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T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume IV Number VII July, 2010
=======================================================================
+--------------------------+------------------------------------------+
| .----------------------. | 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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Happy 4th Of July to those in the United States, in Zone 1!
Contents...................................................(i)
Editorial..................................................(1)
New and Returning Members..................................(2)
The Old School Toolbox:
SysOp Tools: Copping that Email fix...................(3)
Tips and Tricks............................................(4)
Food.......................................................(5)
FidoGazette BBS List.......................................(6)
IFDC FileGate File Distribution News.......................(7)
Info (Where to Send Articles)..............................(8)
Page i
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T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume IV Number VII July, 2010
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Editorial
=========
A lot of people have left Fidonet over the years; Many of us remember
the size of the nodelist being such a consideration, that Coordinators
were making sure that there wasn't any unneeded information in the
nodelist. It cost to send mail via phone lines in some areas back then,
and it often made this a very expensive hobby.
These days, we are not so concerned with cost because of the protocols
tcpip gives us - but tcpip (the internet) is both a blessing and a
curse. The Internet continues to take it's toll on our membership.
And yet we are still getting new applications every month. I think
this is just what we need. One of these days I'm going to track the
new memberships to get some statistics (g).
We need new blood to bring new users to our bbs systems, and we need
new programmers to continue to build the tools we use. That's what I'm
hoping we can accomplish with some of these new folk. We have networks
that need NCs, and Regions that need RCs. Volunteers are not always
easy to come by.
So, if you know someone who needs some help getting things going, give
them a hand. It may be the person who writes the next speedy protocol,
bbs program or mailer you need :)
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T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume IV Number VII July, 2010
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=========================
New and Returning Members
=========================
From http://www.filegate.net/zone1/ and other mirror sites such as
http://www.filegate.ca/zone1/
In the Works:
============
Tony Napier Region 10
Nathan Neal Region 14
Sam Bright Region 17
John Meeks Region 18
Harvey Simpson Region 18
=#=
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T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume IV Number VII July, 2010
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The Old School Toolbox
By Richard Webb, 1:116/901
Remote Sysop Tools: Copping That Email fix
Again remember our scenario. In case you just joined us it goes like
this. Picture your community after the disaster, tornado, etc. Cable
TV and broadband internet are down for the count, generators are
humming near residences that are so equipped, as well as near public
institutions. But, at one agency their internet services have been
augmented with a machine on a beefy UPS well hardened against possible
sources of harm. This machine is connected to the public switched
telephone network.
We mentioned in this column last time some quick shuffle dance
steps that can give this fido node's users their electronic mail
capabilities back using an alternate gateway, and that's where we
basically left you last time, so, on with the program (grin).
A lot of this presto change-o isn't going to work without the sysop
being able to change some things up by remote. To refresh your memory,
the remote sysop needs to change up the netmgr configuration file to
add another search mask to readdress internet email to another gateway.
In this space last time, we used a fictitious address of 1:290/10.1000
for the internet email gate. That gate which is locally operated using
transnet or a similar tool is obviously not going to do anything,
because there is no broadband internet connection currently. So, we
need to readdress this mail to a working gateway, then route it
appropriately. Netmgr and other such tools can easily accomplish this,
especially if they use text files for configuration.
Best practice is to have the new config file already on the system,
but with another name. That way it's just a matter of back up the old
one, put new one in place. But, we need to have some security in
place. We don't want just anyone stumbling on this.
It starts with the sysop's netmail, or netmail from a trusted
user. A sysop from another local node, or a point is preferrable for
this sort of thing, because it provides additional layers of security
authentication warning even before the message is seen by netmgr or a
similar tool.If links are configured properly there should be session
and packet passwords in place between the two systems.
First, we configure netmgr with a search mask that looks for mails from
certain users, wild cards can be used, but should be used with care.
For this example, we've told netmgr to look for mail from Joe remote at
1:290/10.2 addressed to mail room on 1:290/10.0 with a subject line of
"password" which might be his areafix or session password. Don't
worry, there will be more authentication verification later on.
However, a different password for this function which is *not*
one'otherwise used adds more security.
So, when netmgr sees a message address to mail room on 1:290/10
from Joe REmote at the proper address, with a subject line matching the
agreed upon password a few things are going to happen. First, the
message will be saved to a specified text file, then, one or more
semaphore files created which the batch or cmd file that manages the
whole system can use later, or not depending on what happens next.
