+@item nntp-open-connection-function
+@vindex nntp-open-connection-function
+It is possible to customize how the connection to the nntp server will
+be opened. If you specify an @code{nntp-open-connection-function}
+parameter, Gnus will use that function to establish the connection.
+Five pre-made functions are supplied. These functions can be grouped in
+two categories: direct connection functions (three pre-made), and
+indirect ones (two pre-made).
+@end table
+
+@menu
+* Direct Functions:: Connecting directly to the server.
+* Indirect Functions:: Connecting indirectly to the server.
+* Common Variables:: Understood by several connection functions.
+@end menu
+
+
+@node Direct Functions
+@subsubsection Direct Functions
+@cindex direct connection functions
+
+These functions are called direct because they open a direct connection
+between your machine and the @sc{nntp} server. The behavior of these
+functions is also affected by commonly understood variables
+(@pxref{Common Variables}).
+
+@table @code
+@findex nntp-open-network-stream
+@item nntp-open-network-stream
+This is the default, and simply connects to some port or other on the
+remote system.
+
+@findex nntp-open-ssl-stream
+@item nntp-open-ssl-stream
+Opens a connection to a server over a @dfn{secure} channel. To use this
+you must have SSLay installed
+(@uref{ftp://ftp.psy.uq.oz.au/pub/Crypto/SSL}, and you also need
+@file{ssl.el} (from the W3 distribution, for instance). You then
+define a server as follows:
+
+@lisp
+;; Type `C-c C-c' after you've finished editing.
+;;
+;; "snews" is port 563 and is predefined in our /etc/services
+;;
+(nntp "snews.bar.com"
+ (nntp-open-connection-function nntp-open-ssl-stream)
+ (nntp-port-number "snews")
+ (nntp-address "snews.bar.com"))
+@end lisp
+
+@findex nntp-open-telnet-stream
+@item nntp-open-telnet-stream
+Opens a connection to an @sc{nntp} server by simply @samp{telnet}'ing
+it. You might wonder why this function exists, since we have the
+default @code{nntp-open-network-stream} which would do the job. (One
+of) the reason(s) is that if you are behind a firewall but have direct
+connections to the outside world thanks to a command wrapper like
+@code{runsocks}, you can use it like this:
+
+@lisp
+(nntp "socksified"
+ (nntp-pre-command "runsocks")
+ (nntp-open-connection-function nntp-open-telnet-stream)
+ (nntp-address "the.news.server"))
+@end lisp
+
+With the default method, you would need to wrap your whole Emacs
+session, which is not a good idea.
+@end table
+
+
+@node Indirect Functions
+@subsubsection Indirect Functions
+@cindex indirect connection functions
+
+These functions are called indirect because they connect to an
+intermediate host before actually connecting to the @sc{nntp} server.
+All of these functions and related variables are also said to belong to
+the "via" family of connection: they're all prefixed with "via" to make
+things cleaner. The behavior of these functions is also affected by
+commonly understood variables (@pxref{Common Variables}).
+
+@table @code
+@item nntp-open-via-rlogin-and-telnet
+@findex nntp-open-via-rlogin-and-telnet
+Does an @samp{rlogin} on a remote system, and then does a @samp{telnet}
+to the real @sc{nntp} server from there. This is useful for instance if
+you need to connect to a firewall machine first.
+
+@code{nntp-open-via-rlogin-and-telnet}-specific variables:
+
+@table @code
+@item nntp-via-rlogin-command
+@vindex nntp-via-rlogin-command
+Command used to log in on the intermediate host. The default is
+@samp{rsh}, but @samp{ssh} is a popular alternative.
+@end table
+
+@item nntp-open-via-telnet-and-telnet
+@findex nntp-open-via-telnet-and-telnet
+Does essentially the same, but uses @samp{telnet} instead of
+@samp{rlogin} to connect to the intermediate host.
+
+@code{nntp-open-via-telnet-and-telnet}-specific variables:
+
+@table @code
+@item nntp-via-telnet-command
+@vindex nntp-via-telnet-command
+Command used to @code{telnet} the intermediate host. The default is
+@samp{telnet}.
+
+@item nntp-via-telnet-switches
+@vindex nntp-via-telnet-switches
+List of strings to be used as the switches to the
+@code{nntp-via-telnet-command} command. The default is @samp{("-8")}.
+
+@item nntp-via-user-password
+@vindex nntp-via-user-password
+Password to use when logging in on the intermediate host.
+
+@item nntp-via-envuser
+@vindex nntp-via-envuser
+If non-@code{nil}, the intermediate @code{telnet} session (client and
+server both) will support the @code{ENVIRON} option and not prompt for
+login name. This works for Solaris @code{telnet}, for instance.
+
+@item nntp-via-shell-prompt
+@vindex nntp-via-shell-prompt
+Regexp matching the shell prompt on the intermediate host. The default
+is @samp{bash\\|\$ *\r?$\\|> *\r?}.
+
+@end table
+
+@end table
+
+
+Here are some additional variables that are understood by all the above
+functions:
+
+@table @code
+
+@item nntp-via-user-name
+@vindex nntp-via-user-name
+User name to use when connecting to the intermediate host.
+
+@item nntp-via-address
+@vindex nntp-via-address
+Address of the intermediate host to connect to.
+
+@end table
+
+
+@node Common Variables
+@subsubsection Common Variables
+
+The following variables affect the behavior of all, or several of the
+pre-made connection functions. When not specified, all functions are
+affected.
+
+@table @code
+
+@item nntp-pre-command
+@vindex nntp-pre-command
+A command wrapper to use when connecting through a non native connection
+function (all except @code{nntp-open-network-stream} and
+@code{nntp-open-ssl-stream}. This is where you would put a @samp{SOCKS}
+wrapper for instance.
+
+@item nntp-address
+@vindex nntp-address
+The address of the @sc{nntp} server.
+
+@item nntp-port-number
+@vindex nntp-port-number
+Port number to connect to the @sc{nntp} server. The default is @samp{nntp}.
+
+@item nntp-end-of-line
+@vindex nntp-end-of-line
+String to use as end-of-line marker when talking to the @sc{nntp}
+server. This is @samp{\r\n} by default, but should be @samp{\n} when
+using a non native connection function.
+
+@item nntp-telnet-command
+@vindex nntp-telnet-command
+Command to use when connecting to the @sc{nntp} server through
+@samp{telnet}. This is NOT for an intermediate host. This is just for
+the real @sc{nntp} server. The default is @samp{telnet}.
+
+@item nntp-telnet-switches
+@vindex nntp-telnet-switches
+A list of switches to pass to @code{nntp-telnet-command}. The default
+is @samp{("-8")}.
+