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Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!rutgers!mcnc!xanth!john
From: john@xanth.UUCP (John Owens)
Newsgroups: news.software.b
Subject: Re: A simple problem with feeding someone else
Message-ID: <2061@xanth.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 11-Aug-87 12:39:20 EDT
Article-I.D.: xanth.2061
Posted: Tue Aug 11 12:39:20 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 13-Aug-87 06:32:40 EDT
References: <159@hobbes.UUCP> <1817@xanth.UUCP> <166@hobbes.UUCP>
Organization: Old Dominion University, Norfolk Va.
Lines: 33
Summary: RFC needs to be changed

[I'm removing the "na" distribution.  While it was appropriate for the
original article, we're getting into areas that affect news systems
everywhere.]

In article <166@hobbes.UUCP>, root@hobbes.UUCP (John Plocher) writes:
> Note that in the document _Standard for Interchange of USENET Messages_
> (DRAFT RFCxxx which Obsoletes RFC 850 - Included with V2.11 News) under
> the heading 2.1.6.  Path:
> 
>   "Normally, the rightmost name will be the name of the originating system.
>   However, it is also permissible to include an extra entry on the right,
>   which is the name of the sender.  This is for upward compatibility with
>   older systems"
> 
> Is this a bug in v2.11 that it requires kludges to support "older systems"?
> (ie, is v2.11 an older system?)

I think that it's important to leave the Path: lines and their
handling as they are, and change the Draft RFC.  Systems still use the
Path: line for replies (if INTERNET is not defined), and there will
always be older systems around, so it's not feasible to remove the
name from the Path.  Conversely, if news systems pay attention to the
right-most component of the Path: line, then someone with a username
identical to a system name elsewhere will cause problems.

I submit that the RFC should specify that the rightmost component not
be used in Path matching and must always be present, after the
originating system name.  (Mark?)

-- 
John Owens		Old Dominion University - Norfolk, Virginia, USA
john@ODU.EDU		old arpa: john%odu.edu@RELAY.CS.NET
+1 804 440 4529		old uucp: {decuac,harvard,hoptoad,mcnc}!xanth!john