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Date   : Fri, 26 Jul 1991 06:50:45 GMT
From   : bobsbox!gnat!cmcewen@rutgers.edu (Chris McEwen)
Subject: RCP/Ms and Z-Nodes

Last week I answered a question and then went away on vacation.
Seems my message generated a series of subsequent messages:

On 18 Jul 91 12:41:31 GMT, dcook@spam.ua.oz (David Cook) wrote:
>>In article <42u953w164w@gnat.rent.com> cmcewen@gnat.rent.com
>>(Chris McEwen) writes:
>>The 'uncompressor' you want is in either CRUNCH28.LBR or
>>CRLZHnn.LBR (last CRLZH I have is version 1.1 but I think 1.2
>>is out). Either or both are readily available on Z-Nodes
>>around the country.

>Which country ? Please remember that this is an *international*
>network ...

You are quite right, David. My apologies. I had no intension of
slighting anyone outside the United States.

>I don't know what exactly a Z-node is, and I sure *don't* want to
>pay the phone bill for calling one from Australia :-)

Nor would I! :-) A Z-Node is a bbs that is devoted to supporting
CP/M and ZCPR. Most are run as RCP/Ms.

On 19 Jul 91 02:42:19 GMT, etrmg@levels.unisa.edu.au (What a Guy!)wrote:
>A Z-node is a place where BBS heads into the Z-system should be!!

While on 20 Jul 91 22:13:47 GMT, ianj@ijpc.UUCP (Ian Justman) continues:
>Mr. McEwen seems to have forgotten that there are sites called
>"RCP/Ms".  Not everyone who runs a CP/M BBS necessarily runs a
>Z-Node, Chris.  In fact, the RCP/M is the direct ancestor to the
>Z-Nodes.  Don't also forget that Z-Nodes are, by their very
>nature, RCP/Ms.

Ian, a Z-Node and an RCP/M are not necessarily the same. My system
is both. That is, it is an RCP/M that is dedicated to supporting
CP/M and Z-System users. But as matter of definition, the term
RCP/M refers to a system whereby the users are permitted access
to the CP/M operating system. What they may *find* there depends
on what the system is established to support. Of course, many do
support our operating system, but I've known many RCP/Ms used to
support private businesses, writers' groups, clubs. That was why
I mentioned Z-Nodes.

Support for CP/M does not have to come from a CP/M based machine.
There are people running Z-Nodes (supporting CP/M and ZCPR) from
other platforms. So Z-Nodes are not, by their very nature, RCP/Ms.

Then, on 18 Jul 91 18:16:20 GMT, davem@ersys.edmonton.ab.ca
(Dave McCrady) wrote:
>Accoring to my list there are two Z-Nodes in Australia:
>#62 in Perth at 61-9-450-0200
>#50 in Alice Springs, NT  at 61-089-528-852

To which etrmg@levels.unisa.edu.au (What a Guy!) replied:
>Well, that list is bogus.  Z-node #50 has not been in existance
>for at least two years. I remember calling it in late '89 only to
>find it disconnected. The good news is that:  Z-node 62, run by
>Lindsay Allen & Ron Murray is going quite nicely.  They are even
>on Fido-net.  If anyone wants the ZN62 Fido-net node number, I'll
>get it for them!

This brings us full circle. (1) A Z-Node is a bbs (usually but not
always an RCP/M) to support CP/M and ZCPR. (2) Many RCP/Ms support
CP/M and ZCPR but few outside the United States have been listed,
at least so far as the rest of us would know. Ian Cottrell publishes
a list of RCPMs and Jay Sage releases the list of Z-Nodes. I have
published the Z-Node list in the last two issues of TCJ. The RCP/M
listing is too large to print.

Sysops of either should get their systems listed so that support
for users can be available in their own countries. Jay reads this
news group. His Internet address is SAGE@LL.MIT.EDU. So far as I
know, Ian is not on the net. I can forward mail to him for you. We
need your help in compiling the information! Thanks.


Chris McEwen      Internet: cmcewen@gnat.rent.com | The Computer Journal
Editor, TCJ    uucp: ..!att!nsscmail!gnat!cmcewen | PO Box 12
                        GEnie: c.mcewen -or- TCJ$ | S Plainfield NJ 07080
                                                  | (908) 755-6186

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