Interest in UUCP?

From: Anthony Clifton - Retrocomputing.com <vaxcat_at_retrocomputing.com>
Date: Wed Jun 13 19:24:00 2001

Well, there's lots of ways to transport data. The fastest is to connect your
Windows or Macintosh to an ISP, download files and write them to a compatible
floppy with some disk conversion software.

Answer 1: But we can already do that! =-D
Answer 2: What fun is that??? =-D

I think what I was thinking of was a way to DIRECTLY get mail, news and
files ON TO antique machines without having to use newer machines as an
intermediary.

In other words, a UUCP network of vintage machines all talking to each
other. Of course, there are SOME isps who still support UUCP but the
number is rapidly decreasing. Probably 99% of ISP folks would say,
"UU whatzit? You mean UUnet? Weren't they bought by WorldCom and
MCI? You want a T1? We can sell you a T1!"

My thought was a loosely connected network of vintage computers
connected by UUCP and bound together by some part-time (midnight)
dialup servers, which would allow you to send files DIRECTLY from
your Kaypro to someone else's CompuPro. Or from your Commodore
to someone's PDP-11.

I'm reasonably certain you can run UUCP not only on about anything
that has a hard disk but even some things that don't.

It also has the advantage of being a) VERY well tested software and
b) not under the control of any monolithic organization.

Anthony Clifton
Des Moines, Iowa

>>I've been thnking of this in a bit wider context.
>>With some of the changes happening on the Internet, it's
>>not quite as friendly as it used to be.
>
>You can still use the regular Internet as your transport
>and do away with the toll calls, can't you? A sledgehammer
>approach would be a VPN.
Received on Wed Jun 13 2001 - 19:24:00 BST