karn@ka9q.bellcore.com (Phil Karn) (04/05/89)
For some time, I've been getting mail of the form "I want a copy of your code but I can't FTP from here". Lately these requests have reached a fever pitch. It has gotten to the point where I simply have no choice but to put my foot down and say that I can't honor any more such requests. Figuring out how to get a large binary file to somebody through a jury-rigged chain of UUCP sites and/or FOOBARNET mail gateways is extremely time-consuming and tedious. I'm sure people would rather have me spend my time coding! Furthermore, shipping large files like the KA9Q TCP/IP sources through the mail gateways that do exist to other networks is, in my opinion, abusing the hospitality of the gateway operators. In most (if not all) cases, these paths use dialup phone links, with the gateway operators footing their own phone bills in order to provide a courtesy to others. If you cannot access the anonymous FTP directories on flash.bellcore.com or louie.udel.edu, I suggest the following alternative ways to obtain the code: 1. If you are at a university, commercial or governmental institution that has an internal computer network, jump up and down until you convince your management that you should join the Internet. With the development of the NSFNET backbone and the regional networks, Internet connectivity is now available to almost any organization doing research or development, not just those with DoD contracts. The Internet is so incredibly useful for so many things that it is becoming at least as essential as telephone service for an awful lot of people. 2. If you cannot get on the Internet, find a friend who *is* on the net and get them to fetch the code for you. I encourage people to set up informal "networks" to distribute copies of my code to their friends, as long as the use is non-commercial. You may ship disks around, use bulletin boards or do direct phone or packet radio transfers; your choice. I strongly encourage those with Internet access to make current copies of the code available to others, e.g., by public access UUCP a la N3EUA's or WB3FFV's UNIX systems. Given the time it takes to send the stuff even at 2400 baud, I'm sure these two systems could use some help in sharing the load. 3. If all else fails, wait until the new releases are announced as being available through the TAPR office on floppy. You will have to wait a while, as TAPR prefers to deal only with "official" releases, not the "snapshots" of development code I've been regularly putting out for testing. The only exception I will make to my rule of staying out of the code distribution business is for people who have already proven themselves as contributors to the coding effort. For these relatively few people I am willing to prepare and mail floppies when necessary, but because of the time and expense I am simply unable to do this for everyone who asks. Thanks for your understanding. Phil Karn, KA9Q
nelson@sun.soe.clarkson.edu (Russ Nelson) (04/06/89)
I'll put bits on Clarkson's archive server as I get them. Send 'help' to archive-server@sun.soe.clarkson.edu. If you get no reply, include a 'path' command that gives a path to you from an Internet site. -- --russ (nelson@clutx [.bitnet | .clarkson.edu]) If you can, help others. If you can't, | Leftoid and proud of it at least don't hurt others--the Dalai Lama |
res@cbnews.ATT.COM (Robert E. Stampfli) (04/06/89)
In article <15144@bellcore.bellcore.com> karn@ka9q.bellcore.com (Phil Karn) writes:
-For some time, I've been getting mail of the form "I want a copy of your
-code but I can't FTP from here".
-
-It has gotten to the point where I simply have no choice but to put my foot
-down and say that I can't honor any more such requests.
Gee, Phil, that gives a new meaning to your "Organization" header line:
"Secular Humanists for No Code" :^)
Rob Stampfli
att!cblpe!res (work)
osu-cis!n8emr!kd8wk!res (home)keith@g4lzv.co.uk (Keith Brazington) (04/10/89)
In article <15144@bellcore.bellcore.com>, karn@ka9q.bellcore.com (Phil Karn) writes: > For some time, I've been getting mail of the form "I want a copy of your > code but I can't FTP from here". Lately these requests have reached a fever > pitch. > 1. If you are at a university, commercial or governmental institution that > 2. If you cannot get on the Internet, find a friend who *is* on the net and > 3. If all else fails, wait until the new releases are announced as being or 4. Mail keith@g4lzv.co.uk and I'll send you the latest bits as I get them, including the G1EMM add on's. This applies to European or UK sites only. I only have UUCP access to the net, so mail is the only way out! > Thanks for your understanding. Thanks for the hard-work! :-) > Phil Karn, KA9Q Keith Brazington G4LZV -- UUCP ..!mcvax!ukc!pyrltd!slxsys!g4lzv!keith | Keith Brazington Smart mail keith@g4lzv.co.uk | 5b Northgate Rochester Kent UK Ampanet [44.131.8.1] and [44.131.8.3] | +44 634 811594 Voice Packet G4LZV @ GB7SEK -- G4LZV USENET BB --| +44 634 401210 Data v22,v22bis