#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
#
#                           ix/MBox  F A Q
#             Bulletin Board System for UNIX(-Derivations)
#
#                          Volker Schuermann
#                     Wuppertal, FRG, 31.05.1994
#
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Q: I can't find an answer to my (rather complicated) question in the various
   README files. What can I do?
A: Just let me (volkers@unnet.wupper.de) have a mail describing your problem.
   At least I should be able to point you to the right chapter in the README. 

Q: I'm unable to compile anything! I tried [make mbox] but the compiler/linker
   complains about missing "prototypes" and much more. What's wrong?
A: You of course followed the README: [make english], [make inst]. Otherwise
   directories aren't there when needed, languages files aren't created and so
   on. Read the installation instructions in README and do as described there!

Q: How can I check my completed installation?
A: Use the (undocumented) command "checkit" inside the BBS!

Q: How are guests supposed to call the ix/MBox?
A: You should have some lines in [/etc/passwd] which look like these:

   guest::406:1:BBS User:/home/guest:/local/mbox/mbox
   bbs::407:1:BBS User:/home/guest:/local/mbox/mbox
    
   If "guest" or "bbs" calls in, he/she hasn't to enter a password. Instead
   of a shell the ix/MBox is started to handle the BBS login and all further
   access to your system. There isn't any shell account/access for those users!

Q: Why aren't there any boards/newsgroups listed at all?
A: You have to run [mb-daemon all -x] first! (Be patient, it'll take time!) 
 
Q: Why does the BBS speak german?
A: You have to [make english] to get the english version.

Q: I can't get the ix/MBox working cause I always get complaints about 
   not having set SETUID, not having "root.root" permissions or having 
   identical GIDs for Guests and Users. I don't like programes owned by
   "root.root". I hate programs with SETUID set and I don't want to have
   a special group for guest. What can I do?
A: I'm quite sick of answering this question! If you don't want to use
   the ix/MBox as planned, you shouldn't use it at all!

Q: Why does the BBS reports no boards with NEW articles at all?
A: Check your scanner-date. Use [setup]!

Q: I'm still running a BBS and I don't want to type in all the userdata
   all by myself. Is there a script?
A: If your current BBS is a ix/MBox you only have to follow [VERY.IMPORTANT]
   to convert your old data.
   If it's any other sort of BBS, you should let your users do the updating.
   Tell them to use the command "account" ("postfach") to be registered. 

   Not very much convenient, so here's an offer: Find a way to put your old
   userdata into an ASCII text file and mail it to me. I'll write a converting
   tool to build up the USERDATABASE for the ix/MBox!

Q: Why do I always get problems if I try to mail or write something?
A: It sounds like you've forgotten to use SETUID "root.root" for [mbox].

Q: I've set paths, aliases, routers, etc. for SMAIL/SENDMAIL but no mail
   arrives. What can I do?
A: Look at XMDLOG (see [mbox.h] where to find it). By default, it
   should be at [/usr/adm/xmd.log]. In almost all cases you'll find
   something like "No SETUID for XMD". Just do "chmod ug+s xmd" than.

Q: Why does the BBS terminate everytime I try to get in as ROOT?
A: You've defined the ONE AND ONLY terminal which ROOT may use in
   PMS_TTY [mbox.h], do you remember??

Q: I'm installing the ix/MBox on a SVR4.2 (UnixWare, Ontime etc.) and I
   can't get it compiled. Is there a trick???
A: Yes! Look at [tools.c], near line 57 you should find a special hint. It's
   not an official patch yet, but it might do the trick! Test and tell!!!

Q: Why do I never see new articles in the boards of the BBS?
A: Maybe you never start MB-DAEMON by [cron|crontabs]!?

Q: Why do I only get a few newsgroups instead of all?
A: Use the command [admin] and choose [change user] option. There you'll
   find a [Newsgroups]/[Bretter] entry. Delete the list of groups and 
   type [all]!
 
Q: Why do I have trillions of mails in postmasters maildrop?
A: If you use the SMAIL/SENDMAIL couple you have to blame them. If you use
   UMAIL etc. you have to run XMD hourly by [cron|crontabs]!

