T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume III Number VI August 2009
+--------------------------+------------------------------------------+
| .----------------------. | dr.debug: dr.debug @ filegate.net |
| | A monthly E-Zine | | bbslists: bbslists @ filegate.net |
| | published by Fidonet | | articles: fidogazette @ filegate.net|
| | to promote BBSing | +------------------------------------------+
| | ____________. | |
| | / __ | "Anyone who has never made a mistake |
| | / / \ | has never tried anything new." |
| | WOOF! ( /|oo \ | Albert Einstein |
| \_______\(_| /_) | |
| \@/ \ | Got Something To Say? |
| .---.\ _ | Say it in the |
| (jk) _ |usb| \ \\ | =The FidoGazette= |
| / | .___. \ ))| |
| / | /_ | / \// | Editor: Janis Kracht |
| |___| // || _\ / | janis @ filegate . net |
| .--`-. (_|(_|(____/ | janis kracht 1:261/38 |
| |____| (jm) | |
+--------------------------+------------------------------------------+
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==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=Contents=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume III Number VI August 2009
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Important Region 11 News!..................................(1)
New SysOps!................................................(2)
FidoGazette BBSList........................................(2)
Dr.Debug...................................................(3)
Food.......................................................(4)
The Slightly Crusty Sysop..................................(5)
The Old School Toolbox: Mailers ...........................(6)
[ARTICLES]
D'Bridge EMAIL System......................................(7)
FidoGazette: ..............................(9)
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T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume III Number VI August 2009
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Important Region 11 News!
By Janis Kracht, Z1C, 1:1/0
The following email was sent out to each NC in Region 11 that I could
connect with. Unfortunately I was not able to connect with a great
number of them. See the results in the polling section of this
article below. If you are in Region 11, please read the
following, and contact me if you have not been able to reach your NC.
You can email me at janis (at) filegate.net or netmail via binkp at
filegate.net on port 24554 (standard port). No password is necessary,
I'll get you netmail :) If you are an NC, I'll have mail waiting for
you here :) This is the post:
=== cut here === start post ===
As I was informed last evening by R11C Don Plesky, he is unable to
continue as RC of Region 11 at this point. Since it has been so long
since Don was appointed RC and I did ask him then to hold an
election, I think now would be a good time for one, however I look at
the Regional segment and I see a number of the network coordinators
in Region are MIA...
I would like the "living" NCs and RINs to contact me in reply to this
message asap so we can see if an election is feasible. I'll wait a
week or so for a reply given vacations, etc. If you know one of the
NCs or RINs is "live" but out of town, please let me know! .
Failing a response from people, I will appoint another RC as I have
done in the past.
Take care,
Janis
====== cut here ==== end post ===
I also posted a message in Z1_SYSOP and Z1C to all members of Region
11 regarding this issue today, July 31st, 2009:
=======cut here===start of echomail post=====
fido.Z1_SYSOP message #740 from Janis Kracht to All.
Entered on 31st July, 2009 at 16:56, 8 lines.
Subject: R11 NCs and RINs
=========================
If you are one of the above in the Subj., I am trying to poll your
systems to send some important netmail. Please try to connect to my
system with no password enabled if we've never set one up here before.
Thanks :)
Janis
Z1C
=====cut here====end of echomail post===
Saturday Morning/Afternoon Polling Results: July 31st, 2009
============================================================
This is the result of some of the polling from earlier today for RINs
and NCs, Bad Poll counts exceeded due to 'No Carrier'. Keep in mind
if your system is one of these, that this may be due to systems only
allowing passworded accounts to connect (something I don't have a big
problem with, but if you do, you should contact me in netmail (1:261/38
or 1:261/100) or email, please. No password is necessary.
