flash@lehi3b15.UUCP (Stephen Corbesero) (01/14/89)
We once had a CS-NET Phonenet connection, which used the MMDF software. It was a large set of programs and utilities, but the configuration was fairly simple. We have long since dropped our CS-NET connection, and have not used MMDF in quite some time. Does anyone out there use it as the system mailer? Is it possible to get newer copies of it? -- Stephen Corbesero flash@lehi3b15.UUCP VLSI Design Automation Lab flash@lehi3b15.CSEE.Lehigh.EDU Computer Science And Electrical Engineering, usgcorb@vax1.CC.Lehigh.EDU Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015
david@ms.uky.edu (David Herron -- One of the vertebrae) (01/28/89)
In article <437@lehi3b15.UUCP> flash@lehi3b15.UUCP (Stephen Corbesero) writes: >We once had a CS-NET Phonenet connection, which used the MMDF >software. ... >We have long since dropped our CS-NET connection, and have not used >MMDF in quite some time. Does anyone out there use it as the system >mailer? Is it possible to get newer copies of it? Yes we use it here, and there are other sites scattered around the country. The following messages should tell you how to get up-to-date copies of MMDF. Something it doesn't say is that you'll need to get the updates to MMDF, which you get via ftp from sh.cs.net. To: mmdf2@RELAY.CS.NET Subject: MMDF2 Distribution Date: Sat, 19 Nov 88 22:07:19 -0500 From: Daniel Long <long@NNSC.NSF.NET> Message-ID: <8811192250.aa29349@g.e.ms.uky.edu> Here's what I know: Historically, BRL handled distribution to U. S. Government sites. CSNET CIC handled distribution to CSNET members. UCL handled distribution to Europe. UDEL handled distribution to all others. We (CSNET) have followed distribution policy set by Dave Farber. To quote him: "Yup, I am the target. Let me say again our rules for MMDF II distribution outside the CSNET community. MMDF II is available to all not-for-profits (that includes Universities ) and for commercial companies who will not use it in a service mode to make money with it (thats for the free distribution) and who agree to feed back to the commmunity any fixes, improvments etc. We [UDEL] charge a $100 (US) fee to JUST cover tape, mailing, [and labor]". MMDF2 was also distributed with BSD 4.3 (upon which the current set of "updates" is based). My understanding of the terms of usage is that a license agreement was not required for sites who got the 4.3 version for non-commercial use. CSNET has always required members to execute a software license agreement for MMDF2 per our original agreement with UDEL. Various things have changed since the early days of MMDF distribution: Prof. Farber has left UDEL for UPENN BRL may no longer be the government distribution point The Army is making widespread use of MMDF and pockets of MMDF expertise are appearing at new places within the Army. CSNET has incorporated MMDF into its "generic" CSNET software agreement Where this leaves things is anyone's guess. I think the message that the "freely-available" (e.g. 4.3BSD) MMDF versions are not to be made into a commercial product is pretty clear. Less clear is exactly what the non-CSNET research community should do to get it, especially if they don't have 4.3 BSD. If anyone has any more up-to-date or clarifying info, I hope they will share it with the list. Regards, Dan (Disclaimer: I've met copyright lawyers. I'm no copyright lawyer. These are my personal opinions.) Date: Sun, 20 Nov 88 9:48:13 EST From: "David J. Farber" <farber@DSL.CIS.UPENN.EDU> To: mmdf2@RELAY.CS.NET Subject: MMDF 2 distribution Message-ID: <8811200648.aa00168@dsl.cis.upenn.edu.> As Dan Long said in a recent message , the current state of MMDF 2 distribution is certainly unclear. However I have been taking the position of acting as a informal agent for getting copies of MMDF 2 out to people who are not csnet members (although I always recommend they consider joining if eligable and get all the benefits) and who can not just pick up 4.3. I ask for the Udel license to be signed and forward it to Udel for record. We will not charge for the distribution (if a tape is supplied) but are NOT prepared to offer help, advise , cure problems etc. Dave David J. Farber; Prof. of CS and EE, Director - Distributed Systems Labs. University of Pennsylvania/200 South 33rd Street/Philadelphia,PA/19104-6389 Tele: 215-898-9508(office), 215-274-8292(home); FAX: 215-274-8192 -- <-- David Herron; an MMDF guy <david@ms.uky.edu> <-- ska: David le casse\*' {rutgers,uunet}!ukma!david, david@UKMA.BITNET <-- Now I know how Zonker felt when he graduated ... <-- Stop! Wait! I didn't mean to!