For this little mental exercise we'll specify that we're running
the registered version of netmgr. This allows us to run an external
program from a shell from within netmgr, and we've configured the
actions that go with this search mask to do just that. first, the .bat
or .cmd process we will invoke begins a message back to Joe Remote at
the proper address. Then, we're going to get that authentication
verification I mentioned earlier.
AT this point we use either the ms dos find command or a version of
grep or other text search tools to find specified text in the message
which Joe REmote sent. In the case of my system I've been known to use
a unique character string, such as a pin number for an atm card I hold
converted to hex. since I used a password which is common to me as a
point with me as the node, I want to have an extra step in there for
the system to be doubly sure that *I and I alone sent that message.
The text search facility we used generates an errorlevel depending
on wehther the specified text was found. IF it wasn't found, then the
message back to JOe REmote tells him that it doesn't really think that
*he* sent that message. AT that point, it deletes the semaphore files
that netmgr created earlier, closes the message to JOe after telling
him that this process isn't going to happen, but he might want to have
a look about and see if anybody's been tampering with his laptop
lately, and exits. NEtmgr then dutifully creates the message so the
packer deletes it after it's scanned out. The batch or .cmd file
already took care of nuking the errant text file and any flag files
netmgr created to trigger later processing.
Had this authentication step been successful, we might have performed
further authentication steps if desired, or just sent a message to JOe
remote letting him know this process would be taken care of shortly,
and what was expected to be done. We might have even created the batch
file or .cmd on the fly from parts of the text of JOe's message, user's
choice here. With the right tools this can be fairly easy to
accomplish.
If the link which triggers the configuration and control file
switcharoo is properly configured utilizing session and packet
passwording at this stage we've four levels of authenticity
verification. To recap, we've the session password correct, or no
session would have taken place. Then, the packet containing the action
message wouldn't have been processed if the packet passwords were
incorrect. At the third level, netmgr or a similar tool would not have
acted upon it had the password in the subject line been incorrect.
Finally, had the embedded text string in the message body been absent
or incorrect the process would have aborted, with or without
notification of the sender, sysop's choice here.
If one feels that he or she must have a fifth layer of
verification the sender's last four digits of the good ol' social
security number, last four of voice number or some other character
string can be searched for in the message body, but chances are good if
the process has made it this far all the right pieces are in place.
But, be sure you use authenticity verification steps which can be
verified, and preferrably only known to the person authorized to
perform such functions. For this reason I'd avoid publicly available
information such as the authorized person's birthday, social security
number, etc. These aren't secure enough.
But then comes the problem of what to do about possible multiple
remote processes that may need to be triggered by the same remote
sysop. Here's where you can be a bit creative, especially if you use
some of the nifty little batch file enhancements that have been
introduced in fidonet over the years in the batpower echo. I've talked
about some of these little tricks in past columns.
=#=
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T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume IV Number VII July, 2010
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Tips and Tricks
by Janis Kracht
I saw this note on another Linux site, and thought it might be of
interest to some linux users in Fidonet (Yeah, Benny (grin), but not me
:) ). If you are familiar with Kopete you probably already know how to
do this.
[start]
Facebook chat uses the XMPP protocol and you can add it as a Jabber
account in Kopete. Here's a quick note how to configure Kopete.
First login to Facebook and visit
http://www.facebook.com/sitetour/chat.php, click on Pidgin and have a
look at the given details. Important is the Facebook user name.
Now open Kopete and the configuration dialog via Settings >> Configure.
Add a new account with Add account. Choose Jabber "XMPP, Jabber,
Google Talk" and click Next. As Jabber ID add
yourfacebookusername@chat.facebook.com and ofcourse enter your Facebook
password. Unfortunately ssl is not possible so the rest of the
configuration options can be left as default.
Click Finish and that’s it, you’re online on Facebook everytime you
are online with Kopete now. Be aware that this probably adds a lot new
contact to Kopete’s contact list ;) .
[end]
Ed. Comment: Not for me :) As I’ve said before, facebook just wants my
name to sell it to some other organization (g).
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T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume IV Number V1 June, 2010
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-=-=-=-=-=-
F O O D Even sysops have to eat!