Q: Why does XMD crash instead of delivering mails?
A: It has to be owned by [root.root] and SETUID set!

Q: Is there a "general" hint what to do when I run into trouble?
A: First of all clear the database using [mv ./etc/users.* ./tmp] - that
   might help. If not, try [make english], [make world], [make mbox] ...

Q: When I write an article it is stored in the NEWS properly, but I
   never get a new line in the index file of the BBS. What's wrong?
A: Run the command 'checkit' inside the BBS. Have a close look at the
   output of the 'Supporting Tools' part. If [MB_DAEMON] says: 'not found'
   you have to reedit the 'MB_DAEMON' definition in [mbox.h].
   If that's not the reason for the trouble the next unit 'Permissions'
   will sched a bit of light on the problem. Fix the permissions and
   owner of MB-DAEMON. 

Q: Why seems MB-DAEMON to be sooooo slow?
A: Spend a TMP-directory on the same FS/partition as HOME|MBOXHOME!

Q: Why do I have to build a shell account for every single BBS user?
A: You do NOT have to! But you have to have different GID (group IDs) for
   guests and users in [/etc/passwd]. See [mbox.h]!

Q: Why do I get addresses like this in UUCP-Spoolfiles:
   [From: unnet!Volker.Schuermann@unnet.w.open.DE]
A: It's a problem with RMAIL. Have a look at README.addrpatch to fix it!

Q: How can I include ELM etc. to the BBS command set?
A: Check the file [./etc/list.udc]!

Q: My GZIP does not work as defined in [./etc/list.packers]. Is there a fix?
A: Yes! Use [./contrib/gnuzip] instead of [/usr/bin/gzip].

Q: Why does the BBS blow up, when I use C-NEWS as a UNIX (R) NEWS service?
A: Maybe I haven't implemented the aliasing mechanism correct - please
   tell me how it works!

Q: How am I supposed to add new boards/areas/newsgroups?
A: The whole story depends on your UNIX (R) NEWS system. If you run CNEWS,
   you have to use [/usr/local/lib/news/bin/maint/addgroup]. BNEWS leaves
   you with no help at all. You have to edit the [active] file and to create
   the directories by yourself. In both cases you have to run [mb-daemon all -x]
   to install index and thread files for the new group(s)!

Q: I can't find my NEWSGROUPS [see mbox.h] file. Where do I have to look for it?
A: Ask your provider. The file is distributed via the [*.admin.*] newsgroups
   periodically.

Q: I don't have a MODERATORS [see mbox.h] file. What does it matter?
A: Not much. Leave the definition blank and ix/MBox will let your UNIX (R)
   NEWS system do the rerouting.

Q: I don't understand the confusing directory structure of the ix/MBox. Is there
   a "map"??
A: Yes. Look at [MANIFEST] for descriptions and the tail end of [README] for a
   survey.

Q: The "Newsgroups:" line in the admin menue will not be able to hold all the
   groups I like to offer my (new) users. Is there a workaround?
A: Yes indeed. Define NEWS_MINIMUM in [mbox.h] to "selected". A list of
   newsgroups given in [./etc/active.selected] will be offered than.

Q: I'm running ix/MBox with -D_NOINDEX flag set but can't get a list
   of the boards inside the BBS.
A: You have to run "mb-daemon all -x" at least once. That'll build up the
   boards survey.

Q: The command "thread" ("diskussion") does not work properly. What can I do?
A: Judging by the sounds of things you are running MB-DAEMON without the "-x"
   flag. In that case you can NOT use the "thread" command, cause the
   threaded index files aren't built by MB-DAEMON.  

Q: Is there any risk to lose one of my system-files?
A: Yes! If you play around with MB-DAEMON you may destroy [~/news/active]!
   Be clever: Copy first, destroy later on ;-)

Q: My "checkit" says that there aren't any terminals as "vt52", "ansi", ...
   Why?
A: Your "checkit" tries to get infos about the terminals from [/etc/termcap].
   Make sure that all offered terminals have entries in that file. The "ansi"
   and "color-ansi" entries are delivered in [./contrib/termcap.color].