Warning: Bad poll count exceeded for 1:11/600.0
Warning: Bad poll count exceeded for 1:11/2202.0
Warning: Bad poll count exceeded for 1:11/229.0
Warning: Bad poll count exceeded for 1:11/340.0
Warning: Bad poll count exceeded for 1:11/304.0
Warning: Bad poll count exceeded for 1:11/202.0
Warning: Bad poll count exceeded for 1:2320/0.0
Warning: Bad poll count exceeded for 1:220/0.0
-#-
Page 1
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T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume III Number VI August 2009
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New & Returning Members
============================
By Janis Kracht
In the Works:
=====================
Brian McSweeney Florida, Region 18
Allen Snodgrass, Region 18
Z3: New Zealand
James Kelly
Returning SysOps:
================
Welcome Back!
Mike Miller Wisconsin, Region 11
Page 2
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T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume III Number VI August 2009
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
!!! G A Z E T T E B B S L I S T !!!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
By bbslist @ filegate.net
Send updates, changes to address above or to janis @
filegate.net.
System.......< I'm still not sure /why/ I run
a BBS. I get my regular callers and such but I know there's other
things I could be doing with my time. I think it's because BBSing
still gives me a special satisfaction that very few other things in
life seem to give me.
I have an understanding wife that allows me to spend a little more
time on the computer than I do with her, but I try to make up for
it. I really don't spend much time on the BBS any more due to my
work schedule and health but I'm trying to fix up the board and
actually get some new BBS doors out (much to my very patient and
very bored beta team's relief).
How about you? What's your first memory of BBSing? Do you even
remember this joyful event? I'd like to hear from you and
if it's a good story, I might even put it in my next column.
You can contact me via netmail at 1:18/200 - if you do send me a
story, please put it inline with the netmail message and do not
attach it as attachments with routed netmail don't mix. If you
prefer, you can email it to me at sean@nsbbs.info with the
subject line of "Favorite BBS Memories". As always, comments,
suggestions, kudos and such are welcome. Flames will go
immediately into the bit bucket.
See you next month.
Page 5
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T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume III Number VI August 2009
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The old school TOolbox
By RIchard Webb, 1:116/901
Improving wireless network performance
"Setting up a network of machines has never been easier," says the
salesman and the glossy advertisements. THE salesman at the local
electronics and computer imporium has "just what you need" to do it.
IT sure seems to you that he's giving you the straight dope. After
all, pulling that cable through walls ceilings and crawlspaces
wouldn't be much fun, and this is simple, probably cheaper than all
that cable too.
"Hey I can even use it out on the patio sipping a margarita," you
think to yourself. Pictures of doing spreadsheets on the patio
listening to the crickets and sipping that cool libation on a summer
evening dance in your head. son's pc in the bedroom is wireless
networked, your laptop connects to your printer from anywhere, no
cumbersome umbilicals. What's not to like?
Or, like many, you bought a new laptop and it had this capability
built in and you suddenly want to use it. SO you went to the store,
bought the requisite hardware to make your server(s) wirelessly
accessible. But, things didn't quite turn out as you'd planned. THat
envisioned relaxation on the patio with your laptop and a cool
beverage isn't so great, because your laptop loses its connection with
the server, and your daughter can't access it from the family room in
the basement. What's wrong with this picture? YOur laptop on the
patio is only a few feet from your wireless router. WHat's the matter
here?
Worst of all, your neighbor next door has been hitchhiking a free ride
on your internet connection. DOg gone it! Time to change some
configuration to lock him out. But still range isn't quite what you've
been told you can expect. FUnny though that your freeloading neighbor
was able to get in before you changed some passwords and rights.
YEs VIrginia you can increase your range, you can install a better
antenna at the router. some strategies to do this are even available
at the same friendly merchandiser that sold you the gear. SHould you
do this? Maybe you should, and maybe you don't need to spend the
money. IF you should decide to do some modification to increase your
range you might find yourself not reaping as much benefit as you
thought you might. Hmmm, think I just mentioned that when talking
about your original wireless installation.
