Hi! Alexander,   
      
   On 30/04/14 15:11, you wrote:   
      
    PQ>> The backbone to the system rides on a world-wide network called   
    PQ>> Fidonet. (Check the Wikipedia for more information.) There are many   
    PQ>> other Fidonet-style networks, formed for specific purposes.   
      
    ak> Well, it seems to me, it is correct to say that NNTP is the protocol   
    ak> of USENET network. There are many USENET servers; every of them can   
    ak> contain up to 100 thousand groups. Fidonet is a different network, but   
    ak> it can be seen in USENET. The messages from any Fidonet echo can be   
    ak> copied to USENET server, and all USENET users can read them or write   
    ak> new.   
      
   Yes.  All that you say is true.  There are many exceptions however. The   
   primary difference between Fidonet and USENET is that our Fido servers are our   
   own PCs, and not huge 'server' machines in data centres serviced by   
   technicians.   
      
    ak> But actually they use USENET, not Fidonet.   
      
   Yes, with exceptions.   
      
    ak> The computer that transfers the Fidonet echos to USENET groups is   
    ak> called "gate" (at least in Russia). I believe that   
    ak> quinnspost.nodelist.net is such a gate, and, besides, it is actually a   
    ak> USENET server.   
      
   Agreed, with respect to the gates as you describe them.  OTOH, q   
   innspost.nodelist.net is /not/ such a thing.  It is a pure Fidonet system with   
   a Fidonet mailer, a BBS and a NNTP server (serving only Fidonet echoes   
   [groups]), and a mailing list server (serving only a subset of Fidonet echoes   
   to email users).  The NNTP software installed & configured _here_ is a Fidonet   
   program, designed by a Fidonet programmer, for use by Fidonet system   
   operators, and, to serve Fidonet users.   
      
   You may find that some (most?) Russian gate systems serve not only Fidonet   
   echoes but also USENET groups.  You may also discover that these systems are   
   run from Russian businesses, on company time and funding.   
      
    ak> It seems to me that USENET network has nothing to do with Fidonet   
    ak> network. Both of them can live separately and independently. Fidonet   
    ak> can live even without Internet.   
      
   Yes.  We use 'the internet' for transport (file transfer protocols) & access   
   services only (NNTP protocols).  You will see the difference between the two   
   networks when you go to make new/reply posts and cannot enter a 'To:"   
   addressee on a USENET newsgroup.  Some Fidonet NNTP systems can, particularly   
   in the case of systems using the NNTP software installed here.   
      
    ak> So, my question was rather about USENET network. Does it has the main   
    ak> server and  other servers read/write news through it?   
      
   I'm not an authority on the USENET.  However, I will hazard a guess and say   
   that it uses a similar methodology of the "store & forward" style as does   
   Fidonet, where messages are shared between peer systems.  There ought *not* be   
   a central server since this would go against the basic reason for having an   
   internet, where mail packets can be routed around any single system failure,   
   and, held until a system comes back online.   
      
   Cheers,   
   Paul.   
      
   --- Paul's Win98SE VirtualBox   
    * Origin: Quinn's Post - Maryborough, Queensland, OZ (3:640/384)