The FidoNet is a so-called mailbox net, which spread in the 1980er and 1990er years over the whole world, then however by Internet was very strongly displaced. Today there are only few thousands actively at the FidoNet systems taken part.

Technology & organization

The FidoNet originates from a time, when at least in the private sector an electronic data communication between two computers was possible via telephone modem only by direct selection of the target system. Internet was not existent in its current form, fast data links over the then common Datex-P-Netz of at that time still national Federal Post Office was reserved due to the very high costs companies.

Since in particular long-distance calls and foreign telephone calls were very expensive, much creative energy became related to obtain with as few and as short a a connections to times of day with low fees as possible a fast and effective distributing of Mails and files to all attached systems. The FidoNet was not in its bloom time around 1990 the only organized group of privately operated mailboxes, but it was the world-wide most popular with large distance.

The attached systems use both regarding the data format, and the data communication their own minutes and a special software. Minutes make a dispatching more individually (Netmails) and more publicly (Echomails) for messages possible. Netmails are limited comparable to Echomails with enamels, in the individual echoes with the conception of the Usenet.

The transmission of the data takes place asynchronously (net curtain and forward). The net is star shaped developed. Each system continues to send the messages to the next higher system in the hierarchy. Only the direct transmission of Netmails of the Sendersystem by direct connection to the target system, Crashmails so mentioned, depends not on the hierarchy. (Sometimes also the passing on is completed separately from Netmails from the Echomails, in order to achieve faster running times of Netmails without significantly higher costs, however that is in the meantime the exception).

In Europe the number of the systems attached to the Fido net rose strongly after the opening of the iron curtain. Nodes from the former Eastern Bloc - in particular from Russia operate starting from the early 90's the majority of the systems in the zone 2. Today (at the beginning of of 2006) the regions Russia and Ukraine place most Nodes in the FidoNet. More than 80% the Zone-2-Nodes are to be found in in Eastern European FidoNet regions. The region 24 - Germany - is also over 8% the Nodes the largest region in Western Europe.

Related to the transported data set the actual boom of the FidoNet with the introduction of ISDN to Europe began. By the higher range could be transported clearly more message volumes with same costs. Besides modems need often longer for the setting up a connection than following information exchange between the FIDO systems. The similar modems created at that time a maximum transmission rate of 19.200 bpses, with the digital ISDN adapters were possible for 64,000 bpses.

By the higher transfer rate file echoes came into mode, in order to distribute Freeware, Shareware and text files automated over the tree structure of the net. File echoes use the same technology, which was used for the spreading of the Nodelisten. Some file echoes are thematically defined, for example plays, texts or operating system. Feed (so-called Hatchen) can each participant of the file echo.

The public articles are published in echoes, which are very similar in their function to the newsgroup of the Usenet. Nearly all echoes have a moderator, which ensures that the contributions are kept contentwise the topic of the echo to fit and the general rules of the Fidos. The moderator is usually regular selected by the echo participants. With repeated rule offences a POINT or a Node, over which the rule offences arrived into the Fido net, can be excluded from the purchase of the echo and even from the entire Fidonet. A once sent public article cannot be withdrawn again (like this in the Usenet by a "“cancel message"” to be tried can).

Contrary to the Usenet communication in the FidoNet runs off more privately: While many newsgroup in the Usenet with Spam are inundated and some against user the netiquette under an alias to write, are the FidoNet usually Spam-free and one of many offers as more pleasantly felt atmosphere by the general attention of the behavior rules. In addition a contact is necessary for the operator (Sysop) of a mailbox during the registration for the FidoNet.

The technology was used from many private and commercial organizations, in order to make decentralized communication possible. For example many operators used this system of oil platforms, because it represented a economical variant.

So that a demarcation could be guaranteed between Fidonet and other Fidonet are based systems, numbers for the geographical zone were used, which does not use the FidoNet (so-called Othernets). An example well-known for Germany was the Gernet initiated by the publishing house Heinz Heise (zone 21).

Geographical allocation

The net is divided into six geographical zones:

• Zone 1: North America
• Zone 2: Europe
• Zone 3: Ozeanien
• Zone 4: Latin America
• Zone 5: Africa
• Zone 6: Asia

For an exact listing of the regions within the zones see FidoNet zones.

Regional organization

Within the zones there are regions and nets, which are designated simply by numbers. Each net is possibly supplied by at least one host and several stroke with messages.

The Nodes in such a way specified is attached to the stroke. These are usually smaller mailbox systems, which a visible supplies quantity of POINTs, which represent the last member in this chain, with messages. POINTs are considered not as members of the FidoNets, but are pure users. Contrary to the Nodes POINTs in the democratic structure do not have rights.

According to this technical structure a world-wide clear FidoNet address is developed according to the following pattern:

Zone: Net/Node.Point (thus for example 2:270 /1200.1)

Beyond that exists independent Nodes so mentioned, which in most cases functions as gateways. As standard for a gateway in Usenet serves the software of Martin Junius, Fidogate. Over many years so the accessibility of the user max sample man of the above mentioned mailbox system was ensured over the address Max_Mustermann@p1.f1200.n270.z2.fidonet.org. A side effect of the transport of Fido echo Mails in Usenet and turned around that many Mails of former Fidonet POINTs and - Nodes also nowadays in Googles Usenet archives to regain leave themselves.

This net is carried exclusively by private people, commerce is forbidden in the FidoNet strengstens. When the Heise publishing house was not allowed to operate its AREAs in the context of the FidoNet, it created the Gernet. That was not however always like that, it gave a time long from companies financed Nodes, which distributed in particular support echoes for their products.

In order to have an overview of all attached systems to guarantee in addition, around a correct Routing of the messages the Nodelist is provided, in which all Nodes of the FidoNets is listed. Each Friday the list is updated and a listing of the changes to the last list is dispatched, the Nodediff in such a way specified, which can be processed by the attached systems automatically. The Nodelist contains data concerning the operator of the Nodes, which geographical location apart from the information to the Nodenummer also, which telephone or IP number, which possible transmission protocols as well as the time windows, when the system is attainable. Due to these information Nodes and also POINTs can decide, in which place the direct Netmails, which Crashmails, to be delivered to be able.

Articles in category "FidoNet"

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