Classic Comp UUCP network.

From: Lawrence LeMay <lemay_at_cs.umn.edu>
Date: Sat Feb 9 14:22:08 2002

>
> Actually, I'm sort of surprised we aren't already running an extensive
> UUCP network... The only reason I can guess as to /why that is/ would be
> that everyone's too busy collecting old computer systems to actually do
> something on a grander scale with them.
>
> -brian.
>

UUCP is primarily a 'local' setup, ie, between computers within your
non-long-distance telephone network. Sure, there were exceptions, but
it all comes down to who is going to pay the long distance telephone
charges.

For example, in the old days, when the internet was still the Arpanet,
the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis had a good ARPAnet feed. The
computer science department had a couple high speed Telebit Trailblazer
modems setup for UUCP connections to various local companies in the
Minneapolis/St Paul local dialing area, which at the time was a very large
area (something like 4 or 5 large counties if I recall correctly). So,
we were being nice and providing a service that we didnt really need,
but that the buisnesses that couldnt possibly afford or qualify for
an Arpanet feed did need. And we provided this service to companies
who then would reciprocate and provide UUCP to several more companies
each, thus creating an expanding web of service for email and the
occasional file transfer.

Now, we would never have provided such a service for a long distance
buisness, though I supopse if that buisness had plenty of money but
couldnt qualify for Arpanet, they might have arranged something with
a dedicated phone line, or paid a lot of long distance bills.

But today, with the interest in UUCP existing in only a few hobbyists,
many of which are scattered and not within local telephone distance,
setting up a major UUCP network isnt feasable. Sure, if you can
convince a few local people, you can do it locally. But there isnt any
real useful purpose for it, and who wants to tie up phone lines with dial-in
modems?

If you want a local demo, you might as well set one up with each simulated
demo site within the same building, and setup a fake telephone network so
you're not paying the phone company for unneeded service each month.

-Lawrence LeMay
Received on Sat Feb 09 2002 - 14:22:08 GMT