diff --git a/docs/dove-net.txt b/docs/dove-net.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..dbe5f252c45c6e1842e1c0f985808af1bc3e0fc1 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/dove-net.txt @@ -0,0 +1,234 @@ +DOVE-Net Introduction and Instructions 12/08/00, Updated 03/06/02 +-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- + +Q. What is DOVE-Net? + +A. DOVE-Net is a message network connecting numerous BBSes and the users on + those BBSes together through QWK and Fido networking technologies. DOVE-Net + consists of primarily Synchronet {tm} BBSes. This is due to the fact that + the co-founders of DOVE-Net are also the developers of Synchronet BBS + software. DOVE-Net is not limited to one specific BBS package and welcomes + any QWK or Fido network compatible BBS to join as long as their software of + choice does not interfere with the operation of the network in any way. + + +Q. Why the name DOVE-Net? + +A. Two BBSes began DOVE-Net back in 1989. These BBSes were Vertrauen (Home + of Synchronet BBS Software) and The Beast's Domain (Home of Domain + Entertainment BBS Add-ons). The word DOVE came from DOmain VErtrauen, + much like the word MODEM came from MOdulator DEModulator. It has nothing + to do with that species of bird or the symbolism of peace, but we have + nothing against those things either. It was a small network that needed + a small name. + + +Q. What is the focus of DOVE-Net? + +A. Connecting BBS sysops and users without a lot of politics and red tape. + DOVE-Net requires no "application processing time" or "node numbers" to + be assigned. While the capabilities of DOVE-Net rival those of more + technically complex networks, it has none of the setup complexities as + reflected by the fact that many of the systems on DOVE-Net are managed by + first-time sysops. DOVE-Net allows (or rather encourages) the use of color + codes in messages (preferably using the Synchronet Ctrl-A standard, but + Wildcat, PCBoard, Celerity, Renegade, and WWIV color codes are also + supported in Synchronet BBS software and may also be used). DOVE-Net allows + the use of aliases, ANSI encoded messages (when necessary for animation) + and use of high-ASCII characters. There are no strict "hubbing" rules; + pretty much anyone that's willing to feed anyone else is encouraged to do + so. DOVE-Net is moderated only by the founders of the network so there + aren't different rules for different message areas that users need to + remember. Private messages are allowed, but when possible, routed NetMail + is preferred. DOVE-Net has very few rules, and the few that do exist are + often bent. + + +Instructions +============ + +Synchronet BBS Software for Win32 v3.00 comes pre-configured for DOVE-Net +using the Windows command-line FTP client application to transfer packets +with Vetrauen (vert.synchro.net). All you need to do is follow the +instructions in the pre-installed file: EXEC\VERT.BAT. + +*** FTP Caveat *** +Normal FTP transfers require a separate data session back to your system. +This is normally handled automatically by the FTP software, but if your +system is behind a firewall, proxy server, or other gateway that does not +support normal (non-passive) FTP sessions, the FTP file transfers will fail. +You will need to either enable normal FTP support in your gateway system, +switch to a different FTP client application (e.g. WS_FTP) that supports +passive (PASV) mode, or use a scripted telnet client as an alternative method +of transferring packets. + +If you're a Synchronet sysop using an older version of Synchronet, consult +the step-by-step instructions in the QWK networking chapter of your sysop +manual, but use the updated conference numbers at the end of this document. +Additionally, if you're going to use Vertrauen (VERT) as your hub, then +you'll need to connect using a scripted Telnet or FTP client (details follow). + +*** IMPORTANT *** +When you create your QWKnet account on your hub BBS, you MUST use your BBS's +QWK ID for the user name. QWK IDs are a maximum of eight characters, may +only contain valid DOS filename characters, and MUST begin with an alphabetic +character. QWK IDs are not case sensitive. Your QWK ID should be an +abbreviation of your BBS name or something relevant to you or your BBS and it +must be unique among the names in the enclosed NODES.DAT file. Note: If you're +using Vertrauen as a hub, you must login (to vert.synchro.net) with a Telnet +client to create your account. + + +Using a Scripted Telnet Client for QWKnet Transfers +--------------------------------------------------- +Any Telnet client that supports scripting should work. I've included a script +for ZOC (Telnet client for Windows and OS/2) written by PistolGrip +(sysop@wasteland.darktech.org). This script and instructions on how to use it +are included in ZOCQWK11.ZIP. + + +Using a Scripted FTP Client for QWKnet Transfers +------------------------------------------------ +Your hub must be running a Synchronet v3 FTP Server for you to use FTP for +QWKnet transfers. If you're using Vertrauen as your hub, the FTP address is +ftp://vert.synchro.net. To use the command-line FTP client that comes with +Windows, follow these steps (ignore these instructions if you've installed +Synchronet v3.00b or later): + +1. Edit the enclosed VERT.BAT file to reflect the correct location