-=-=-=-=-=-
By Janis Kracht, 1:261/38
Want to contribute something here? Send your submission to fidogazette
'at' filegate.net or email janis at filegate.net, or janis kracht at
1:261/38 (filegate.net) and it will get published here in the
next issue :)
===Italian Meat Sauce With Sausage and Meatballs===
From an Original Post in the Fidonet Cooking Echo
by Janis Kracht
===Italian Meat Sauce With Sausage and Meatballs===
Cooking Echo people, Ruth and Steve Haffly came over on Wednesday
afternoon so I could show Ruth how I make Italian sauce and ravioli from
scratch. We had such a blast :) Even the pups were uh.. mostly good
since we had company (g). This is my recipe used to make the sauce
for the ravioli. To see the recipes for the ravioli dough, ricotta from
scratch, and ricotta filling, have a look at the COOKING echo.
Ingredients:
===========
1 pound Italian Sweet Sausage links
2 28.oz cans of Italian whole peeled tomatoes or whatver large size
can you can find. Pour the tomatos into a blender, one at a time,
and pulse blend for a moment or two, to break them up. I don't like
the texture of Tomato sauce made with Tomato Puree.. it loses
something.
2 6-oz cans tomato paste
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
2 tablespoons dry basil, or 4 or 5 fresh leaves minced
Salt, pepper to taste, or about 1 tsp. salt, one or two grinds fresh
black pepper
1 pinch of thyme
1/2 tablespoon dry Oregano
2 tablespoons Pesto (I usually keep a bowl of it in the 'ridge).
15-20 meatballs (see below).
In a large frying pan, brown the sausages on med-high heat until all
sides are browned. Set aside.
In a clean very large pan (like a dutch oven), heat 3 or 4 tablespoons
of oil. People argue about what cookware makes the best sauce, but my
mom and I both think you do best with a heavy stainless steel pot
(farberware).
Add the garlic and carefully brown. Don't let it burn. I crush the
garlic with the flat side of a large knife, and then chop it up.
Add the tomatoes and paste and stir well to mingle everything. Fill
the 2 cans from the tomato paste with water. Add these containers of
water to the sauce.. so about 12-some ounces. It's going to simmer
for a while. Add the pesto to the sauce. Turn the heat up to high for
about 2-3 minutes or until you see it just start to boil, then lower it
to medium, stirring. You want to get this to a bare boil quickly, and
then turn the heat down to a very slow slow simmer.
Add the sausages to the pot. Add the browned meatballs (see below).
Stir gently and remember if you are rough with the meatballs you'll
destroy the sauce :)
For the first hour, keep an eye on the sauce, stirring gently, but
frequently. If it starts to boil, you need to put the sauce pan in
some other larger pan (I use my cast iron huge frying pan). When you
see the sauce is starting to thicken a bit, partially cover the pot.
You don't want to lose all the moisture out of the sauce.
The sauce should be done in about 3-4 hours.
===Meatballs===
Ingredients:
2 lbs. hamburger (we only buy grass-fed beef)
1 thick slice homemade bread, or Italian bread. Pass under the running
water faucet to wet it, then give the bread a light squeeze to get
the excess water out. Obviously if you use air-bread, you will end
up with a blob of soggy yech.
2 large eggs
1 or 1 1/2 cups Italian flavored bread crumbs, or make your own
breadcrumbs using spices such as parsely, basil, onion powder, garlic
powder, garlic salt, thyme, red pepper. Grind, season and toast in
the oven if you make your own.
2 large cloves garlic, finely minced.
1 1/2 cups Italian Locatelli Romano cheese.
1/2 cup fresh Italian flatleaf parsely, chopped
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp pepper
==
1 cup olive oil
Mix all ingredients except for the olive oil well, but don't overwork
the hamburger. Roll into balls in the cups of your hand, compressing
and rolling until you have a 1 and 1/2 inch meatball.
Heat the oil in a large frying pan, and start putting the meatballs in
one at a time, slowly. Shake the pan now and again, to cause the
meatballs to roll and brown all over. Or, you can just turn them with
a spoon. Keep cooking them until they are a dark golden brown. If you
take them out too soon, they will fall apart in the sauce.
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T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume IV Number VII July, 2010
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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.......Prism BBS
FidoAddress..1:261/38
Phone........607-655-5652
Software.....BBBS LiI v4.01 Flag #
OS...........Linux (Gentoo)
C/B Verify...None
Access.......First Call access to Msg bases,
and file areas.
