Xnews and SSL

Setting up Xnews to use a secure (SSL) connection

Back to Index
Thanks to Kate Martin for providing all the information used on this page!

The instructions below detail how to use SSL to connect to a secure news server. The secure Netscape server "secnews.netscape.com" is used as an example.

    (2) You will have to start an SSL session before Xnews can connect. The easiest way to do this run Xnews from a batch file whenever you wish to connect to the Netscape server.

    Create a text file using a text editor (e.g. Notepad). Name the file XNEWSSSL.BAT. Open the file and type (or copy and paste everything shown below:

    @echo off
    start stunnel.exe -c -d 1199 -r secnews.netscape.com:563
    start xnews.exe

    The batch file starts stunnel, tells it to connect to Netscape's news server on port 563, and to wait for a connection from your newsreader (Xnews) on port 1199. Then it starts Xnews.
    (3) Save the file and put it in your Xnews directory. In Windows Explorer, right click on it, and select "Send to" then "Desktop as Shortcut" (that will give you an icon on your desktop to click when you want to start Xnews for Netscape/SSL.)
    (4) You will need to set up your Netscape server in Xnews to operate through the port specified in the batch file.

    In Xnews, open the setup dialog (Ctrl+F1), and goto the Servers tab.

    For Server name or address enter:

    127.0.0.1

    For Port number, enter:

    1199

    (5) That should do it! Next time you want to connect to the Netscape server, run Xnews from the batch file. The batch file will open an SSL secure "tunnel" first, then open Xnews.

    To shut it down, close Xnews, then when the stunnel window is in focus press CTRL-C, to close stunnel.

Last updated ... January 27, 2002