[net.wanted] Summary of responses to request for UUCP route generators

jim (11/12/82)

Sorry this took so long.  The responses are still trickling in.

My original request was for a program that would read a uucp map, such
as those sent out once a month or so on net.news.map, and given two
uucp sites, would generate a list of possible shortest routes between
those two sites.  My apologies for not answering everyone individually.

The most widely used route generator seems to be the one written by
Steve Bellovin at UNC.  It expects to use a map containing not just a
list of sites and who they are connected to, but also "quality of
connection" information.  It will route you through six machines that
poll each other once an hour rather than through one that only polls
once a week.  The drawback is that it is hard to keep the database up
to date.  I have a copy of the program now, but I haven't used it
enough to evaluate it yet.  Steve Bellovin is apparently leaving UNC,
and I don't know who will be taking responsibility for the program.

Here are some of the responses I got back:

>From cornell!cbosgd!mark Wed Nov  3 03:20:49 1982
  Date: 2-Nov-82 12:03:45-EST (Tue)
  Full-Name: Mark Horton
  Subject: Uucp route generator
  To: jim@uw-beaver.uucp

  Steve Bellovin is in limbo right now between Ph.D. thesis and starting
  work at Bell Labs.  I have a fairly recent (1 month old database, 2 or 3
  month old routing program) which I can send you if you'll send me your
  UUCP info, or you can get it over the arpanet from Raleigh Romine
  (romine@seismo).

  	Mark

>From microsof!decvax!harpo!duke!unc!wm Tue Nov  2 06:33:10 1982
  Date:     1 Nov 82 22:42:40 EST  (Mon)
  Original-From:     Wm Leler <wm@unc>
  To:       harpo!decvax!microsof!uw-beave!jim@duke.uucp

  You asked about the program that does automatic routing?
  I use it all the time.  Send mail to unc!smb (we just call
  him smb@unc) for more information.

  		Wm Leler - UNC Chapel Hill

>From microsof!hp-pcd!tw Thu Nov  4 00:28:57 1982
  Date:      3 Nov 1982 23:35-PST (Wednesday)
  Full-Name: Tw Cook - Hewlett-Packard PCD - Corvallis, Oregon
  Subject:   mailer programs
  To:        microsoft^uw-beaver^jim


  The UNC project got done, more or less.  The software distributed with it
  expects hooks to be put into delivermail, which I wasn't interested in
  doing; so I use it to generate the database but use the mail front end
  From 'notesfiles' in conjunction with that.  It is a GROSS kludge, but
  works pretty well.  You'd be much better off with almost anything else,
  but if no-one else comes through, let me know and I'll try to put together
  something for you.

  Tw

  [microsoft!hp-pcd!tw  or  twc.hplabs@Udel-relay]

>From lbl-unix!ucbvax!pur-ee!uiucdcs!donnelly Fri Nov  5 21:31:34 1982
  Date: 4-Nov-82 01:19:54-PST (Thu)
  From: ucbvax!ucbvax!pur-ee!uiucdcs!donnelly
  Subject: uucp route generator
  Message-Id: <8210040919.11212@UCBVAX.BERKELEY.ARPA>
  Received: by UCBVAX.BERKELEY.ARPA (3.227 [10/22/82])
  	id A11206; 4-Nov-82 01:19:57-PST (Thu)
  To: pur-ee!ucbvax!lbl-unix!uw-beaver!jim


  I've got one if you want it.  Its fairly fast.  Let me know

  			Jeff Donnelly (217) 333-6106
  			University of Illinois
  			pur-ee!uiucdcs!donnelly

>From microsof!decvax!harpo!druxv!cdash Tue Nov  2 16:27:42 1982
  Date: Tue Nov  2 10:02:24 1982
  From: c.m.shub
  TO: harpo!decvax!microsof!uw-beave!jim
  DATE: 11/2/82, 7:57 AM
  SUBJECT: routing
  sendmail `shortcut $1`

  saveIFS=$IFS; IFS=!
  l=
  for i in $1
  do
  	l="$i $l"
  done
  IFS=$saveIFS
  # $NEAL/misc/uuname.out is a list of direct access sites
  n=
  for i in $l
  do
  	#avoid a trailing '!': if n is null, set it to $i, else $i!$n
  	n=$i${n:+!$n}
  	if fgrep -x $i $NEAL/misc/uuname.out >/dev/null
  	then
  		break
  	fi
  done
  echo $n

  This guy shortens the route for replying to news articles
  is that what you wanted?

  ...druxv!cdash {charlie shub}