First, change the channel! YOur wireless network can operate on more
than one channel. shut down your system, use your laptop's wireless
connection facilities to look at other channels near your home and see
what's in use. FInd one that isn't. HEy, that's how your freeloading
neighbor found yours! I'd bet you dollars to doughnuts that when you
switch off that default main channel your range might improve a bit.
Hmmm, no upgrade dollars spent, just a bit of time. FUnny how those
things work. OFten they're the best performance increases whatever
your endeavor I find. At this point maybe you've gotten all you expect
from your wireless network, and you can go on to other activities and
cease reading this bit of dry text. But, before you decide to exit
this text view and go back to exciting stuff offering 3d graphics and
markup stuff stay with me a bit longer, because tomorrow your mileage
may vary, quite literally. AFter all, another neighbor might switch
from 2.4 to 5 ghz just as you did to get more range.
All this data that you ship around on your wireless network goes by
microwave instead of by cat-5 cable or coaxial cables. THat's right,
microwaves, just like those that baked the casserole you had for
dinner or warmed up your sandwich or soup for lunch.
Microwaves don't act like other radio frequencies you're accustomed to
thinking of. You're used to thinking about that long drive home and
spinning the dial on your car radio to keep awake, signals from all
over bouncing into your car. YOu might be listening to a radio drama
from a station in CAlifornia, or KAAY in LIttle ROck ARkansas playing
the best progressive rock, or the Road gang from WWL New ORleans. OR,
you'll remember spinning the tuner on that old television set and
seeing a TV channel from a distant city coming in like a local.
YEs, TV is vhf and uhf, but the lower TV channels still were subject
to phenomena that enabled transmission further than line of sight.
Microwaves, on the other hand are limited in most instances to line of
sight, especially with the small compromise antenna systems provided
with your laptop or wireless router.
Microwaves in fact have some very strange characteristics compared to
the radio waves you're used to thinking about. Just the human body
between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna can
attenuate that signal to the point of rendering it unusable. this is
why microwave relays using terrestrial paths use big dish antennas and
lots of brute force in the form of power. A terrestrial microwave
relay system operated by your telephone company might employ
transmitters transmitting at several thousand watts, and high gain
antennas giving that 5000 watts the relative power of 20,000 watts in
its direction of travel.
Remember a bit ago we told you that even bodies can mess with
microwave paths. INdeed meat isn't good for propagating microwaves.
MEat, and most foodstuffs contain some moisture, and this water
content is what enables the microwaves in your microwave oven to cook
your food. the microwaves vibrate the water molecules in your bowl of
soup or cup of coffee. AS the water molecules vibrate they create
friction as they bump against each other, and friction, as you know
from rubbing your hands together to warm them creates heat. THere are
many urban legends about the microwave facility techs who cooked
themselves by sitting inside the big microwave dish.
This still isn't telling you why you can't get into the darned thing
reliably from the patio but your freeloading neighbor could access it.
YOu'd have never known he could if you'd taken the time to configure
your wireless network for proper security. But, hey, you're a fidonet
sysop, you knew this part (I hope.)
BUt, you didn't, and your neighbor has sure been enjoying your
wireless internet and it's sure a bummer that you can't kick back
where you'd like and use your system you paid for. THink about what
stands between your freeloading neighbor and your router's antenna,
and then consider what might be between your router and your favorite
spot on the back patio.
Remember how they're always telling you not to use metal dishes or
certain stoneware in your microwave oven? OF course you do. MIcrowaves
don't pass through metal very well. SO, if those microwaves can't get
inside they can't vibrate those water molecules and your casserole
won't get hot. So, what's between your router and that favorite spot
on the patio? YOur kitchen appliances maybe? A wall with lots of
wiring and copper plumbing? Ah yes, and between your router and farney
Freeloader there's a window and the usual outer wall construction
materials. Hmmmm, so he's got a better signal than you have.
Vhf and uhf, as well as the microwave frequencies only travel line of
sight as we noted earlier. so, you might gain some benefit by getting
that router and its antenna up higher, say on a shelf or cabinet.