Q: What to do to make use of the COLOR-ANSI termcap-entry?
A: Just append like this: [cat termcap.color >> /etc/termcap]!
   NOTE: Two (2) ">>"!!

Q: Why does my SMAIL create a second Message-ID & Received-Field?
A: Just set the SMAIL-Flag [-received_field]. To make life easier, append
   the flag [error_copy_postmaster], too! 

Q: How can I recreate the "/usr/lib{/smail}/aliases" file for the BBS users?
A: Use the (undocumented) command "rebuildA" (no, no missprints!)!

Q: Do I have to install a shell account for every BBS user?
A: Absolutly NOT! You should have a [guest] or [bbs] account with no
   password. This account should call the BBS instead of a shell. The
   BBS than handles the login & accounting!

Q: I want to make access time level dependent. How to??
A: See [./etc/list.timeouts] for it. There you can set access time and the
   number of calls depending on user levels. Also look at [./etc/thrown.out]!

Q: I don't understand the whole [cron/crontab] business! How to handle it?
A: If you run SMAIL/SENDMAIL you don't need any crontab entry for the XMD.
   Otherwise you should install someting like this in [/usr/lib/crontab]
   (for System 7 UNIX) or [/usr/spool/cron/crontabs/*] (for SVR4):
 
   10 *		*  *  *  /usr/local/bin/xmd

   This will start XMD (located in [/usr/local/bin]) 10 minutes after the
   hour every hour daily. On SVR4 systems you'd have to activate the new
   crontab first (see [man crontab] to learn how to).
   
   For MB-DAEMON you also should spend a line in the crontab. Firstly you
   have to figure out which time your incoming news have been sorted in.
  
   20  5        *  *  *  /usr/local/bin/news/bin/input/newsrun  
   20  6	*  *  *  /usr/local/bin/mb-daemon all -x

   or

   20  *        *  *  *  /usr/local/bin/news/bin/input/newsrun
   20  6        *  *  *  /usr/local/bin/mb-daemon all -x 
   20  12,18,22 *  *  *  /usr/local/bin/mb-daemon

   The first example calls MB-DAEMON daily at 6.20am after the NEWSRUN
   has unbatched and delivered the NEWS articles. The second one does it
   a bit more often but without rebuilding the entire structure each time. 
   
   NOTE: Every line in every index file built by MB-DAEMON will take 80 bytes
   of your harddisk capacity. Do a bit of calculating before you let MB-DAEMON
   make your harddisk run over ...

Q: I've got quite a big NEWS system (more than 300 MB of articles) here and the
   MB-DAEMON runs for hours on my system. Any fix?
A: No, not a real fix but a way out: Run MB-DAEMON without the "-x" flag. The
   index files will be alright. The problem is, that there aren't any threaded
   index files are made anymore. The command "THREAD article" will work ok,
   but no index will be shown on command "THREAD" without argument.          

Q: How to maintain the USERDATABASE?
A: Play around with the command "ADMIN". You'll see a menu to choose from.
   NOTE: To change the "Account:" entry you have to be on the terminal
   defined in PMS_TTY [see mbox.h]!

Q: I logged in and out several times now, but my protocols, calls and other
   logfiles do not show any single entry!
A: Log in and out as "guest" ... sysops logins (every user with level >= 10 is
   a sysop) don't produce any log information! If you like to monitor your
   cosysops, let them have level 9 only. They'll have the same rights but will
   be recorded in the logfiles.

Q: Is it possible to port the BBS to system XYZ?
A: Just try it :-) If you've done so let me have the CDIFFs!

Q: Are there any plans to develope further versions of this BBS?
A: Surely! Join our Mailing-List to keep in touch - see README how to!

Q: I can't locate any hints about the COPYING conditions. What about it?
A: The ix/MBox package is FREEWARE. Therefore you can copy, use and change
   it as often as you like. Of course you have to leave my "copyright"
   notices intact. Every version (even if you've improved it) has to be offered
   for free! Copying charges are quite a different story ...
