[REQ] NNTP Usenet Gateway

[Eibwen]

Hello all!

I was thinking, that why doesn't SMF have yet NNTP Usenet Gateway, such as this one [nofollow] for vB.

What is it?

This hack provides a gateway from vBulletin forums to the USENET. It allows forum members to read newsgroup messages as well as to send posts to the newsgroups. In a nutshell, it turns vBulletin forums into a basic function news reader.

For an added bonus, this package also supports mailing list archive and forum to mailing list gateway. The software retrieves messages from a pop3 account and import them into the forums threaded. It also allows a forums user to send messages to the mailing list by the forum posting interface.

Why?

The gateway will be appreciated by forum members who do not know how to set up a news reader, or people who do not have port 119 open in their network. A forum interface to read and post news are often considered to be better than a news reader.

The gateway adds more contents to your forums and allows the members to interact with wider audience. It is common to see new users signing up to use this feature.

[Eibwen]

I was thinking to bump up this topic a bit..

Isn't there really no-one else that's interested about having USENET News in their board?? 

[Midgard]

It's really required?

[[Unknown]]

I'm afraid this isn't a commonly requested feature.  However, it wouldn't be that hard to implement the basic NNTP protocol and pull and push messages.

-[Unknown]

[deejayh]

Yes! I would  like this feature.

I am seeing more and more (other poor) boards with this added!

Any body else for it?
Dave

[mocax]

I guess have to consider syncing with a nntp server, filtering spam and archiving
And preventing spam from users to newsgroups too.

[Claire]

just like bbs software circa early 1990-1991 

[claygucci]

It's a done deal baby. goto www.echoforums.com

sign up, then sign up for any newsgroup or other echos you want. Sign up for alt.bbs and say hello!

[Sheepy]

It's a done deal baby.

I would prefer it if I don't have to rely on external services...

[claygucci]

Well, the bbs days were echos like FidoNet, ChateauNet, CCiNET, FelonyNET, etc.   When you try to "echo" a discussion from different nodes/sites/boards(I'm talking to separate sites, not 2 boards on the same account) I would think you would have access to those other databases that the sites in the echos use, or have some way that your site "packages" your information and send its to some 'cross complaint'  which in turn reads the information and puts it into the other database (of the other site that is in the echo).  Basically using a liaison/middleman.

i.e. I don't know how you would do this without "external services"

NG's , I've seen it done without EchoForums. If that's what you are after you could probally find a free mod. 

But if you wanted a true Echostyle sort of "global discussion" then the only thing I see is echoforums.  Unfortunately it costs money, 45 a year is not  a  bad deal though. 

Also, a kind of cool thing to me. When you join the discussions and start receiving the messages from the echo's , all those members from different boards become members of your site. Within a day or so, you'll get all the members that are active in those discussions .  In my signature I put posted from xxx.com blah blah blah and users of the NG's or other Echo-style discussions see it and come to my site and sign up.  Plus if I'm bored it puts alot of good discussions and NG's  that *I* like at my fingertips and I can post to them right from my board, using SMF!

You have to create a cron task , you of coarse want it to update as frequently as possible. Right now I use every 5 minutes.   Just because I like having them current. I love it. You get 30 days for free, with no credit card info needed. Even if someone is looking for NG's it's worth a try.

[Sheepy]

Yes you're right, I should have know that.  I haven't think about it seriously.  Sorry for the trouble.    Well at least we get a chance to explain it in greater details. 

[claygucci]

Hey, yer right about that.

[vist]

It's really required?

Yes: It's really required.

[future assassin]

Well Im in need of this addon and as stated in this post I'm willing to pay http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=77295.0

I have this kind of an addon working on one of my sites but had to go back to phpbb which as painfull as it was, was a neccessary evil. http://www.vanforsale.ca

The script works pretty nicely but there are a couple of small bug in that script and I was quoted around $200 USD to get someone to fix them but I'd rather use that money to get a SMF version going.

But so far looks like no one is interested.

[tradenet]

This would be a great MOD I'm not sure why others haven't jumped on it. Fudform uses it:
http://fudforum.org/forum/

Works well.

[deejayh]

Anyone interested in this - I really could do with it!!!

Tested vbull and it took the designated usenet lists straight in - even had the posters names as the posters - if you know what I mean!

I really don't want to change!

[tradenet]

Yeah, I know what you mean. Sure would be nice.

[pulpitfire]

Anyone interested in this - I really could do with it!!!

Tested vbull and it took the designated usenet lists straight in - even had the posters names as the posters - if you know what I mean!

I really don't want to change!

I would also like to add my request for this feature.  I'm not sure how many people have to ask for it, but it would really expand the usefulness of my forum, and is a feature that I personally want.

Thank you

[future assassin]

I'm still game for this mod and can pay for it to be developed. I'll put in $300 for it.

[sonnenblende]

Okay, I'll join in with the request. We are currently considering migration of a major communication platform to SMF (due to the fact that I'm an SMF aficionado for some time now) - however the platform currently relies heavily on an old NNTP setup. Integration of the two would ensure we will keep the thousands of users happy.

Proof that it's not impossible to do can be found here: hxxp:www.phpbb2.de/dload.php?action=file&file_id=295 [nonactive]

I mean, okay, worst case I'd have to set up a phpBB2, migrate everything into that and then convert to SMF - but I think it's still worthwhile to keep the old NNTP service going for some time.

I'll check about available funds in case a developer turns up.

Thanks,

Jerry