Re: FidoNet

[TRS-80]

Jean Louis <bugs@gnu.support> writes:

> * Emanuel Berg writes:
>> I thought it had something to do with FidoNet, which is
>> 
>>   a worldwide computer network that is used for communication
>>   between bulletin board systems (BBSes). It uses
>>   a store-and-forward system to exchange private (email) and
>>   public (forum) messages between the BBSes in the network [1]
>
> I was one of peers in FidoNet for shorter time, and it was great
> feeling to be able to exchange emails worldwide. At that time we did
> not have access to Internet, but only BBS-es and FidoNet.
>

I, too, remember the good old days of FidoNet!  We are talking BBS days
here, before Internet!

In fact I was reading up on it again just the other day, and reliving
some nostalgia of mis-spent youth.  :)

>> Sounds like a/some variety of the Usenet distributed model of
>> data replication and propagation, which is today known as
>> a "federation" or federative network architecture with

Yes it started almost exactly like UUCP, with nodes calling each other
directly.  Later, like Usenet, it evolved evolved as the network grew.
In case of FidoNet, into a system of zones with a hub and spoke model
(to optimize what were, at that time, expensive long-distance calling
rates, as this was all done over modems and phone lines).

> I guess it still functions and it may become important backup network
> when

I couldn't help but to think the same thing.

It gave me some warm fuzzies to think it's still going after all these
many years.  I think I will need to fire up the telnet and log on to
some BBSes to check in, which I have not done in a very, very long time.
:)

Cheers,
TRS-80