FTN Networking - Pequito/mystic-documentation GitHub Wiki

FTN stands for Fido Technology Network. It describes the addressing, message exchange, routing, and network conventions historically associated with FidoNet and now used by many independent BBS networks.

FidoNet is one FTN network. Mystic BBS can also participate in other FTN-style networks.

Documentation status

Initial conceptual documentation. Mystic-specific configuration pages will be added separately and verified against named releases.

Core Concepts

An FTN system typically involves:

  • Node — a BBS or system participating in the network
  • AKA — an FTN address assigned to a system
  • Uplink — another node from which a system receives or to which it sends network traffic
  • Echomail — shared public message areas distributed among participating systems
  • Netmail — addressed messages sent between FTN users or systems
  • Domain — a name used to distinguish one FTN network from another
  • Packet — a container used to transport FTN messages
  • BinkP — a commonly used protocol for moving FTN traffic over TCP/IP

Example FTN Address

21:1/100
│  │ │
│  │ └── Node
│  └──── Net
└─────── Zone

A point address adds another component:

1:123/456.7
│ │   │   │
│ │   │   └── Point
│ │   └────── Node
│ └────────── Net
└──────────── Zone

See FTN Addressing for a more complete explanation.

Mystic FTN Components

Mystic commonly uses several components when participating in FTNs:

Component General purpose
EchoMail Addresses Defines local FTN identities / AKAs
EchoMail Nodes Defines remote systems Mystic exchanges FTN traffic with
Message Bases Stores local, echomail, and netmail messages
MUTIL Performs message and file processing tasks
FIDOPOLL / polling functions Moves or schedules FTN traffic between systems
BinkP Network transport commonly used between FTN nodes
AreaFix Manages echomail area subscriptions
FileFix Manages file-echo subscriptions
TIC processing Processes metadata associated with FTN file echoes

The exact configuration and behavior can vary by Mystic release, so those topics will be documented on dedicated version-aware pages.

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