Maybe then it can look over the top of your refrigerator and reach
your patio. AFter changing frequencies this might be all you need to
do.
MOst of us who work with this radio stuff every day are accustomed to
thinking of height as our friend when it comes to signal improvements
on vhf and uhf. but, there are a few problems with getting more
skyhook for your router's antenna.
FIrst and foremost, separating the antenna from the hardware itself is
a bit of a daunting task. regular coaxial cable isn't that efficient
at the frequencies you'll be using, in fact, its losses would probably
offset any gains you'd make with more height. Therefore, you've got to
move the whole thing higher. MIcrowave relay systems and many others
who utilize vhf and uhf utilize "hard line" as a feed instead of a
cable. ONe of the most common varieties of hard line is 7/8 inch in
diameter, and not easy to work with. But moving that whole server up
high might not be real practical either.
Even though you've locked out Farney Freeloader next door you'll still
possibly hear his signals, and the signals of other neighbors using
their wireless network systems, even if they can't access yours. WHen
you raised that antenna you increased its range, both for its receiver
and its transmitter. YOur laptop and other computers still have the
same range for transmit and receive, but your router's antenna is now
higher, reaches out farther, and receives more signals. THat clear
channel now isn't so clear.
But, a little bit of height might just be the solution you need, and
if it can be done without having to go buy some more hardware or
reroute a bunch of cables it's sure worth a try. But, those few feet
might not make a difference.
IF your router only has one whip antenna you might think about an
upgrade to a router using what is called a diversity system for its
receiver. IF it does the label will usually tell you this. A good
indicator of this is a router with multiple antennas. A diversity
receiver system is one that uses these multiple antennas, and possibly
receivers to listen for signals on its frequency, and routes the best
signal to the rest of the system. the technology was popularized by
broadcasters and live productions using wireless microphones. THese
microphones were often deployed by performers and presenters who move
about quite a bit, and even in theaters and auditoriums the wireless
microphone receiver deployed couldn't reliably pick them up
consistently. Hence, diversity receivers were employed to solve the
problem. THe ubiquitous cellular phone uses diversity reception on a
large scale to keep you connected with the network.
Still not enough improvement? well my friend, you're on your own, but
there are resources out there. Start doing some hunting around on
google and specialty ham radio web sites, especially those for weak
signal vhf uhf and microwave enthusiasts. YOu can find numerous plans
for directional antennas which will cover your bands of interest, many
which would appear to be simple to fabricate. IF you go with one of
these plans from the web or the books, remember that these are very
small wavelengths, this is why they call them "microwaves" and
tolerances are very fine. A small error in measurement will render
your antenna useless, and you'd do better then to go back to your
stock router with its stock antenna.
Then, when rolling your own there's the matter of connecting the
antenna to your router. Unless the cable run is extremely short
remember that standard coaxial cable presents a high degree of loss,
and must be carefully terminated with the proper connectors. But, if
you must proceed, and don't have the technical skills necessary then
make nice with a local ham radio afficionado who is really into
antenna building for the uhf and microwave bands.
To recap, small changes make big differences. Don't just think higher,
think left or right. Draw some imaginary lines from your router's
antenna to your favorite kick back and use your laptop spot which
gives you trouble currently. COnsider where the wiring and pipes
travel through the walls; dad's favorite spot at the dining room table
to sit and read the paper, etc. THat slight shift to the left a few
inches might just allow you to get a clear microwave path from your
router to that laptop on the patio that avoids dad's head. All that
meat in your dad's body doesn't do great things for microwaves remember.
IF you must upgrade, try a diversity receive system before you go the home brew
antenna route.
Finally, remember that old proverb? IT went something like
this. "Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it."
YOu could even maybe move the main antenna for your server,
along with the server itself up high, say in your attic, and
just run your broadband hard wired connection up there,
power it up and you're ready to go, instant improved range.
