FidoNet: Difference between revisions
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{{More citations needed| date = February 2017}} | {{More citations needed| date = February 2017}} | ||
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'''FidoNet''' is a worldwide [[computer network]] that is used for communication between [[bulletin board system]]s (BBSes). It uses a [[store-and-forward]] system to exchange private (email) and public (forum) messages between the BBSes in the network, as well as other files and protocols in some cases. | '''FidoNet''' is a worldwide [[computer network]] that is used for communication between [[bulletin board system]]s (BBSes). It uses a [[store-and-forward]] system to exchange private (email) and public (forum) messages between the BBSes in the network, as well as other files and protocols in some cases.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Store and Forward Communication: The Prehistory |work=15-849, Fall 2005: Networking in Challenging Environments |last=Andersen |first=David |publisher=Carnegie Mellon University |type=Syllabus |year=2005 |url=https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dga/15-849/store_and_forward.html |access-date=2025-09-30 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250927164827/https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dga/15-849/store_and_forward.html |archive-date=2025-09-27}}</ref> | ||
The FidoNet system was based on several small interacting programs, only one of which needed to be [[Porting|ported]] to support other BBS software. FidoNet was one of the few networks that was supported by almost all BBS software, as well as a number of non-BBS [[online service]]s. This modular construction also allowed FidoNet to easily upgrade to new [[data compression]] systems, which was important in an era using [[modem]]-based communications over telephone links with high [[long-distance calling]] charges. | The FidoNet system was based on several small interacting programs, only one of which needed to be [[Porting|ported]] to support other BBS software. FidoNet was one of the few networks that was supported by almost all BBS software, as well as a number of non-BBS [[online service]]s. This modular construction also allowed FidoNet to easily upgrade to new [[data compression]] systems, which was important in an era using [[modem]]-based communications over telephone links with high [[long-distance calling]] charges. | ||
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The rapid improvement in modem speeds during the early 1990s, combined with the rapid decrease in price of computer systems and storage, made BBSes increasingly popular. By the mid-1990s there were almost 40,000 FidoNet systems in operation, and it was possible to communicate with millions of users around the world. Only [[UUCP#UUCPNET and mapping|UUCPNET]] came close in terms of breadth or numbers; FidoNet's user base far surpassed other networks like [[BITNET]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fgZ5DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT77 |title=VeriSM ™ - unwrapped and applied|last1=Agutter |first1=Claire |last2=Botha |first2=Johann |last3=Hove |first3=Suzanne D. Van |date=2018 |publisher=Van Haren |isbn=9789401803717|language=en}}</ref> | The rapid improvement in modem speeds during the early 1990s, combined with the rapid decrease in price of computer systems and storage, made BBSes increasingly popular. By the mid-1990s there were almost 40,000 FidoNet systems in operation, and it was possible to communicate with millions of users around the world. Only [[UUCP#UUCPNET and mapping|UUCPNET]] came close in terms of breadth or numbers; FidoNet's user base far surpassed other networks like [[BITNET]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fgZ5DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT77 |title=VeriSM ™ - unwrapped and applied|last1=Agutter |first1=Claire |last2=Botha |first2=Johann |last3=Hove |first3=Suzanne D. Van |date=2018 |publisher=Van Haren |isbn=9789401803717|language=en}}</ref> | ||
The broad availability of low-cost [[Internet]] connections starting in the mid-1990s lessened the need for FidoNet's store-and-forward system, as any system in the world could be reached for equal cost. Direct dialing into local BBS systems rapidly declined. Although FidoNet has shrunk considerably since the late 1990s, it has remained in use | The broad availability of low-cost [[Internet]] connections starting in the mid-1990s lessened the need for FidoNet's store-and-forward system, as any system in the world could be reached for equal cost. Direct dialing into local BBS systems rapidly declined. Although FidoNet has shrunk considerably since the late 1990s, it has remained in use into 2016<ref>{{cite web |last1=Edwards |first1=Benj |title=The Lost Civilization of Dial-Up Bulletin Board Systems |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/11/the-lost-civilization-of-dial-up-bulletin-board-systems/506465/ |website=The Atlantic|date=4 November 2016 }}</ref> despite internet connectivity becoming more widespread. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
