Re: Re: Future Messaging Proposal
By: August Abolins to John Dovey on Sun May 23 2021 17:25:00

I've investigated (and implemented to various degrees of
success) different networks types, including "SneakerNet"
and Mesh Networks.

The latter two sound like good candidates of a good story that
you're hold back from us!

<smile> Sure. If you want stories, I've got plenty :-) Some are maybe even relevent to this echo. Here's one:

Somewhere around 1988, I was busy with a COBOL Programming course. I'd gotten sponsered onto the course by a Gvt program for Veterans after having taken part in a competetive "aptitude" test so the cost of the course as covered but not much else. So there I was, doing programming stuff during the day on mainframe type computers, and hungry for info on these new-fangled PC things but with no easy way to get access to any.
Then I discovered that the local university computer labs had plenty available. Only for students though of course. I quickly figured out a way of loitering near the door until someone came out, then catching the door to be able to sneak in and start using them to teach muself about such exciting topics as DOS. It wasnt' too long and I's discovered that it was possible to do things like log in to the New York Public Library and browse their catalogue... all the way from South Africa. That was a thrillingdiscovery. let me tell you!
After some time, I discovered the newsgroups. Starting with Usenet of course.

My fellow students quickly discovered that I had an advantage. When we were given assignments or there were questions, I'd disappear and come back the next day with all sorts of answers and eventually they cornered me and I explained about the newsgroups where there were all sorts of interesting people who would answer questions and help out at the drop of a hat.

After that, I became the "hub" that collected messages from my fellow students (on floppy disks) and then I would upload their posts (as them) and download the latest posts back onto their floppy disks.. ie a literal sneakernet.

I used this same model in later years for various other projects I got involved in, but the big breakthrough was the FTN tech because it was possible to take actual "packets" and not have to do all kinds of interactive stuff with individual accounts etc.

One of the greatest advantages to all this was that it wasn't "FidoNet" but rather a completely private network that just used the technology. One particular project was impossible to achieve because of the typical military paranoia, until my solution showed that the transfer of messages was completely secure because it relied on "couriers" so the messages never travelled over any insecure lines, they were only sent and read on secured computers that were physically seperated from ANY comm lines. We also used PGP to both sign and encrypt every message before "transmission". Just as a side-note. This happened while we were under embargo from almost every country in the world so we had very little access to anything..

Any way,
I think this is at least tangentially relevant to the discusion.

JD

Boondock
===
BoonDock
El Gato de Fuego - elgato.synchronetbbs.org 4:92/1 - Pedasi/Panama



... Crisis management works beautifully until an actual crisis occurs.
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Hello John!

** On Monday 24.05.21 - 09:05, you wrote:

<smile> Sure. If you want stories, I've got plenty :-)
Some are maybe even relevent to this echo. Here's one:

Somewhere around 1988, I was busy with a COBOL Programming
course..

[...]

..It wasnt' too long and I's discovered that it was
possible to do things like log in to the New York Public
Library and browse their catalogue... all the way from
South Africa. That was a thrillingdiscovery. let me tell
you!

Indeed! I can relate to that.

My fellow students quickly discovered that I had an
advantage. When we were given assignments or there were
questions, I'd disappear and come back the next day with
all sorts of answers and eventually they cornered me and I
explained about the newsgroups..

Ha! You just couldn't resist getting the attention of being
someone who found the secret treasure.

After that, I became the "hub" that collected messages from
my fellow students (on floppy disks) and then I would
upload their posts (as them) and download the latest posts
back onto their floppy disks.. ie a literal sneakernet.

Wow.. I can imagine the process, the preparation and logistics
of it all.

..but the big breakthrough was the FTN tech because it was
possible to take actual "packets" and not have to do all
kinds of interactive stuff with individual accounts etc.

One of the greatest advantages to all this was that it
wasn't "FidoNet" but rather a completely private network
that just used the technology.

BBS tech utilizing FTN tech was gathering momemtum for private
(business) networks, clubs, etc. I thought that was
fascinating as well.

One particular project was impossible to achieve because of
the typical military paranoia, until my solution showed
that the transfer of messages was completely secure because
it relied on "couriers" so the messages never travelled
over any insecure lines, they were only sent and read on
secured computers that were physically seperated from ANY
comm lines.

I had a similar situation when working on military projects.
Transfers to distant labs was only arranged with recorded media
via human courier. Even the updated "code" for surveillance
sonar products for Sweden/Norway went by the fastest courier
available. It seemed like a huge expense when it was just for
a couple of what I think were just 256K eproms at a time.

There was however one exception when we could establish direct
dialup links with a sister developer located domestically. That
saved a LOT of time when programming code needed to be
reviewed, or when compiled binary segments needed to be tested
fast.

We also used PGP to both sign and encrypt every
message before "transmission". Just as a side-note. This
happened while we were under embargo from almost every
country in the world so we had very little access to
anything..

Now you've done it. That got me hunting. A little bit of
research revealed a series of footprints of your S.Africa
existence and at other domains over the years.

Is this one still good:

6C9E 70BB 4D1C AA0C 4E2A C010 493E 06F8 0DCB F508

It's the only one (albiet 6 years old) that matches your email
address.

One also has a picture attached, but it's older.

Any way,
I think this is at least tangentially relevant to the discusion.

It was a good read. Thanks. Sometimes a modest journey through
the past can inspire some new ideas for the future. A little
relatable digression adds to the conversation.

--
../|ug
--- OpenXP 5.0.50
* Origin: FUTURE4FIDO = https://t.me/joinchat/SV_BQ0XcbSRoP4bt (2:221/1.58)

Re: stories: networks types, including "SneakerNet"
By: August Abolins to John Dovey on Mon May 24 2021 20:52:00

Indeed! I can relate to that.

LOL.

Ha! You just couldn't resist getting the attention of being
someone who found the secret treasure.

Nah, more that it was a team effort and I couldn't convince them that I suddenly knew all kinds of stuff ....

BBS tech utilizing FTN tech was gathering momemtum for private
(business) networks, clubs, etc. I thought that was
fascinating as well.

Yup. I did a small consulting job for a pharmacy chain that used it for updating their catalogs and stock.

I had a similar situation when working on military projects.
Transfers to distant labs was only arranged with recorded media
via human courier. Even the updated "code" for surveillance
sonar products for Sweden/Norway went by the fastest courier
available. It seemed like a huge expense when it was just for
a couple of what I think were just 256K eproms at a time.

There is NO paranoia like military paranoia...

Now you've done it. That got me hunting. A little bit of
research revealed a series of footprints of your S.Africa
existence and at other domains over the years.

LOL. I think you're just bored...

Is this one still good:

No. It's supposed to expire and I need to recreat my "ring of trust".

It was a good read. Thanks. Sometimes a modest journey through
the past can inspire some new ideas for the future. A little
relatable digression adds to the conversation.

I hope so.

ALl the best
John

John
===
* El Gato de Fuego * 4:92/69 (FidoNet) * Pedasi, Panama


John

... A communist is a socialist without a sense of humour.
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