FNSL language and addressing
FNSL (Frogans Network System Language) is an XML-based language which is one of the pillars of Frogans technology (with the FSDL language and the Frogans Player).
The Frogans Player will require version 3.1 of the FNSL specifications, which will be released at the same time as the Frogans Player.
Specifications
The FNSL language is specified with the precision of an Internet standard (in the format of an RFC from IETF).
The FNSL specifications are currently released in version 3.0 (May 2004 edition):
All developers are invited to send their comments on these specifications by e-mail to: fnsl@frogans.com.
The terms of use of FNSL 3.0 are free of charge and perpetual. Please read the terms of use in the FNSL specifications.
Creating frogans networks
The FNSL language is used to create frogans networks.
Frogans networks permit the publication of frogans, using frogans addresses.
Frogans networks are scalable virtual networks established on the Internet or on private IP networks (intranets).
In frogans networks, two kinds of frogans addresses exist:
- gate addresses, whose format is:
network*Gatename - focus addresses, whose format is:
network*Gatename.Extension
Frogans networks are operated by organizations, which are called frogans network operators.
The best known frogans network is called the main frogans network.
The main frogans network
The main frogans network, where frogans addresses start with "frogans*", is established on the Internet.
On the main frogans network, all content publishers (individuals and organizations throughout the world) can publish their frogans by registering one or more frogans addresses of their choice.
Access to the main frogans network is free of charge for all end-users.
The main frogans network is technically and administratively operated by STG Interactive.
For more information about the main frogans network, please see STG Interactive's role.
Dedicated frogans networks
The other frogans networks are called dedicated frogans networks.
Dedicated frogans networks can be established:
- on private IP networks by organizations who want to publish frogans on their intranets
- on the Internet and on private IP networks by Internet service providers, major portals and b2b service suppliers looking to be independent from STG Interactive in the technical and administrative management of their frogans addresses
Dedicated frogans networks are created through specific license agreements with STG Interactive.
Each license includes the delivery of a certificate which is digitally signed by STG Interactive. This certificate permits the Frogans Player to initialize the dedicated frogans network on the end-users' devices.
For more information about dedicated frogans networks, please see STG Interactive's role.
Operating a frogans network
The FNSL language was designed to permit the easy creation of frogans networks, by the means of a set of FNSL documents.
The main FNSL documents of a frogans network are:
-
certificate record
This FNSL document permits the initialization of the frogans network on the end-users' devices:
- on the main frogans network and on dedicated frogans networks established on the Internet, this FNSL document can be downloaded automatically by the Frogans Player
- on dedicated frogans networks established on private IP networks (intranets), this FNSL document can be distributed to end-users by e-mail or from an intranet web page; the frogans network is then initialized by clicking on the FNSL document.
The size of this FNSL document is only a few kilobytes (KB).
-
topology record
This FNSL document permits the frogans network operator to define the list of servers used for the frogans addresses lookup.
Several servers can be referenced to ensure load balancing and service continuity on the frogans network. The load capacity can be specified separately for each server.
-
lookup records
These FNSL documents permit the frogans network operator to define the frogans addresses used in the frogans network.
Each of these FNSL documents corresponds to the address of a frogans which is published on the frogans network.
These FNSL documents, which are downloaded by the Frogans Player just before the opening of the frogans, contain technical and administrative information about the frogans, such as:
- the requirement, or not, for the end-user to enter a personal identifier (PID) or a login and password in order to access the frogans
- the adult filter status of the frogans
- the network protocol used when navigating the frogans
- the network location of the frogans root directory (server directory which contains the frogans)
- the frogans home slide (home page) in this directory
- the version of the FSDL specifications used to develop the frogans
- the encoding of the FSDL documents which make up the frogans
- the list of other frogans addresses in the same frogans family
The FNSL language makes it simple publication of frogans, by providing a value added addressing system to content publishers.
-
status records
These FNSL documents permit the management of the process used by end-users to update the Frogans Player on their devices, depending on the platform.
In this process, end-users keep control over the update of the Frogans Player, and their settings are preserved from one version to the other.
Hosting the FNSL documents
The FNSL documents of a frogans network are hosted by (or under the control of) the frogans network operator, on one or more servers, which are called FNS servers.
These FNSL documents can be hosted on any HTTP server.
These FNSL documents can be hosted like static files or dynamically.
The FNSL language permits the creation of frogans networks in all kinds of server environments.
Thanks to the cache system specified in the FNSL language, the frogans network operator can easily and regularly update the FNSL documents on the end-users' devices, which make the architecture of a frogans network flexible and scalable.
Protection of frogans networks
The FNSL language protects the functioning of frogans networks.
All the FNSL documents of a frogans network are authenticated by the means of a digital signature:
-
the algorithm used to generate and verify digital signatures is specified in the American National Standard for Financial Services ANS X9.31-1998 (rDSA)
-
the FNSL documents which permit end-users to initialize the frogans network and to update the Frogans Player are digitally signed by the means of a key, called the root key:
- the length of the root key is 2048 bits
- the root key is kept by STG Interactive in a secure and secret place
-
the other FNSL documents are digitally signed by the means of a key, called the network key:
- the length of the network key is 2048 bits
- each frogans network has its own network key
Digital signatures are systematically verified by the Frogans Player on the end-users' devices.
See examples of FNSL documents
To download the certificate of the main frogans network manually, click here using the right mouse button and choose "Save as" or "Save target as".
To see other examples of FNSL documents, search and open a directory called "FrogansPlayerUserData" on the device of an end-user using the Frogans Player.
-
on the platform Windows on PC, this directory is located in:
- Windows 95, 98 and Me:
C:\Windows\ApplicationData\ or C:\Windows\...user name...\ApplicationData\ - Windows NT4:
C:\Winnt\Profiles\...user name...\ApplicationData\ - Windows 2000, XP, 2003 Server:
C:\Documents and Settings\...user name...\ApplicationData\
- Windows 95, 98 and Me:
The "FrogansPlayerUserData" directory contains certificates as well as a directory called "FnsCache", which contains other FNSL documents cached by the Frogans Player.
Download
Download of the specifications:
©2008 STG Interactive