Text 2239, 51 rader
Skriven 2004-08-01 15:05:00 av Michiel van der Vlist (2:280/5555)
   Kommentar till text 2193 av Carol Shenkenberger (6:757/1)
Ärende: http compatability flag
===============================
Hello Carol,

 > MvdV> I think it /is/ within our mandate to specify required
 > MvdV> protocol(s). Policy specifically mentions the FTSC as
 > MvdV> the one to specify minumum required protocol. We could
 > MvdV> (and I think we should) specify different minimum p
 > MvdV> for PSTN/ISDN and IP.

 >  > The can 'suggest' one perhaps as being more common?

 > MvdV> Now that we have doumented the binkp protocol, I
 > MvdV> think it is within our mandate to declare that the
 > MvdV> minimum required protocol for ION's.

 > Just because we maybe 'can' doesnt mean 'should'.

No, but just because we are not compelled to, does not mean we shouldn't
either. We have a responsibility and we should not shed that just because we
can not be forced in any way. I think we should seriously consider.

 > Clearly the nodelist shows more than binkp in use and many ION's
 > who do not use binkp.

Not all that many.

 > At this stage of fidonet, forcing all ION's to add a protocol
 > they do not have, will just force nodes out of fidonet.  That
 > is not our job.

Our job is to look at the greater picture, beyond the need of the individual
node. Yes we may lose a few nodes when we make binkp mandatory. We should weigh
that against the result of NOT imposing a mandatory protocol. What we see is a
profileration of protocols. How many will throw in the towel for getting lost
in that maze? How many will give up in despair because they can not contact 70%
of the nodes in this network because they do not have a common protocol? How
many developers will quit under the pressure of having to implement YET ANOTHER
protocol?

By not mandating a common protocol, you effectively force everyone to support
as many protocols as possible. You do not force one protocl upon them but
umpteenth. How many nodes is that going to cost?

 > There is however nothing wrong in mentioning that binkp is
 > the most common of the IP set used in fidonet.

That's a waste of breath.

Cheers, Michiel

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