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NNTP's full form is Network News Transfer Protocol. This protocol is used for connecting Usenet to the internet worldwide. It is a client to many web browsers such as Opera, Netscape, and Internet Explorer. Sometimes these browsers will use the newsreaders.
A newsreader is a software app that uses NNTP to read the Usenet articles or directly from the news server's disks.
History of NNTP
- In the past years, the news-sharing process was different. It had a centralized news service. Even though these distributed file systems could work with computers and identical OS, they could not provide services to a wide client services range.
- Then, NNTP came to the point. This has made the Usenet servers easily interact with others on the internet using NNTP.
- Before NNTP came to the point, NNRP was proposed for specific use by clients.
- But the protocol was never implemented, and the NNTP command was recommended to clients.
NNTP Commands
- ARTICLE - Used to retrieve any article from the news server.
- GROUP - Select the specific newsgroup.
- NEWSGROUPS - Used for receiving the list of newsgroups created after a specific date and time.
- NEWNEWS - Used for receiving the list of articles created after a specific date and time.
- IHAVE - Tells the server that the client already has the article the server is searching for.
- LIST - Recovers the list of newsgroups already available on the server.
- POST - Used for posting a message or replying to existing news.
- NEXT - Used for going to the next message in any newsgroup.
Characteristics of NNTP
- It helps to connect various group discussions on the internet.
- These servers manage a global network for newsgroups.
- The Usenet can be easily accessed from a remote system.
Advantages of NNTP
- Command names are easy to remember. For instance, ARTICLE, POST, NEXT, etc.
- Allows the user to use any news easily.
- Does not need any central server.
- It supports both server-server and client-server communication.
Disadvantages of NNTP
- It would be risky if users enter the bastion hosts to read the news.
- It gets more extensive.
- Working over it through Telnet becomes a pain.
Response Codes of NNTP
- 200 server ready - posting allowed
- 201 server ready - no posting allowed
- 202 slave status noted
- 205 closing connection - goodbye!
- 211 n f l s group selected
- 215 list of newsgroups follows
- 220 n <a> article retrieved - head and body follow 221 n <a> article retrieved - head follows
- 222 n <a> article retrieved - body follows
- 223 n <a> article retrieved - request text separately 230 list of news articles by message-id follows
- 231 list of new newsgroups follows
- 235 article transferred ok
- 240 article posted ok
- 400 service discontinued
- 411 no such news group
- 421 no next article in this group
- 422 no previous article in this group
- 423 no such article number in this group
- 430 no such article found
- 435 article not wanted - do not send it
- 436 transfer failed - try again later
- 437 article rejected - do not try again
- 440 posting not allowed
- 441 posting failed
- 500 command not recognized
- 501 command syntax error
- 502 access restriction or permission denied
- 503 program fault - command not performed
NNTP Server Status Code and Its Meaning
- 1xx - General information
- 2xx - Message received, execution successful
- 3xx - Message received, further information is required
- 4xx - Message received, execution unsuccessful
- 5xx - Invalid command
- x0x - Information about the connection, setup, or something else
- x1x - Information about the selected newsgroup
- x2x - Information about the selected article
- x3x - Information about the message transfer
- x4x - Information about the sent article
- x5x - Authentication response
- x8x - Message for extended non-standard commands
- x9x - Debugging message
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Is NNTP a TCP or UDP?
Ans: NNTP is a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) based service.
Q2: What port number is used in NNTP?
Ans: Since NNTP is a TCP-based protocol, it uses port 119.
Q3: Is NNTP Protocol Secured?
Ans: Since the NNTP protocol has access to the application layer and relies on the TCP protocol, it ensures a secure and reliable data transfer.