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Conference 7.286::ibmpc_shareware

Title:Shareware for IBM PC and compatibles
Notice:vmsmkt->humane| caldec->trinty| ufrcs1->muccs1
Moderator:TARKIN::LIN
Created:Tue Oct 16 1990
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3369
Total number of notes:24372

3361.0. "Is there a 'Ping' program for E-mail?" by TAEC::SMITH (Martin Smith, Valbonne. - 828 5128) Thu Feb 06 1997 07:06

    Does anyone know if there is a piece of software available that will
    'detect' if a known e-mail address is (still) valid - something similar
    to the Ping program on a network - without actually sending mail?
    
    We all know of persons who have not only moved house, but e-mail 
    address(es) as well, and forget to notify their friends, etc. 
    [it is also true that non-notification could be a subtle message! ;-) ]
    
    Martin.
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
3361.1bthomas.zk3.dec.com::THOMASBen ThomasThu Feb 06 1997 17:0410
I don't know of a program, but I have used the following:

telnet node 25
vrfy username
quit

Substitute your desired values for "node" and "username".  This is also
a very simple case of what can be a very convoluted path.

-b
3361.2I omitted an important word.TAEC::SMITHMartin Smith, Valbonne. - 828 5128Fri Feb 07 1997 06:265
3361.3Finger could do it...SUBSYS::DANEKFri Feb 07 1997 14:0111
    CYBERKIT is a postcard-ware program that includes a finger program. I
    was able to determine if an account on a particular system still
    existed (mine) and that a bogus one didnt. So, if you know that a 
    "known [Internet] e-mail address" is, like tom@computer.com, you can
    enter computer.com in one finger field, and tom in the other and
    Cyberkit's finger will poll the system and bring back information about
    tom.
    
    Cyberkit is available from...
    
    http://www.ping.be/user/Luc.Neijens/
3361.4Thanks!TAEC::SMITHMartin Smith, Valbonne. - 828 5128Fri Feb 07 1997 15:531
3361.5"Internet Tools"TAV02::FEINBERGDon FeinbergTue Feb 11 1997 04:189
	There's a shareware called "Internet Tools" or something like
	that, which I downloaded a couple of months ago. It has
	a lot of functions; one of them is "ping".

	I'll try to remember to upload the URL where I found it...

Don Feinberg