[Ok, here is the "announcement" of VUNIC/VUnet, which is my
effort to provide information and resources to get folks
connecting to each other via UUCP. It just seems natural that
we should connect our vintage computers with vintage networking.
I want to act as a facilitator to help make that happen.
Am I an expert at UUCP? Certainly not. That's why I'm
going to ask, as I get this project underway, for every little
shred of help I can get from those of you who ARE experts.
(I've set up UUCP clients and servers, mind you, but I'm by
no means an expert like many of you.)
Software, documentation, information, hints, tips, suggestions,
configuration assistance and moral support are all welcome.
I'll provide more information as things progress.]
June 14, 2001
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ANNOUNCING THE VINTAGE UUCP NETWORK INFORMATION CENTER
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TERMINOLOGY
VUNIC - Vintage UUCP Network Information Center
VUnet - Vintage UUCP Network
PURPOSE
[Some of this text is shamelessly copied from
http://www.uucp.org, the original site for The UUCP Mapping
Project.]
VUNIC is being started as a means to facilitate the exchange
of electronic mail, news and file transfers among vintage
computer collectors, restorers and preservations using the
UUCP store-and-forward transport mechanism. UUCP software,
originally part of the UNIX operating system became
available on a variety of operating systems and platforms,
from large mainframes to small home PC's. RFC 976 was
created to define the email format for these messages and
made it possible to shorten and simplify addressing for
UUCP-transported messages.
VUNIC's mission is to recreate a single worldwide database
of vintage systems connected to each other via UUCP and then using
path building software (such as pathalias) to determine the
optimal path from one system to another. Email addresses
using this system incorporate the use of the path as part
of the address. The UUCP Mapping Project, which concluded
at the end of 2000, is the model upon which VUNIC will be
built.
In addition, VUNIC will provide a web site with software
and documentation for building UUCP clients and servers
on vintage computer platforms as well as modern systems
to be used as Internet/VUnet gateways.
RESOURCES
VUNIC will operate a website and FTP server at
http://vunic.retrocomputing.com (coming soon)
for the purpose of distributing news, documentation and
software of interest to VUNIC/VUnet users.
VUnet will operate both dialup and Internet connected
UUCP servers for the purpose of facilitating transport
of mail, news and files for those who are unable to find
another method by which to connect.
INSTIGATOR(S)
VUNIC is the product of the twisted brain of Anthony
Clifton, retrocomputerist, unix system administrator and
general weirdo. You can find Anthony on the web at
http://www.iowanetworking.com or via email at
clifton_at_iowanetworking.com.
Received on Thu Jun 14 2001 - 22:14:28 BST