







                                    

              Easy and Graphical Setup Tutorial for Interfacing
                      Wildcat! v3.x or v4.x with FidoNet.    



            Using Wildcat! BBS, Wildmail v3.1x and Frontdoor v2.02


                               version 1.0


                        Written by:  Mufutau Towobola
                                P.O. Box 860        
                           Bronx, New York 10453     
                             
                            All Rights Reserved



                              April 2, 1994


                         Fidonet address 1:278/111                   
                      

                           
                              Systematic BBS
                          Node 1: (718) 716-6198 
                          Node 2: (718) 716-6341
                   (All Nodes running high speed Modems)






     FidoNet Technology   -   Network Structure
     ==========================================

     FidoNet is the biggest amateur network in the world. It was started in
     1984 by Tom Jennings. Currently more than 30,000 nodes worldwide are
     connected. The network has a hierarchic tree (or star) topology:

                   +------------------------------+---------------------->
                   |                              |
                 zone 1                         zone 2
                   |                              |
          +--------+--------+            +--------+--------+
          |        |        |            |        |        |
        region   region   region       region   region   region
          |        |        |            |        |        |
       +--+--+     |     +--+--+     +---+---+    |     +--+--+
       |     |     |     |     |     |   |   |    |     |     |
      net   net   net   net   net   net net net  net   net   net
                         |
                   +-----+-----+
                   |     |     |
                 node  node  node
                  |
              +---+---+
              |       |
            point   point

     Zones are divided in Regions, which are divided in Nets. The Nets
     consist of Nodes, which are usually (but not necessarily) Bulletin
     Board Systems. Each node has a unique address which consists of four
     parts: Zone, Net, Node and Point, in text form expressed as
     "Zone:Net/Node.Point". Zone numbers 1 up to and including 6 are used
     by FidoNet:

     1 = North America (United States of America and Canada)
     2 = Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States
     3 = Oceania (Australia and New Zealand)
     4 = Latin America
     5 = Africa
     6 = Asia

     There are several other networks that use FidoNet Technology and which
     occupy higher zone numbers (such as AfroNet, zones 101) etc.

     Many nodes have one or more points. A point is a user who gets mail
     from a node (its "boss") in compressed files. That way they can read
     and write messages offline, saving time and money. The point address
     of the boss is 0, but the ".0" is usually omitted from the address.





     Mail transportation
     ===================

     Electronic mail in a FidoNet Technology Network (FTN) is exchanged
     using mail packets, which are usually transmitted between two
     computers by modem. The software responsible for this is called a
     mailer. The files have the .PKT extension and they can contain one or
     more messages.

     There are two types of messages: (1) Netmail  (2) Echomail
     
     (1)  Netmail goes from one node to another node (either directly or 
          routed through other systems). 
     
     (2)  Echomail is copied to all systems which are connected to a 
          particular area (also called conference). The messages are 
          distributed using a special kind of netmail messages, where each 
          message starts with "AREA:" followed by the name of the area, in 
          which certain topic(s) are discussed.

Below is an excerpt from FidoNet POLICY 4 which is a requirement to be
read by ALL FidoNet Members. POLICY4.TXT is enclosed in this archive, please
read it in full. Below details to you, on how to obtain your own Node address.

   How to obtain a node number

You must first obtain a current nodelist so that you can send mail.  You do
not need a node number to send mail, but you must have one in order for
others to send mail to you.

The first step in obtaining a current nodelist is to locate a FidoNet
bulletin board.  Most bulletin board lists include at least a few FidoNet
systems, and usually identify them as such.  Use a local source to obtain
documents because many networks have detailed information available which
explains the coverage area of the network and any special requirements or
procedures.

Once you have a nodelist, you must determine which network or region covers
your area.  Regions are numbered 1-99; network numbers are greater than 99.
Networks are more restricted in area than regions, but are preferred since
they improve the flow of mail and provide more services to their members.  If
you cannot find a network which covers your area, then pick the region which
does.

Once you have located the network or region in your area, send a message
containing a request for a node number to node zero of that network or
region.  The request must be sent by netmail, as this indicates that your
system has FidoNet capability.

You must set up your software so that the from-address in your message does
not cause problems for the coordinator who receives it.  If you pick the
address of an existing system, this will cause obvious problems.  If your
software is capable of using address -1/-1, this is the traditional address
used by potential sysops.  Otherwise use net/9999 (e.g. if you are applying
to net 123, set your system up as 123/9999).  Many nets have specific
instructions available to potential sysops and these procedures may indicate
a preference for the from-address.

The message you send must include at least the following information:

     1) Your name.
     2) Your voice telephone number
     3) The name of your system.
     4) The city and state where your system is located.
     5) The phone number to be used when calling your system.
     6) Your hours of operation, netmail and BBS.
     7) The maximum baud rate you can support.
     8) The type of mailer software and modem you are using.

