Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!crdgw1!uunet!island!daniel
From: daniel@island.COM (Daniel Smith - part of the caffeine generation)
Newsgroups: comp.mail.misc
Subject: Re: BITFTP grief!
Message-ID: <4155@island.COM>
Date: 6 Jun 91 21:53:16 GMT
References: <42955@cup.portal.com>
Organization: Island Graphics, Marin County, California
Lines: 37

In <42955@cup.portal.com> kcoady@cup.portal.com (Kathleen Ellen Coady) writes:

> I don't see why any other network should accept a file transfer request from
> BITNET if BITNET isn't going to accept any of theirs.  When my system goes
> online, I'm going to bounce all such traffic from any BITNET node that 
> doesn't provide a public login and phone number where the files they ftp
> to other BITNET sites can be had by everyone else for the price of the 
> phone call.

	You're confused.

	emailing to bitftp to have that program grab a file for
you is different than using ftp yourself.  The whole issue is that people
all over the world (including me) were taking advantage of bitftp
(which was at just one site) to obtain files via email.  That program's
access, so to speak, is now restricted to bitnet sites.  Bitnet sites
accept file transfer requests if you're using ftp.

	Your suggestion of bouncing traffic is amusing.  Are you saying
that you would send a 100k back to where it came from (generating 200k
total of transfers), thus further loading down any given connection?

	If you want to get files for the price of a phone call (and a little
more), call uunet.  They have a 900 number.

	I seconded a suggestion a while back that uunet obtain the BITFTP
software, and offer it as a service to their customers.  They would make
a little money off of it, save some of their staff time (less time spent
looking at ftp-request mail), and in turn, some of the sites that get software
from uunet may make their archives available.

				Daniel
-- 
daniel@island.com       Daniel Smith, Island Graphics, (415) 491 0765 x 250(w)
daniel@world.std.com      4000 CivicCenterDrive SanRafael MarinCounty CA 94903
dansmith@well.sf.ca.us      Fax: 491 0402 Disclaimer: Hey, I wrote it, not IG!
falling/yes I'm falling/and she keeps calling/me back again - IJSaF, Beatles