Hi Bill, That's a complex topic. Basically, a BitNet connection was an IBM RSCS link..., At the low levels that's BiSync. Real BiSync hardware is rare(ish) but the Hercules Mainframe emulator does support bi-sync over IP so physically its possible.
At the networking level, whilst the original RSCS code is available its an early version and its missing key features needed for Bitnet. Also the freely available versions of VM/CMS on which RSCS runs don't have the E-Mail software used to send messages. Later versions that would work are still licenced materials of IBM. I think the same goes for the VAX software. As it could possibly still be used commercially to connect to current mainframes it does not appear to be freely available. I am also not sure how you would connect it to a mainframe, as I don't believe SIMH supports synchronous connections. Dave > -----Original Message----- > From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Bill > Gunshannon via cctalk > Sent: 16 September 2017 01:16 > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts > <cctalk@classiccmp.org> > Subject: BitNET (Was: RE: RIP Jerry Pournelle - Firsts) > > > ________________________________________ > > While all this talk of the ARPANet is cool and brings back some fine > memories, what about BitNET? Anyone here remember it? > Any chance someone has a copy of the source for a BitNET Node? > I have seen UUCPNet and DECNet revived. It might be fun to bring BitNET > back up for sentimental reasons. > > bill