But, remember, you're working with frequency bands where no
license is required. Sure this limits you to low power
levels, but it almost means that you're going to encounter
more interference as you improve your receive range. But,
try some experiments before you throw money at the problem.
Page 6
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T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume III Number VI August 2009
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[ARTICLES]
D'Bridge EMAIL System
(c) by Nick J. Andre, Ltd.
VERSION 3.32 - JULY 22 2009
---------------------------
This is a major release and it has significant and fundimental changes
done internally to the source code. A lot of work was done to simplify
or improve the functionality of several elements of D'Bridge.
Please try only to report any problems once 3.32 has been installed. The
source code for 3.31 and prior versions has been archived/moved off the
workstation. I will not be able to quickly diagnose any problems in 3.31
and prior versions. Thats not to say I can't do it; its just going to
take more time if you are reporting stuff from 3.31.
WARNING: If thats not possible or if this release does not perform as
desired, then rollback to 3.31 or prior releases and send a report
accordingly, ASAP to my attention via Internet Email. DO NOT send
regular Fido NETmail.
The release notes for this version are lengthly; so I've broken it up
into several sections, and for posting in the Fidonet DBRIDGE echo:
REDESIGNED SETUP WIZARD - Explains the install/upgrade improvements.
FIDO PLUG AND PLAY - Allows new users to automatically obtain
addresses.
UPDATES NOTIFICATION - Explains the new auto-updates
notification feature.
CORRECTIONS/FIXES/ETC - The largest section;
outlining the obvious.
REDESIGNED SETUP WIZARD
-----------------------
The Setup Wizard has been rewritten from scratch; functioning exactly as
it did in the version 1.xx series. This was done for a few reasons, but
the end result is a more simplified procedure. And most important: Less
code used.
The Setup Wizard will do a fair amount of "cleanup" of your DB directory
when you upgrade from 3.31 or prior versions. There may be a
considerable amount of disk-activity during this process. A fair amount
of files will be permanently DELETED from your directory. These are:
- ANY and ALL "leftovers" from terminated Soupgate/VSOUP sessions.
- DB07*.3 and DB08*.3; obsolete/retired code from 3.31
and prior versions.
- COMM.CFG, obsolete from version 1 and version 2 series.
- DBRIDGE.MSG, obsolete from version 2.
- DBRIDGE.NRN, DBRIDGE.NMW, DBRIDGE.EMW, DBRIDGE.BXS, DBRIDGE.RSN,
DBRIDGE.RSE, DBRIDGE.MSR, DBUTIL.DAT, DBUTIL.NRN, DATA\*.DB?,
DB06.DAT,
AMERICA.COS, DBUTIL.C1, DBUTIL.C2, DBRIDGE.QSD, DBRIDGE.NMS are
removed either for obsolescence or because of possible conflicts
after upgrading to 3.32.
- The infamous empty "Queu" directory.
There may be a problem if you decide to rollback to 3.31 or prior
versions when these files are missing, however it would (theoretically)
be more of a cosmetic/minor problem than major.
FIDO PLUG AND PLAY
------------------
This was a past topic you may remember discussion on in the Fidonet
DBRIDGE echo.
A completely redesigned Wizard in 3.32 now gives the end-user the option
of either manually configuring their address, uplink and routing
information or to have that automatically-obtained. This is done via
Fido Plug and Play, or FPNP for short. FPNP is a way to
dynamically-assign Fidonet/FTN addresses to systems who connect to you
for the first time.
When prior versions of D'Bridge were installed for the first time, a
Wizard would appear, asking the user to enter in their network address
and that of their Fidonet uplink/provider. And of course DB would
configure itself accordingly.
FPNP is now fully functional, works properly across "othernets", and is
a major step in allowing newcomers to join our hobby.
WARNING: This is an advanced feature. You should not enable FPNP unless
you are an experienced administrator with a very thorough knowledge of
how Fido/FTN addressing, routing and hubbing works.
