Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!gsm001!mailgsm
From: root@mailgsm.mendelson.com (Superuser)
Newsgroups: comp.os.coherent
Subject: Re: How to get files from piggy via mail
Message-ID: <15889112@mailgsm.mendelson.com>
Date: 23 Apr 91 02:11:26 GMT
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Organization: GNEWS Development Center -- Philadelphia, Pa.
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hans@pine.circa.ufl.edu (Hans van Oostrom) writes:
>
>For all you unlucky people without ftp access, there is a way to get 
>files from piggy (or any machine) send to you via uuencoded mail.
>
>Do the following:
>send a mail message to bitftp@pucc.bitnet with the following body
>....
>
>This ftp server was established for bitnet users, but I don't see why 
>other non-ftp users can't use it.  I tried it and you don't have to be 
>on BITNET to use it.
>
BITNET has a very strict charter concerning what you can and cannot do. Before
anyone starts getting large files over the BITNET-INTERNET bridge, they should
get permission of the people at Princeton (PUCC).

While there is no techincal reason that prevents using it, you may find there
is a political one. My personal experience is that minor infractions of the 
BITNET rules will be overlooked, but major ones are not.

Have any of you noticed that there is no BITNET connection to the commerical
information services?

This is because the BITNET board of directors (unlike the INTERNET "net.gods" 
that no one has ever seen, the board is real people.) refused to allow them 
access. Commerical networks are not for the likes of BITNET.

You can get mail to/from compuserve via the INTERNET, but that is overlooked 
as long as the volume stays small.  

If the BITNET users of bitftp were to start complaining about turnaround time,
there might be trouble. 

As part of a project for a client I was required to read all the documentation
and contracts BITNET provided. These people take their network seriously. They
use it to perform their daily work. They will not take kindly to someone 
tying up their INTERNET mail bridge to sneak ftp access.

For example, people at commerical installations (sort of second class citizens)
are allowed unlimited mail to/from noncomercial ones, but the only allowable 
mail between commerical installations is that which "relates to the operation of
the network".

Disclaimer:

I don't work for BITNET, I have nothing to do with BITNET. 

BITNET has nothing to do with me.

(I do use the INTERNET-BITNET mail bridge and would like see it stay around).


------
Geoffrey S. Mendelson