Mailer
The mailer is a program that may run on top of a BBS program, or 'stand-alone' by itself with no BBS program. When it is run on top of a BBS program (called a "front-end"), it is able to determine whether a caller to the system is another BBS mailer, or a user who wants to log onto your BBS system. The mailer is also used to call out to other FidoNet systems. You can use your mailer to call another system to pickup or receive FidoNet traffic (mail, etc.), or to request a particular file (FileRequest or 'freq' ). When you use a modem to dial up other fidonet members, you use mailers such as FRONTDOOR, or Binkley Terminal. Some BBS programs come with a modem-capable mailer already (BBBS, WildCat WinServer, for example. If you have an internet connection that you will use to contact other Fidonet members, you can use one of the many available IP mailers, such as BINKD, or InternetRex, or Argus, or any mailer or BBS program that uses the BINKP protocol.Nodelist
The list of all nodes which exist in FidoNet. Each week you will receive a difference file which should be applied to your current nodelist. The differnce file is called a nodediff. Some BBS software programs include a nodelist compiler to apply the difference file to your current nodelist. If your BBS software does not include a nodelist compiler, then you should run a stand-alone nodelist compiler.Region
Geographic sections of Zone 1 (North America) are divided into sections called Regions.Network
When you apply for a FidoNet node number, you will be assigned to a network (net) in the region where you operate your BBS. Each network is coordinated by an individual called the NC (Network Coordinator).Netmail
Netmail is a type of message between yourself and another individual in FidoNet, and in that respect it is similar to e-mail. Netmail can only be considered private if it is sent directly to the receiver (your modem -> receiver's modem, or your internet-mailer -> receiver's internet-mailer).Backbone
Mail and archives which are distributed in FidoNet may be delivered or picked up from a number of Backbone distribution systems. There are a number of backbone distribution systems in FidoNet, such as the original NAB system, the WWW system, and the Z1B system.Echomail
Like newsgroup articles, an echomail message is a broadcast type message that anyone may reply to, unless the rules of the echo state that the echo is 'read-only'. In that case, you may read the messages in the echomail area, but you may not reply, or post any messages.Message Echo
Message echos are like newsgroups in that anyone may reply to messages in that echo area. When you post a reply to a message in an echo area, your message is transported to all BBS systems which carry that message echo area.TAG
Each message echo has a TAG name which identifies that area, such as PDNECHO. This tag name is read by your BBS software when importing echomail. The list of Backbone message echo tag names is located in
BACKBONE.NA (NAB backbone), BACKBONE.WW (WW Backbone), and BACKBONE.Z1B (Z1B Backbone).File Echo
A file echo is like a message echo in that a file (generally shareware or freeware software) sent out from one system can be received by anyone who subscribes to that file echo. Like message echos, each file echo also has a unique tag name. The File Echo tag names are listed in a file called FILEGATE.ZXX, which is distributed weekly in the FG_WORF file echo.FDN
An FDN (File Distribution Network) groups files of like interest or category for distribution to members of FidoNet. File echos are distributed by FDN Coordinators, and are freely available to all members of FidoNet from various sites, often called File Hubs, in your net. Each FDN is unique, and deals with one category, or type of file (games (Gamesnet FDN), or anti-virus software (Anti-Virus FDN), or programming files (PDN), or files that run under Linux or OS/2).TIC s and TICK Technology
The File Hub in your net, or the uplink you select to download files from uses TICK technology to distribute archives to your system. TICK technology uses a small file (xxxxxxxx.tic) to describe the archive it accompanies to your system. The xxxxxxxx.tic file has a unique file name, and contains information such as the archive's file name, description of the archive, the crc of the archive, and who has already received the archive (seen-by lines). After the archive is received by your system with it's .tic file, it is placed in your file base by your tick-compatible software and then the .tic file is deleted by your system.FileTosser
A FileTosser is a program that looks in your mailer's inbound directory for .tic information files and the archive associated with that .tic file. The FileTosser program reads the archive's .tic file and your configuration file, and moves the archive to the place on your hard drive specified in your tic configuration. The tick program also updates the archive's file description on your BBS so your users know the purpose of the file.
Uplink An uplink is the system from which you receive your echomail and file feed from.
Downlink A downlink is the system to which you send echomail and file feed to.
HUB A HUB is large system where netmail, echomail and files are distributed from.
CrashMail Crash mail (or direct mail) is mail that is sent directly from your system to another system without going through any other systems (directly to a node.) In order to send Crash mail, your system must have a mailer of one of two types on your system, modem->modem landline mailer, or an ION (internet only) mailer. For normal landline (modem to modem) crash mail, you can use mailers such as FrontDoor,Binkley, or T-MAIL, etc. If your system is available only on the internet, you can use one of the internet-style mailers such as BINKD, ARGUS, or IREX which use the BINKP protocol.
Routing Routing is the path that either netmail or echomail may follow. When you enter a netmail message to another node in FidoNet, you can send it via routed mail, i.e., through various other systems or HUBs. It is slower than direct (crash) netmail, since it must arrive at each location and be forwarded to the next system before it arrives at its destination.
Once you have a node number in the FidoNet nodelist, you can receive message areas that span information areas that range in topics from Bicycling to Windows.
You can also receive the latest games for all operating systems, BBS software, files of interest to programmers in a variety of programming languages, and of course, the latest in Linux operating system and Windows OS software.
All you need to do to take part in the FidoNet network as a sysop is to contact one of the many internet or landline available BBS systems such as
<<Prism BBS.You will be asked to provide information about your system bbs software, your location, and the name of your domain, etc.
Here's a typical list of questions you can answer, and then use to forward to a Fidonet coordinator as your application for a node number:
Your real name (First and Last name ___________________________________________
Location __________________________________________________________________
Home Telephone, or other number where you can be reached _______________________
The following questions only apply to a dialup (modem) site:
Modem (brand name/model) ___________________________________________
BBS telephone number ________________________________________________
Internet Questions:
You should answer these if you will be an Internet Only node, or if you will also have an internet accessible
mailer in addition to your dialup line:
Domain/IP Address _____________________________
Where can I get Mail and Archives
There are a number of sources for mail and files in Fidonet. While most are free, there are some people in Fidonet who find it necessary to charge a nominal amount. Internet costs are rarely free, and the HUB feeding people may find it necessary to ask for money to offset some of the costs associated with the transfer of large amounts of echomail and file archives.