wrl@Ford-cos2.ARPA (Bill Lewandowski) (11/10/88)
Hi All, I would like to know if anyone can point me to a person, place thing (company) that can give me information on the Remote Mail program called "MMDF". As I understand it, a host can receive mail for an address, example "Harry%Sun-Cos@Ford-Cos2.arpa". Ford-COS2 would hold the mail and then Sun-Cos would call Ford-Cos2 and then retrieve the mail via an async line dial-up (I could be wrong though). I know that the Army is a big user of this program (routine). I would appreciate and information on MMDF or if anyone out there knows of a program thats about like this, I would really appreciate hearing about it. Bill Lewandowski Ford Aerospace Corp (719)594-1899 wrl@ford-cos2.arpa
farber@linc.cis.upenn.edu (David Farber) (11/20/88)
The following are two notes which I hope reflect properly the current
state of MMDF 2 distribution
Date: Sat, 19 Nov 88 22:07:19 -0500
From: Daniel Long <long@NNSC.NSF.NET>
Subject: MMDF2 Distribution
To: mmdf2@RELAY.CS.NET
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
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 either not csnet members (although I always
recommend they consider joining if eligible and getting all the
benefits) and who can not just pick up 4.3.
I am asking for the Udel license to be signed and will forward it to
Udel for record. We, at UPenn, 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 Farber; Prof. of CIS and EE, U of Penn, Philadelphia, PA
19104-6389 Tele: 215-898-9508; FAX: 215-274-8192 "The fundamental
principle of science, the definition almost, is this: the sole
test of the validity of any idea is experiment." -- R. P. Feynman