Your coordinator may contact you for additional information.  All information
submitted will be kept confidential and will not be supplied to anyone except
the person who assumes the coordinator position at the resignation of the
current coordinator.

You must indicate that you have read, and agree to abide by, this document
and all the current policies of FidoNet.

Please allow at least two weeks for a node number request to be processed.
If you send your request to a Regional Coordinator, it may forwarded to the
appropriate Network Coordinator.

     

   This project started as a note to some of my fellow SysOps who needed my
help in interfacing their BBS with FidoNet. So I just spent extra weeks
to turn all my notes into this documentation to better help all other Sysops
in need.
   When I was interfacing my BBS with FidoNet some years agao, I went to hell
and back before I can get everything working well, with this documentation
I hope you will not have to go thru the same hardship I went thru.
All necessary screen captures are included in this documentation to make the
whole setup project more easy and graphical. 

   A short introduction of myself, I am hobbyist SysOp operating a Wildcat! 
BBS running 10 lines of both dial-in and local, all operating under Lantastic
Network. At present I am running Frontdoor v2.20c.mL MultiLine Mailer on all
the above Nodes.

   I have tried to make this documentation easy for everyone by not using
any heavy grammatical English or FidoNet jargons.

   Vote of thanks goes to the following friends and fellow Sysops for their
testing, debugging and with some valuable suggestions and latest file of
this documentation will also be available on their board:

 Steve Laris: Sysop of Mega-Source BBS, Queens, NY (718) 545-3990 
              Wildcat! BBS Multi-Node. Fidonet: 1:278/514 & 1:278/515
                
 Eddie Hicks: Sysop of Online in D'Hood BBS, Pleasantville, NJ (609) 645-7080
              TriBBS MultiNode. FidoNet: 1:2623/65 AfroNet: 101:13/118 


 Contact Networks: I can be reached at the following Location and Networks:
   1. Systematic BBS (718) 716-6198 and (718) 716-6341
   2. FidoNet 1:278/111 AfroNet: 101:13/106
   3. RIME - RelayNet (tm)  Node# 5210
   4. Intelec Network
   5. *Prowl* / WDNet
   6. SmartNet
   7. ThrobNet
   8. CatNet
   9. AfroNet
  10. AbuNet
  11. JixNet

I monitor most conferences on the above Networks especially Wildcat!  and 
TriBBS conference.

Note: This documentation is free for distribution, but if you think this file
      has made your setup easy and helpful and would like to donate whatever
      amount you feel to my proposed acquisition of a new 1gig of hard drive,
      then mail whatever amount you want to me at, but this is optional:

      Mufutau Towobola
      P.O. Box 860
      Bronx, NY 10468
      USA.



Before you can start this setup, please do the following:

1. Add the following to your AUTOEXEC.BAT.
   
   SET FD=C:\FD
   SET WCNODELIST=C:\FD\NODELIST\

   Add the following statement to your PATH statement in AUTOEXEC.BAT

   PATH=C:\FD;

2. Edit your CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT to load the Fossil Driver.

3. Reboot your computer for all the above adjustments to be in effect.

4. Create or Make the following directories on your C: drive.

   C:\FD
   C:\FD\NODELIST
   C:\FD\NETMAIL
   C:\FD\FILES
   C:\FD\PACKET
   C:\FD\MSGBASE
   C:\FD\SWAP
   C:\FD\ATTACH
   C:\FD\BADECHO
   C:\WM30\

     Do the following for the files you downloaded:
  a. Unzip the Frontdoor files (FD202.ZIP) into C:\FD 
  b. Unzip All Wildmail files WM310_x.ZIP into C:\WM30 
  c. Unzip EDITNL.ZIP into C:\FD\NODELIST (Only the EDITNL.EXE is needed)
  d. Unzip WildNode files WNODE151.ZIP into C:\FD\NODELIST 
     (Only the Wildnode.EXE is needed here)
  e. Put NODELIST.??? in C:\FD\NODELIST
  f. Unzip the file from PKPAK/PKUNPAK archives into any directory 
     in your autoexec.bat path statement, e.g C:\WC30 or C:\FD

     Do this for the archive files included in this file:
  g. Unzip the file FDFILES.ZIP from this archive into C:\FD
     and overwrite any of the you may already have. 
  h. Unzip the file FDNODE.ZIP from this archive into C:\FD\NODELIST.
  i. Unzip the files from this archive WM30FILE.ZIP into C:\WM30. 
     Overwrite any files in those directory with the one I have provided 
     for easier setup.
  



