PECAMPBE@MTUS5.BITNET (12/03/90)
I have been running my own machine on the Merit network via dial-up SLFP.
It will connect with an address of 35.198.81.12, 35.198.81.13, or
35.198.81.14. At the current time, we are not assigned a name; however, we
are supposed to have all 3 lines labelled via.mtu1.merit.edu (from what
the local name servers seem to reveal). Actually, the names are not
broadcast, which is even better since the machines there change all the
time.
Under SLFP, there is a provision to get your ip address. It also
handles checksums and handshaking so that IP packets are pretty clean.
SLIP has no provisions. SLIP simply sends a single byte indicating that
an IP packet is coming up and then blasts the packet raw, trusting to the
various CRC's in UDP, TCP, and other protocols to resend or reject the
bad packets (which works well).
We are also implementing first a Usenet gateway (and hopefully
eventually a mail gateway) between Internet and the Citadel bbs network
from another machine.
The only problems we have had so far are:
In this area with only 3 dial-up lines that are also used for more
'normal' access to the Merit network, getting a line can often be a
problem. The gateway program runs through an 8-line site (no problems).
Without an 'official' name, a few ftp sites are being rather rude
and rejecting our connect attempts.
Since we are not continuously online, we can't receive mail from
this sort of gateway.
By the way, we would be eternally grateful if any of you who are
running POPmail sites would allow us to sign-up for your services. We
have already tried doing this with the University of Minnesota. After
several telephone calls, the administrator there insisted that it took
almost none of the resources to handle pop mail (it doesn't) and that
anyone could get it. All they wanted was $20/year. They sent my check
back with a letter explaining that this offer was not available to
anyone other than students at U of Minn. (even though I asked about
that specifically on the phone).