NNTP Full Form, Response Codes, Advantages, Disadvantages

NNTP's full form is Network News Transfer Protocol. This protocol is used for connecting Usenet to the Internet worldwide. It is a client of 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 a point, NNRP was proposed for specific use by clients. 
• However 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.
• NEW NEWS - 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 newsgroup
• 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

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