5. Create the following two conferences in your Wildcat! BBS thru MAKEWILD.

ͻ
 03-09-94                  Conference Definition                   20:15:58 
 CONFERENCE DESCRIPTION ͸
                                                                              
  Conference LO_FIDONET NETMAIL    [E]    MISCELLANEOUS Ŀ 
                                          Conference sysop                  
  PATHS Ŀ  Mail type                NetMail  
  Bulletins      C:\WC30\BULL\          Max conference messages  200      
  Questionnaires C:\WC30\QUES\          Max lines per message    150      
  Menus          C:\WC30\MENU\          Number of questionnaires 10       
  Help           C:\WC30\HELP\          Number of bulletins      60       
  Display files  C:\WC30\DISP\          Check valid name         No       
  Messages       C:\MSG\NETMAIL\        File area access                  
   
  TOGGLES Ŀ 
  Allow message attachments        Y    Allow return receipts            Y  
  Prompt to kill received messages Y    Allow private messages           Y  
  Allow high ascii characters      Y    Force all messages private       Y  
  Allow message carbon copies      N    Use alias names                  N  
  Read only conference             N                                        
  
;
                 Copyright (c) 1989,93 Mustang Software, Inc.                 
     [F1] Help - [F2] Edit Access - [F3] Copy - [F4] Global - [ESC] Exit      
ͼ

The above is a sample Netmail conference that you should create for your
Netmail Conference, you should have ONLY ONE Netmail Conference.

ͻ
 03-09-94                  Conference Definition                   20:16:37 
 CONFERENCE DESCRIPTION ͸
                                                                              
  Conference FD_Wildcat! Sysops [FIDO]    MISCELLANEOUS Ŀ 
                                          Conference sysop                  
  PATHS Ŀ  Mail type                Normal   
  Bulletins      C:\WC30\BULL\          Max conference messages  500      
  Questionnaires C:\WC30\QUES\          Max lines per message    150      
  Menus          C:\WC30\MENU\          Number of questionnaires 10       
  Help           C:\WC30\HELP\          Number of bulletins      60       
  Display files  C:\WC30\DISP\          Check valid name         No       
  Messages       C:\MSG\FIDONET\        File area access                  
   
  TOGGLES Ŀ 
  Allow message attachments        N    Allow return receipts            N  
  Prompt to kill received messages Y    Allow private messages           Y  
  Allow high ascii characters      N    Force all messages private       N  
  Allow message carbon copies      N    Use alias names                  N  
  Read only conference             N                                        
  
;
                 Copyright (c) 1989,93 Mustang Software, Inc.                 
     [F1] Help - [F2] Edit Access - [F3] Copy - [F4] Global - [ESC] Exit      
ͼ

Above is the sample Echomail conference that you should create for all each
echomail conference you will be carrying thru Fidonet. You can have as many
echomail conferences as you want based on how many you will be echoing.



Record number  : 1                                       Match : NONE
[ 1] Name      : SYSOP                          [17] Sec level : SYSOP
[ 2] From      :                                [18] Exp date  : /  /
[ 3] Help level: Novice                         [19] User since:   /  /  
[ 4] Password  :                        Age:    [20] D.O.B.    :   /  /  
[ 5] Phone [V] :                                [21] Memo date : /  /
[ 6] Phone [D] :                                [22] # Calls   :     
[ 7] Last call : 03/09/94 6:00pm                [23] Page avail: YES
[ 8] Comment 1 : Practical Peripherals 14,400   [24] Display   : Auto detect
[ 9] Comment 2 : Sysop's Account                [25] E-prompt  : YES
[10] Company   : Systematic BBS                 [26] Hot keys  : YES
[11] Address 1 :                                [27] File disp : Double line
[12] Address 2 :                                [28] Editor    : Full Screen
[13] City      :                                [29] Protocol  : No default
[14] State     :                                [30] N-mail bal: $100,000.00
[15] Zip       :                                [31] Acct bal  : $100,000.00
[16] Country   :

Edit [1..31], [N]ext, [S]earch, [M]atch, [F]ind, [A]dd,  [E]xtra Info
[C]onference, [P]rev, [D]elete, [W]rite, [H]elp, [J]ump, [Q]uit?

After you have finished with the conference creation, log on to your board
locally or use WCPro (if you have any) to give yourself a Netmail amount and
Netmail Balance as seen on items #30 and #31 above, make sure you only give
this balances to your Account (Sysop) ONLY.



Note: After you finish all the setup in all this documentations, you will
      need to send a Netmail from inside Frontdoor to your FidoNet Area NC 
      (Network Co-Ordinator) and request for a Node address. 
      A sample file called APPLY.TXT has been enclosed in this archive that
      can be used to request an address, don't forget to change the address 
      on it from 1:278/0 to your own area FidoNet Net Number.





            Program Acknowledgements goes to the following:

Wildcat! BBS  -  Mustang Software Inc.
Frontdoor     -  Joaquim H. Homrighausen (AKA JoHo) and Advanced Engineering.
Wildmail      -  Online Computer Resources
WildNode      -  Online Computer Resources
X00 Fossil    -  Raymond L. Gwinn
EditNL        -  Ben Baker
FidoNet       -  Tom Jennings
PKUnpak/PKpak -  PKWare Inc.
PKZip/PKUnzip -  PKWare Inc.
