Hi Folks,

This is important.

I was pretty sure most everyone realized this, but I guess not.

I just want to remind everyone that there is no "open hatching" on the
filegate.

That means ONLY coordinators of specific FDNs are authorized to release files
into the stream...

If you are not a File Distribution Coordinator listed with an FDN in
Filegate.zxx, you should only pass files received from your uplink to your
DOWNLINKS.

You should never use the hatch command to distribute some cool file you think
the world needs.  Send it one of the appropriate coordinators listed in
filegate.zxx.

Or, if you find a cool file you'd like released, check the FDN list in
filegate.zxx to see if that FDN has a "To HeadQuarters" area.  You ARE allowed
to hatch that new file TO THE COORDINATOR only in that area.. He can test it,
fix a long filename problem, and get it out to the rest of Fidonet.

I have my system set up to protect against just anyone of my downlinks
hatching, however given the way BBBS lets sysops areafix to add file areas, the
 specific flag to disallow hatching is not added to the node's entry for the
area requested automatically ( we want it to be "receive only".

I have to manually add that flag (such as >1:282/xxx) which allows that node to
 receive files, but does not allow that node to send out files into the stream
from here.

The way bbbs leaves newly areafixed file areas is to allow hatching and
receiving instead, for example, 1:282/xxx.  So I have to manually change that
nodes' permissions if a new area is requested, etc., from 1:282/xxx to
>1:282/xxx.

Open Hatching (anyone in fidonet hatching files into the stream) is too
impractical, no one takes responsibility for cleaning up mistakes made when a
sysop hatches a "mistake" because the sysop hasn't agreed to do it, like the
FDN Coordinators have.

It can also create dupe file releases and busy up our distribution and
unwarranted dupe releases can tie up our mailers unnecessarily...  Who need 5
versions of the latest door file, or utility coming from multiple systems
multiple times?

We had an instance yesterday that I missed because I'm still fighting this
sinus infection that knocked me out.  It's getting better but it's not gone
yet.

The point is I missed this happening yesterday until Bob Seaborn contacted me.
(Thank you Bob 

The file sent out was

: not an 8X3 filename

*We cannot release long filenames because many systems cannot deal with them).

*I received a number of complaints from sysops who could not process the file.

I'll be contacting that sysop shortly.  In the meantime, I just wanted to
remind everyone that this was not done intentionally by one of the FileGate
Coordinators and at for that area the permissions are fixed.

When I'm finished with all these meds I'm currently on, I'll go over all the
other file areas in my tick config to make sure this does not happen again.

Thanks to all for understanding.

Take care,
Janis

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Dada-2
 * Origin: Prism bbs (1:261/38)