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}}</ref> Jennings set up the system in [[San Francisco]] sometime in early 1984. Another early user was John Madill, who was trying to set up a similar system in [[Baltimore]] on his [[Rainbow 100]]. Fido started spreading to new systems, and Jennings eventually started keeping an informal list of their phone numbers, with Jennings becoming #1 and Madill #2.<ref name=baker>Ben Baker, [http://www.fidonet.ca/baker.htm "Fidonet History"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314014550/http://www.fidonet.ca/baker.htm |date=2018-03-14 }}, 2 May 1987</ref> | }}</ref> Jennings set up the system in [[San Francisco]] sometime in early 1984. Another early user was John Madill, who was trying to set up a similar system in [[Baltimore]] on his [[Rainbow 100]]. Fido started spreading to new systems, and Jennings eventually started keeping an informal list of their phone numbers, with Jennings becoming #1 and Madill #2.<ref name=baker>Ben Baker, [http://www.fidonet.ca/baker.htm "Fidonet History"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314014550/http://www.fidonet.ca/baker.htm |date=2018-03-14 }}, 2 May 1987</ref> | ||
Jennings released the first version of the FidoNet software in June 1984. In early 1985 he wrote a document explaining the operations of the FidoNet, along with a short portion on the history of the system. In this version, FidoNet was developed as a way to exchange mail between the first two Fido BBS systems, Jennings' and Madill's, to "see if it could be done, merely for the fun of it". This was first supported in Fido V7, "sometime in June 84 or so".<ref name=tom>Tom Jennings, [http://www.worldpowersystems.com/FidoNet/fidohist1.txt "FidoNet History and Operation"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821110859/http://www.worldpowersystems.com/FidoNet/fidohist1.txt |date=2014-08-21 }}, February 1985</ref><ref name="bbsdoc">Jason Scott Sadofsky | Jennings released the first version of the FidoNet software in June 1984. In early 1985 he wrote a document explaining the operations of the FidoNet, along with a short portion on the history of the system. In this version, FidoNet was developed as a way to exchange mail between the first two Fido BBS systems, Jennings' and Madill's, to "see if it could be done, merely for the fun of it". This was first supported in Fido V7, "sometime in June 84 or so".<ref name=tom>Tom Jennings, [http://www.worldpowersystems.com/FidoNet/fidohist1.txt "FidoNet History and Operation"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821110859/http://www.worldpowersystems.com/FidoNet/fidohist1.txt |date=2014-08-21 }}, February 1985</ref><ref name="bbsdoc">{{cite av|first=Jason|last=Scott Sadofsky|author-link=Jason Scott|url=https://imdb.com/title/tt0460402|title=BBS: The Documentary|section=FIDONET Episode|date=21 May 2005}}</ref><ref name="byte198410">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1984-10/1984_10_BYTE_09-11_Databases#page/n353/mode/2up | title=FidoNet, Sidekick, Apple, Get Organized!, and Handle | work=BYTE | date=October 1984 | access-date=23 October 2013 |author1=Markoff, John |author2=Shapiro, Ezra | page=357}}</ref> | ||
====Ben Baker's account==== | ====Ben Baker's account==== | ||
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The original ''Fido BBS'' software, and some other FidoNet-supporting software from the 1980s, is no longer functional on modern systems. This is for several reasons, including problems related to the [[Y2K bug]]. In some cases, the original authors have left the [[Bulletin board system|BBS]] or [[shareware]] community, and the software, much of which was [[closed source]], is no longer supported. | The original ''Fido BBS'' software, and some other FidoNet-supporting software from the 1980s, is no longer functional on modern systems. This is for several reasons, including problems related to the [[Y2K bug]]. In some cases, the original authors have left the [[Bulletin board system|BBS]] or [[shareware]] community, and the software, much of which was [[closed source]], is no longer supported. | ||
Several DOS-based legacy FidoNet Mailers such as [[FrontDoor]], Intermail, MainDoor and D'Bridge from the early 1990s can still be run today under Windows without a modem, by using the freeware | Several DOS-based legacy FidoNet Mailers such as [[FrontDoor]], Intermail, MainDoor and D'Bridge from the early 1990s can still be run today under Windows without a modem, by using the freeware NetFoss Telnet [[FOSSIL]] driver, and by using a Virtual Modem such as NetSerial. This allows the mailer to ''dial'' an IP address or hostname via Telnet, rather than dialing a real [[Plain old telephone service|POTS]] phone number. There are similar solutions for Linux such as MODEMU (modem emulator) which has limited success when combined with [[DOSEMU]] (DOS emulator). | ||
Mail Tossers such as FastEcho and FMail are still used today under both Windows and Linux/DOSEMU. | Mail Tossers such as FastEcho and FMail are still used today under both Windows and Linux/DOSEMU. | ||
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{{commons category}} | {{commons category}} | ||
* {{Official website|http://www.fidonet.org/ }} | * {{Official website|http://www.fidonet.org/ }} | ||
* | * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250514153531/http://fidonet.us/ |title=Alternate US FidoNet Home Page}} | ||
* [http://www.ftsc.org/ FidoNet Technical Standards Committee Home Page] | * [http://www.ftsc.org/ FidoNet Technical Standards Committee Home Page] | ||
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050124105035/http://fidonews.org/ FidoNews, the weekly newsletter of the FidoNet community] | * [https://web.archive.org/web/20050124105035/http://fidonews.org/ FidoNews, the weekly newsletter of the FidoNet community] | ||