of your + Synchronet DATA directory. If you using a hub other than Vertrauen, change + the filenames to reflect your hub's QWK ID. + +2. Edit the enclosed VERT.FTP file to reflect your system's QWK ID, the + password you used for your QWKnet account, and the correct location of your + Synchronet DATA directory. + +3. Copy VERT.BAT and VERT.FTP to your Synchronet EXEC directory. + +4. Change your QWKnet call-out command line to "%!VERT.BAT". + + +Using the Baja FTP Client for QWKnet Transfers (Requires Synchronet v3.1+) +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +This is the preferred method of QWKnet packet transfers. + +1. Make sure you have the file QNET-FTP.BIN in your EXEC directory. + +2. Change the QWKnet call-out command line (in SCFG->Networks->QWK->Hubs->VERT) + to "*QNET-FTP VERT vert.synchro.net YOURPASS" but replace YOURPASS with the + password you used when creating your QWKnet user account on Vertrauen. + + +Terminology (as used in this document) +-------------------------------------- + +Hub: A BBS that feeds another BBS messages for a message network +Node: A BBS that calls another BBS to exchange messages for a network + A BBS can be (and most often is) either "both a node and a hub" + or "only a node", if you're joining DOVE-Net for the first time, + then your system will be "only a node". +QWK: Message packet format used for off-line mail readers +QWKnet: Message networking technology using QWK packets +Fido: Message networking technology based on Fido BBS software +FidoNet: The single largest amateur message network on earth +Echo: Message area that is connected to multiple BBSes via message + network +NetMail: Private message between one user and another not stored in a + topical message area (echo), similar in princicple to Internet + e-mail +SMB: Synchronet Message Base format, download SMB_*.ZIP from Vertrauen + for technical specification and C library + + +QWK Technical Notes +------------------- + +Non-Synchronet systems importing DOVE-Net messages may notice some things about +the messages which are different from other BBS packages. The first line of +each message may contain "@VIA:" and a list of DOVE-Net BBS ID's the message +has passed through, each separated by a slash character. This line is used to +automatically create and maintain the Synchronet ROUTE.DAT "map" file as well +as detect circular message paths (dupe loops). The first or second line of each +message may contain "@TZ:" and a four character hexadecimal number. This is the +time zone (as defined in the SMB specification) of the BBS that the message was +originally posted on. These Synchronet-specific QWK features can be disabled +from the online QWK: menu. Note, if Ctrl-A codes are enabled, the @VIA/@TZ +lines are automatically enabled for QWKnet nodes as well. So to disable the +@VIA/@TZ lines, you must also disable (strip) Ctrl-A codes. + +Messages exported from Synchronet may also contain Synchronet Ctrl-A color +codes. These can be disabled for any hubs you're calling in SCFG (Synchronet +Configuration Program) or if the other BBS is calling you, then they can +disable them by sending a message to "SBBS" with a title of "CTRL-A STRIP". + +The following control messages are supported by Synchronet for QWK networking. +The message must be posted to "SBBS" from the node BBS: + +Subj: DROP [conf#] +Note: Drop current conference (or specified conference #) from future packets + +Subj: ADD [ptr | -msgs | mm/dd/yy] +Note: Add current conference to future packets and optionally set message ptr + +Subj: RESET [ptr | -msgs | mm/dd/yy] +Note: Set message pointer for current conference, - indicates offset from last + +Subj: RESETALL [ptr | -msgs | mm/dd/yy] +Note: Set message pointers for all conferences + +Subj: FREQ <filename> +Note: File Request from file transfer database (not attachments) + +Subj: FILES [ON | OFF | mm/dd/yy] +Note: Include files list in packet and/or specify new-scan date + +Subj: ATTACH [ON | OFF] +Note: Include file attachments in packet automatically (e-mail only) + +Subj: CTRL-A [KEEP | EXPAND | STRIP] +Note: Ctrl-A color/attribute codes - leave-in, expand to ANSI, or remove + +Subj: TZ [ON | OFF] +Note: Include time-zone (@TZ) lines in exported messages + +Subj: VIA [ON | OFF] +Note: Include path (@VIA) lines in exported messages + +Subj: NDX [ON | OFF] +Note: Include index (.NDX) files + +Subj: CONTROL [ON | OFF] +Note: Include extraneous control files (CONTROL.DAT, DOOR.ID, NETFLAGS.DAT) + + +DOVE-Net QWK Conference Numbers on Vertrauen +============================================ +Conf Name Access Requirements +---- -------------------------------------- ------------------- +2001 General +2002 Advertisements +2003 Entertainment +2004 Debate +2005 Hardware/Software Help +2006 Programming +2009 Linux Discussion +2015 HAM Radio Operators +2016 Internet Discussion +2017 Pro-Audio Discussion +2018 Firearms Discussion +2019 Sports Discussion +2007 Synchronet Discussion +2008 Synchronet Sysops Only LEVEL 90 OR REST Q +2011 Synchronet Programming (Baja) +2014 Synchronet Programming (non-Baja) +2012 Synchronet Beta Testing LEVEL 90 +2013 Synchronet Data LEVEL 90 OR REST Q +2010 DOVE-Net Sysops Only LEVEL 90 OR REST Q + + +Contact Information +------------------- +Vertrauen: telnet://vert.synchro.net +Co-founder: rob@synchro.net + +/* End of DOVE-NET.TXT */