========================================== sample NNTP session using the "nc" command ========================================== -Ian! D. Allen - idallen@idallen.ca - www.idallen.com The "nc" TCP/IP "Swiss Army Knife" program is a "pure" way to connect your keyboard with a remote TCP/IP daemon. It is similar to "telnet", except it doesn't try to auto-negotiate any line parameters first. It is useful for connecting directly to many text-based Internet protocols. One such protocol is the Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP) used to send and receive USENET News over the Internet. It is documented in RFC977: http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc977 http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc977.html My input is marked by "*" in the examples below. This particular NNTP server has some HELP commands enabled. * $ nc -v news.ncf.ca nntp news.ncf.ca [134.117.136.21] 119 (nntp) open 200 ncf.ca InterNetNews NNRP server INN 2.2.2 13-Dec-1999 ready (posting ok). * help 100 Legal commands authinfo user Name|pass Password|generic article [MessageID|Number] body [MessageID|Number] date group newsgroup head [MessageID|Number] help ihave last list [active|active.times|newsgroups|distributions|distrib.pats|overview.fmt|subscriptions|motd] listgroup newsgroup mode reader newgroups yymmdd hhmmss ["GMT"] [] newnews newsgroups yymmdd hhmmss ["GMT"] [] next post slave stat [MessageID|Number] xgtitle [group_pattern] xhdr header [range|MessageID] xover [range] xpat header range|MessageID pat [morepat...] xpath MessageID Report problems to . * list motd 215 Message of the day text.. Sample MOTD file. Any text you put in here will be returned to the news reader when it issues the LIST MOTD command. It is not an error if this file does not exist nor if it is empty. . * listgroup ncf.announce 211 Article list follows 2380 2381 2382 2383 2384 2385 2386 2387 2388 2389 2390 . * head 2390 221 2390 head Path: ncf.ca!FreeNet.Carleton.CA!xx001 From: xx001@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (NCF Office) Newsgroups: ncf.announce Subject: Information about NCF's 13th Annual General Meeting (Mar22-Apr2) Date: 8 Mar 2006 20:49:42 GMT Organization: The National Capital FreeNet Lines: 39 Approved: xx001 Message-ID: Reply-To: xx001@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (NCF Office) NNTP-Posting-Host: smeagol.ncf.ca X-Trace: theodyn.ncf.ca 1141850982 4384 134.117.136.48 (8 Mar 2006 20:49:42 GMT) X-Complaints-To: complaints@ncf.ca NNTP-Posting-Date: 8 Mar 2006 20:49:42 GMT X-Given-Sender: xx001@smeagol.ncf.ca (NCF Office) Xref: ncf.ca ncf.announce:2390 . * body 2390 222 2390 body To all members of the National Capital FreeNet: The NCF Annual General Meeting starts later this month, and meanwhile, pre-AGM activities are underway. Our online AGM is an important aspect of our membership-based not-for-profit organization. This year's AGM will include elections for 5 positions on the Board of Directors. The National Capital FreeNet relies on the guidance, encouragement, and support of experienced and concerned people to serve on NCF's Board of Directors, which oversees the operation of NCF. All NCF members should participate in the AGM when it starts later this month. Meanwhile, you can visit the following link to learn more about this year's AGM and the process: http://www.ncf.ca/ncf/agm/ Members should note these two important pre-AGM dates: 1) Nominations of candidates for election to the Board must be posted by Tuesday, March 14. Details of the nomination procedure may be found at http://www.ncf.ca/ncf/agm/2005/how.html 2) Special motions from members must be received by Secretary@ncf.ca by Friday, March 10. Details of the special motion procedure may be found at http://www.ncf.ca/ncf/agm/2005/how.html . Special motions, if any, will be reviewed by the Board at the March 21st board meeting. The AGM voting period is from March 22 to April 2. There will be further announcements and information as the AGM approaches. During the AGM, online information will be available and there will be a place for online discussion. The NCF Office (613) 520-5777 -- office@ncf.ca Tel: 520-5777 Fax: 520-3524 National Capital FreeNet / Libertel de la Capitale Nationale 402 Dunton Tower, Carleton University, Ottawa ON K1S 5B6 . * quit 205 .