Telnet.......filegate.net
telnet access offers full features
of the standard bbs such as doors,
qwkmail, BWmail,Files, etc.
www:.........http:/www.filegate.net:8090/bbbs
[web interface is limited really
to reading messages and replying
online, or downloading messages
in qwk packets, but not uploading
them], and file download access.
FTP: ftp.filegate.net, port 60721
public access to file areas (please
note change of port for public access).
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
System.......Time Warp of the Future BBS
FidoAddress..1:14/400
Phone........none
Software.....sbbs 3.15a (very beta)
OS...........win. (xp pro. sp3)
C/B Verify...None
Access.......First Call access to Msg bases, and file areas.
Telnet.......time.synchro.net:24 or time.darktech.org:24
or timewarpfuture.dyndns.org:24
telnet access offers full features
of the standard bbs such as doors,
messages or file area etc.
www:.........http://time.synchro.net:81
Web interface is limited really to reading messages
and replying online, or downloading messages in qwk
packets, but not uploading them, and file download access.
SBBS files available.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
System.......Lionsden BBS
FidoAddress..1:224/303
Phone........613-392-8896
Software.....Sunchronet
OS...........Windows XP
C/B Verify...None
Access.......First Call access to Msg bases, and file areas.
Telnet.......lionsden.darktech.org
telnet access offers full features
of the standard bbs such as doors,
qwkmail, Files, etc.
www:.........http:/www.lionsden.darktech.org
You will redirected to a menu where you can
choose one of three sites. The first one is
private and requires PW to get into.
FTP..........FTP://lionsden.darktech.org Files only
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
System.......Christian Fellowship
FidoAddress..1:266/512
Phone........1-856-933-7096
Software.....PCBoard 15.3
OS...........Windows XP pro
C/B Verify...Manually via email or voice
usually within 24 hours.
Access.......Read only until verified. Once
verified write access to Msg bases, file
areas, chat and doors/games.
Telnet.......cfbbs.dtdns.net or cfbbs.no-ip.com
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
System.......Lightning BBS
FidoAddress..1:311/2
Software.....Virtual Advanced
OS...........Windows XP
C/B Verify...None
Access.......First call access to doors, files and
message reading. Message posting requires
validation.
Telnet.......lightningbbs.com
www:.........http:/www.lightningbbs.com/index.php
Thanks to VADV-PHP you can access almost
everything the BBS has to offer from the
web, with the exception of door games.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
System.......Roach Guts BBS
FidoAddress..1:396/60
Phone:.......337-433-4135
Software.....Maximus on Port 23 (primary)
Synchronet on Port 24 (temporary)
OS...........Windows XP
C/B Verify...None
Access.......First call access to doors, files and
message reading. Message posting requires
validation.
Telnet.......roachguts.com
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
=#=
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T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume IV Number VII
July, 2010
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IFDC FileGate News:
New file echo in Perl FDN
-------------------------
Jame Clay, coordinator of the Perl FDN has added a new file area. This
is the complete list of areas:
% FDN: Perl File Distribution Network (PerlNet)
% Coordinator: RJ Clay, 1:120/544 (jame@ftn.rocasa.us)
%
% PATH: DIRECT
% HUB: No
% ------------------------------------------------------------------------
% File Echo Description
% ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Area PERLMOD 0 ! Perl modules and extensions
Area PERLBIN 0 ! Binaries for Perl and Perl utilities
Area PERLSCR 0 ! Perl scripts
Area PERLMISC 0 ! Perl FAQ's, Hints, and Tips
Area PLHATCH 0 *& PerlNet submissions for review
=#=
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T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume IV Number VII July, 2010
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INFO:
Fidogazette is published by Janis Kracht, Editor, with the help of
Richard Webb 1:116/901 (Old School ToolBox), and Sean Dennis 1:18/200
(The Slightly Crusty Sysop). If you have an idea for a column or a
series of articles, please contact me :)
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" (grin)
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 (bg), feel free to drop
your article off at:
By email attach to address: janis @ filegate.net
Fidonet attach: Janis Kracht at 1:261/38 Modem: 607-655-5652
1:261/100 filegate.net port 24555 via binkp or telnet mailer
(don't send articles as routed attaches, send them direct to filegate.net).
Standard binkp port only supports BinkP (24554).
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 (g). Spell checking your own work will help though
(something I'm typically guilty of (g)).
To send reviews or recipes to the Food section, email or netmail Janis
as above.
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 IV Number VII July, 2010
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