
     of individual articles contributed by their authors or their
     authorized agents.  The contribution of articles to this compilation
     does not diminish the rights of the authors.  OPINIONS EXPRESSED in
     these articles ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS and not necessarily those of
     FidoNews.

     Authors retain copyright on individual works; otherwise FidoNews is
     Copyright 1996 Christopher Baker.  All rights reserved.  Duplication
     and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only.  For
     use in other circumstances, please contact the original authors, or
     the Editor.

                            =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=

     OBTAINING COPIES: The most recent issue of FidoNews in electronic
     form may be obtained from the FidoNews Editor via manual download or
     file-request, or from various sites in the FidoNet and Internet.
     PRINTED COPIES may be obtained by sending SASE to the above postal
     address.  File-request FIDONEWS for the current Issue.  File-request
     FNEWS for the current month in one archive.  Or file-request specific
     back Issue filenames in distribution format [FNEWSDnn.LZH] for a
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 63                   2 Dec 1996


     particular Issue.  Monthly Volumes are available as FNWSmmmy.ZIP
     where mmm = three letter month [JAN - DEC] and y = last digit of the
     current year [6], i.e., FNWSMAY6.ZIP for all the Issues from May 96.

     Annual volumes are available as FNEWSn.ZIP where n = the Volume number
     1 - 12 for 1984 - 1995, respectively. Annual Volume archives range in
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     INTERNET USERS: FidoNews is available via:

                          http://www.fidonet.org/fidonews.htm
                          ftp://ftp.fidonet.org/pub/fidonet/fidonews/
                          ftp://ftp.aminet.org/pub/aminet/comm/fido/

     You can read the current FidoNews Issue in HTML format at:

                          http://www.geocities.com/athens/6894/

     STAR SOURCE for ALL Past Issues via FTP and file-request -
     Available for FReq from 1:396/1 or by anonymous FTP from:

                          ftp://ftp.sstar.com/fidonet/fnews/

     Each yearly archive also contains a listing of the Table-of-Contents
     for that year's issues.  The total set is currently about 11 Megs.

                                 =*=*=*=

     The current week's FidoNews and the FidoNews public-key are now also
     available almost immediately after publication on the Editor's new
     homepage on the World Wide Web at:

                  http://ddi.digital.net/~cbaker84/fidonews.html

     There are also links there to jim barchuk's HTML FidoNews source and
     to John Souvestre's FTP site for the archives. There is also an email
     link for sending in an article as message text. Drop on over.

                            =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=

     A PGP generated public-key is available for the FidoNews Editor from
     1:1/23 [1:18/14] by file-request for FNEWSKEY or by download from
     Rights On! BBS at 1-904-409-7040 as FIDONEWS.ASC in File Area 18.  It
     is also posted twice a month into the PKEY_DROP Echo available on the
     Zone 1 Echomail Backbone.

                                *=*=*=*=*

     Anyone interested in getting a copy of the INTERNET GATEWAY FAQ may
     file-request GISFAQ.ZIP from 1:133/411.0, or send an internet message
     to fidofaq@gisatl.fidonet.org.  No message or text or subject is
     necessary.  The address is a keyword that will trigger the automated
     response.  People wishing to send inquiries directly to David Deitch
     should now mail to fidonet@gisatl.fidonet.org rather than the
     previously listed address.
     FIDONEWS 13-49               Page 64                   2 Dec 1996


                                *=*=*=*=*

     SUBMISSIONS: You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in
     FidoNews. Article submission requirements are contained in the file
     ARTSPEC.DOC, available from the FidoNews Editor, or file-requestable
     from 1:1/23 [1:18/14] as file "ARTSPEC.DOC".  ALL Zone Coordinators
     also have copies of ARTSPEC.DOC. Please read it.

     "Fido", "FidoNet" and the dog-with-diskette are U.S. registered
     trademarks of Tom Jennings, P.O. Box 410923, San Francisco, CA 94141,
     and are used with permission.

             "Disagreement is actually necessary,
              or we'd all have to get in fights
              or something to amuse ourselves
              and create the requisite chaos."
                                -Tom Jennings

      -30-


     -----------------------------------------------------------------

