FidoNet over IP, Part 2: What do I need for it? Copyright 1998 by Lothar Behet FidoNet over IP - What's that? Beside the direct transfer of any data via FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or Email, the internet supports the tunneling of protocol data, based on other structures, in ip-packets. This is used by FIP to establish a direct, password-secured connection between any two nodes with the internet as alternative carrier. Only for the time of this connection both nodes need to be hooked up to the internet. Depending on the actual implementation, the data may be transfered by a normal mailer or an especially for ip-transfer designed program, whereas (in future) nodelist contents will be used directly for dialing and authentication purposes. Available Programs 1. BinkD BinkD is a pure mailer, which uses the known Binkley style outbound and expands conventional systems by an internet based access. BinkP is the publicly available protocol specification (default port 24554), which is implemented in other programs (i.e. Argus, BBBS) in the meantime. BinkD is at this moment of writing available for FreeBSD, Linux, OS/2, Windows 95 and Windows NT as well as sourcecode. 2. Vmodem and other device drivers Vmodem is a "Virtual MODEM" (comparable to cfos for ISDN cards), which emulates a comport for conventional programs. It is part of Ray Gwinn's SIO device driver package for OS/2. Beside its own Vmodem protocol (default port 3141), telnet sessions (default port 23) are possible. RL-Fossil represents a similar implementation for DOS or single DOS-tasks running in another multi-tasking environment. 3. ifcico ifcico is a fidonet mailer for *nix operating systems (default port 60179). Beside modem connectivity it naturally supports data transfer via ip. The default port is 60179, but with an additional TX-patch it may utilize Telnet sessions (default port 60177). 4. Telnet Telnet is originally a terminal program, as it may be used for internet based access to a mailbox. Via the default port 23, FTN-compatible sessions may be handled. 5. Other possibilities FTP and Email-based proceedings are not FIP in direct sense, but they can save some money on long distance transfers in any way. Features and advantages of FIP Basically anybody can utilize FIP, as long as he has any kind of access to the internet. The only condition is, that both opponents :) are actually hooked up (even as dial-in) to the internet, as long as the connection exists. A frequently called system may think of an steady connection to the internet. The available bandwidth for data transfer can normally not be calculated, as it relies on the smallest one in any given part of the actual connection. With nowadays used multitasking operating systems, FIP may the used in parallel to any other utilization of the internet (surfing, chatting, ...), without requiring another dial attempt in opposit to conventional usage. (In-)Compatibilities within FidoNet-over-IP - BinkD as pure mailer conforming to the BinkP-specification can only connect to opponets with the same protocol. It's main usage is as additional task for IP to existing other mailers, as it uses the widely spread binkley style outbound structure. - Vmodem is unhappily only available as device driver for OS/2, but has there the advantage of easy implementation for nearly any communication program, including a wide range of conven- tional mailers. The installation just requires the selection of an appropriate (virtual) comport. - ifcico is only available for unix-style operating systems, but with the additional TX-patch may connect to any other system via the telnet-protocol. - Telnet is supported on nearly any platform (including rlfossil for DOS), but may raise some problems depending on the individual installation. - All of these rely on an existing TCP/IP-stack, which is sometimes integral part of the operating system (*nix, OS/2 since Warp3 Connect, Windows 95, Windows NT). For DOS and Windwos 3.x addi- tional drivers are available. Sources and availability: For an actual compilation of sources, download and other information, just take a look on http://home.nrh.de/fido/ (The site is bi-lingual (english/german) at this moment, but volunteer translators are already busy :) Testing FIP all around the world: Beside connections to the authors system (fido.nrh.de at 194.231.142.17) with BinkP:24554, Telnet:23 and Vmodem:3141, the above mentioned website offers an ip nodelist, which is continuously growing :) Legal information: Copyright 1998 by Lothar Behet This series of articles may be distributed freely within the fidonet community. The distribution (partially or complete) on digital or printed media without explicit authorization of the author is prohibited.