When a remote system is assigned an address by you, they are given a
POINT ADDRESS and can optionally be connected to Echomail areas of your
choice. All of the complicated routing, scheduling and packet/mail
settings are automatically configured on both your side and the user's.
The Wizard will ask if the user already has a Fido/FTN address. If so,
then the system will be auto-configured with their address and uplink
info, the same way it worked in prior versions. However, if not, then
FPNP works to obtain the address.
The way it works is a new installation of 3.32 (and higher) connects
first with nickandre.com (1:1/130). The 1:1/130 address on Fidonet is a
"primary directory" of all known D'Bridge installations worldwide that
are offering FPNP services to end-users; along with which networks (ie.
Fidonet, DBNET, etc) and their corrosponding geographical locations.
The data exchanged with nickandre.com is your address and FPNP
information as configured in this screen. No other information is sent
to that site.
WARNING: Systems who do not refresh themselves within a one-week period
are automatically purged from the database at 1:1/130; to help present a
most-recent list of available systems that an end-user can exchange mail
with.
By carefully manipulating BinkD on the end-user side, a short query is
done and a list of available "hubs" is downloaded from 1:1/130 and
presented to choose from. The user can then choose one (usually whoever
is closest geographically) and optionally choose which networks to
connect to.
A request is then sent to your system to obtain an address. D'Bridge
then computes and sends back the address along with special commands
that automatically configure that remote end-user with the proper
address, routing, Echomail areas and so forth.
The questions in the new FPNP SETUP screen control how it works:
ZONE:NET This is where you specify the network Zone and Net where
the addressing should start. For example, 1:229 means
that I will auto-assign addresses in Zone 1, Net 229.
The ZONE:NET must match at least one of your network
addresses specified in the BASIC CONFIGURATION screen.
The first matching ZONE:NET will be the one that addresses are
auto-assigned from.
WARNING: Be very careful with the deligation of Fidonet ZONE
and NET properties. If you are not the Network
Co-Ordinator (NC) of your local "net", you should
ask permission to use FPNP first.
NETWORK ID A unique ID to assign for this network. Up to 8 letters and
numbers only. For example, FIDONET or DBNET. The network ID is
presented to the remote system.
NODELIST D'Bridge will send the specified nodelist to the remote system.
Do not enter an extension; it will send whatever matches.
DEFAULT Specifies the default security criteria to apply for new systems
SECURITY and this should match the criteria in the PACKET/MAIL CONTROL
screen. For example: A,50 means assign group A, security 50.
START The starting "scope" for address assignment. For example, if
you enter 50 and your network address is 1:229/426, then D'Bridge
will assign addresses from 1:229/426.50 and onward.
END The ending "scope", as per above, D'Bridge will assign addresses
up to this criteria.
OPTIONAL You may send an optional "infopack", usually a ZIP file that
INFOPACK would contain an official application, rules and list of areas.
Specify that name of the file here (*with* an extension)
FPNP updates and controls the points via the POINTS.LST control file.
D'Bridge is smart enough to figure out if the POINTS.LST already exists and
if its in that "Boss-node" format as discussed recently (as of this writing)
in the FIDOGAZETTE echo.
Originally it was my intention to provide NODE addressing and full support
for MakeNL-compliant segments, however, there are a few "political"
drawbacks of offering this service. Internally however, the code can be
adjusted fairly easily to provide NODE addressing.
AUTOMATIC UPDATES NOTIFICATION
------------------------------
When D'Bridge 3.32 is installed for the first time, a Wizard appears,
asking you if you wish to be automatically notified when new updates are
available. If you answer YES to this question, D'Bridge will check with
nickandre.com approximately once per week, to see if a new version is
available. If so, then a message is flashed on the MAILER screen
accordingly.
CORRECTIONS/FIXES/ETC
---------------------
As explained earlier, a significant amount of work was done behind the
scenes to help improve the way certain fundimental components operate.
In addition:
- The overall installation/upgrade process should be several times
faster than before.
- The overall operation of the mailer should be anywhere from 5% to 25%
faster now.
