Sysops,

   1) Every month, usually around the first, the new version of the
      CatNET(sm) info file will be attached to a message in the "Net Admin"
      conference. If your BBS software can not receive attachments you can
      download the file from your hub or FREQ it from 200:10/2 "magic name"
      CATNET.

      The filename will follow the "CNTmmyy.ZIP" naming convention. So the
      filename for May 1994 would be "CNT0594.ZIP".

   2) Speaking of attachments the only conferences on CatNET(sm) that
      accept attachments are:

          Net Admin - network conference (echoed)
          User-User - network conference (echoed)

      This is discussed further in in Item #7 below.

   3) If you choose to enable attachments on your side remember to enable
      this function on the mail hub side also.

   4) Just a reminder about conference access. Please restrict access to the
      "Net Admin" & "Netline" conferences to Sysops and Co-Sysops, since
      these are administrative conferences.

      Also, in your mail tosser translate table provide an entry to
      translate the name SYSOP to your name for the "NetAdmin" conference.
      Network wide messages to sysops are addressed in this fashion.

   5) All conferences are public and do *not* support private mail or file
      attachments except for the following.

                             Allow File     Allow Private
                             Attachments        Mail

      Net Admin                  Yes             No
      NetLine                    No              No
      User-User                  Yes             Yes (forced)

      This setup requires a bit of explanation so here goes and I hope you
      can follow along. ;-)

                                 NET ADMIN

      Private Mail: The reason for not allowing private mail in the Net
                    Admin conference is because this conference is for
                    sysops & co-sysops only, and people with those security
                    levels can read any messages on the BBS anyway.

      File Attachments: File attachments are enabled to allow posting of the
                        monthly info file and other files deemed appropriate
                        by the network administration. Node sysops can also
                        use this conference to transfer files to other
                        sysops.

                                  NETLINE

      Private Mail: NetLine is a conference for the sysops carrying
                    CatNET(sm) to discuss problems, suggestions, ideas, etc.
                    about the BBS software they are running and get help if
                    they need it. Since this topic of conversation is mainly
                    directed at the operation of a BBS it is of little use
                    to the general public. With all the BBSs carrying
                    CatNET(sm) and using different kinds of BBS software
                    just think of it as a tech support conference for your
                    BBS software. Enabling private mail in this conference
                    would defeat the purpose of helping one another.

      File Attachments: File attachments are not allowed because we are
                        trying to keep all attachments in a central location
                        to make it easier to monitor what gets transferred.

                                 USER-USER

      Private Mail: The User-User conference is not mandatory for sysops to
                    carry. It's just a way for private conversations take
                    place without disturbing the regular conferences. It is
                    strongly suggested you "force" all messages in this
                    conference to be private.

      File Attachments: This option is enabled on the mail hub side as a way
                        for the participants of CatNET(sm) to quickly
                        transfer small files if they want. All file
                        attachments in this conference are monitored by the
                        mail hub sysop just to make sure no commercial,
                        pirated, or other illegal programs are sent across
                        the net. It is up to each individual sysop if they
                        wish to carry this conference and enable file
                        attachments on their end.
