Date   : Tue, 16 Nov 2010 04:54:47 +0100
From   : rick@... (Rick Murray)
Subject: Beeb Networking - Was: No wonder CompSci graduates

On 15/11/2010 15:07, samwise wrote:

> Well, my theoretical idea is that this would work just like a
> traditional econet - so that real beebs could mix with emulated ones

I was, earlier this morning, going to post suggesting each 
country/region is allocated a network ID, thus France could be:
   33.<blah>

But I think, after some reflection, that it might be that each *site* 
would need its own ID if we're to handle emulated/real machines side by 
side - for hands up how many of you are running your server on x.254?

Perhaps a better way would be to fudge this with a little software 
"translation layer" where a main server tracks which machines are 
allocated which address on the internet (vaguely akin to BitTorrent), 
and this is translated to a local/non-local system at the user end. Sort 
of like an emulated bridge, only the station allocations can alter to 
allow better distribution in the available space (am I correct in 
thinking the network ID can only go up to 127?).


> 1) Yes, this would be a big menu.  I would expect to subdivide it into
> categories of software, and then have menus perhaps sorted
> alphabetically or by company

Makes sense. I'm just slightly worried by the size. Remember, memory is 
limited on a Beeb!


Best wishes,

Rick.

-- 
Rick Murray, eeePC901 & ADSL WiFI'd into it, all ETLAs!
BBC B: DNFS, 2 x 5.25" floppies, EPROM prog, Acorn TTX
E01S FileStore, A3000/A5000/RiscPC/various PCs/blahblah...