- The overall operation of the BinkD subsystem should be anywhere from
10% to 75% faster now and use less disk access/swapping.
- D'Bridge will unpack any received mail immediately after a BinkD
transaction if running in "client only" mode.
- D'Bridge uses slightly less memory when running now.
- A serious stability/reliability problem with the way D'Bridge handles
COM ports has been resolved.
- A serious stability problem with Error 23 relating to COMM/MODEM setup
should be resolved. The problem is in the length of the MCF files.
- A serious problem with the way BinkD stopped polling remote systems
upon installation of some recent versions of D'Bridge should be
resolved now. This version underwent serious testing to ensure that problem did
not happen again.... but if it does, let me know.
- A serious problem with DBUTIL SORT AREAS has been resolved.
- A serious longstanding problem with DBUTIL CHANGE on alias-addresses
(non-Fidonet) has been resolved.
- A minor improvement was done to the code of DBUTIL PURGE.
- The nightly "cleaning" of the system log files is now done internally
in D'Bridge.
- A problem with a malfunctioning COM port-status in the menu system has
been fixed, and no, it wasn't something I botched before... it was
a new thing I botched.
- The internal editor should no longer duplicate the MSGID kludge on
NETmail destined for multiple recipients.
- The internal editor's "Custom tear line" is no longer Wildcat.
- DBUAFIXI is no longer included in D'Bridge, I rewrote that entire program
and all the code to function during the tossing of mail; internally.
- USENET.BBS is properly auto-generated on all transactions from the
NNTP SOUP gateway that update the NEWSRC source file.
- AUTORUN.INF is no longer included in D'Bridge; for security reasons, and
Microsoft has recently released a series of "patches" to their OS's to
change the behavior of AUTORUN.INF. It is fairly simple to create your own
if you decide to burn D'Bridge to CD-R to share with others.
I also rewrote a few sections of code to be less dependant on Assembler and
be a bit more compiler-friendly instead of just hammering the DOS session
with assembler calls.
After working on 3.32, I am inspired to start work on eliminating ALL of the
assembly-language calls out of D'Bridge entirely. There are two fundimental
problems in the code that I may need help on. Those are ZMODEM and the B-
Tree database system used by the Nodelist, Costbase and system Queue.
Eliminating the assembler code means that I can compile cross-platform DB
that will work natively in Linux, OS/2, Unix, FreeBSD, Win32/Win64, etc etc.
Depending on what feedback I get from that, I may just release that as
the version 4 series.
Nick Andre
www.nickandre.com
-#-
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T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume III Number VI August 2009
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INFO:
Where to Send Your Articles
Unlike most editors, I surely do not mind running my mouth when
there is a sparcity of articles for the 'zine. I'd MUCH rather
you sent in material but I think until someone starts a
discussion you feel like commenting about, you evil dullards
(just kidding!!!) will no doubt complain about "no issues"
So I will fill these issues with my meanderings and thoughts and
hopefully we will grow into something of consequence here :)
Don't be offended.. write an article!
If you WOULD like to submit an article and prove me wrong about
the dullard aspect of you guys and gals , feel free to drop
your article off at:
By email attach to address: janis@filegate.net
Fidonet attach: Janis Kracht 1:261/38 Modem: 607-655-5652
1:261/100 filegate.net via telnet mailer
filegate.net via binkp mailer (don't send
articles as routed attaches, send them
direct to filegate.net).
Give it a title, sign your name and network address if you have
one and send it along!
Don't worry about the format, I can take anything you send me
and mutilate it further as you can see above. Linux is nice
that way . Spell checking your own work will help though
(something I'm typically guilty of ).
More specifics with this issue :)
To send a question to Dr. Debug, email a question to
dr.debug@filegate.net or post in the fidogazette echo! :)
To send a listing to the fidogazette internet bbs list, send your
bbs listing to bbslist@filegate.net or post it in the fidogazette
echo! :)
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T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume III Number VI August 2009
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