AD-NOD03.TXT (updated 04/20/94)

The AUTHOR DIRECT File Distribution Network.             End-Node Information
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for your interest in participating in our file distribution service!

First of all, let us make a few things absolutely clear before wasting any of 
your valuable time:

1) Participation in this network is open to any BBS Sysop or Disk Vendor. 
There is no requirement for ASP membership, nor is there any requirement for 
any sort of FidoNet (or any other network) affiliation.

2) Files are accepted for distribution from ASP Authors ONLY. 

3) This is *NOT* an ASP-Sponsored project. It is a private endeavour, and not 
officially connected with the ASP in any way.

Now, with all that out of the way, we can get on to the other stuff.

THE TECHNOLOGY
--------------
This network will make use of FidoNet-based software for the transfer of 
files. *PLEASE NOTE: This should not be confused to mean that participants 
must be FidoNet members! We are simply using software that is used by FidoNet 
members .... *anyone* can participate in our network, providing that own a 
computer and a modem.

The software we are using has the potential of being operated in 3 different 
methods: 

  1) as a stand-alone system, executed manually from the DOS command 
     line (excellent for non-FidoNet BBSs),
  2) as a timed "event" in a batch file, launched either by DOS timed-
     launching software, or by BBS software (if you operate a BBS), or
  3) as a full-time "front end" mail package for your BBS system. 

Since this software is so flexible, it lends itself well to networks such as 
ours, in that just about anyone will be able to participate without having to 
make drastic changes to their existing systems. The software is *NOT* BBS 
dependant, so our participants are not restricted by any certain BBS software. 
Our participants don't even have to run a BBS!  This software makes it 
possible for non-FidoNet sysops to participate, and even makes it possible for 
vendors to participate even tho they don't operate a BBS system.

The software necessary to participate in this project is available as 
freeware.

The core of the system itself is the file transfer program (commonly refered 
to as a "mailer") and its associated (optional) nodelist. The mailer software 
will work without the nodelist if you are only going to be calling your hub 
and nobody else. The software will handle all connections, security 
verification, and file transfers, internally. And it will maintain a log of 
all activity. 

BinkleyTerm is the mailer that we recommend, as it does not require 
registration for non-commercial use, and it is rock-solid in its operation. 
There are other mailers available, such as FrontDoor, D'Bridge, Intermail, 
etc., and any participant is free to use any of them if they desire, although 
they may involve registration costs.

In addition to the mailer itself, there are other optional utilities available 
which will allow you to 1) automatically post received files in your 
downloadable libraries, 2) send and receive private messages to other network 
participants, 3) update the nodelist from a small modification file that is 
distributed each week, etc. These utilities can be obtained from the Network 
HQ site, either by download or Network File REQuest.

For those who are not familiar with FidoNet-based technology, we offer a 
detailed text file which will allow you to setup the software for basic 
hub-contact-only operation in as little as 30 minutes. Also, your hub will be 
a good source for help, since all of our hubs are already using this 
technology and software, and they are very familiar with it.


THE NODELIST
------------
AUTHOR DIRECT will be using its own specific nodelist for its operation. If 
you aren't familiar with a FidoNet-based nodelist, think of it as a phone 
number listing for the mailer. It contains all of the information necessary 
for your mailer to connect with and communicate with your hub, as well as any 
other system in the network. If you are only interested in making connections 
with your hub, and no other network participants, then the nodelist is not 
required.

The nodelist will be updated weekly, and distributed in 2 forms. One form will 
be the entire compiled nodelist, and the second will contain only the changes, 
additions, and deletions. The 2nd form allows you do download a much smaller 
file, and then update your existing nodelist file using an update utility. All 
nodelist functions, including the assignments of node addresses, and matching 
participants with hubs, will be taken care of by Paul Giesenhagen. Paul will 
also generate the nodelist and updates.

The software which compiles your nodelist into mailer-readable data will also 
have the capability of building dialing strings, stripping out area codes from 
phone numbers (i.e. for local connections), and will install session passwords 
between 2 systems. The password feature is what gives our network its 
security, in that nobody can call your hub and get your mail and files without 
your password.


THE REQUIREMENTS
----------------
The requirements for participation in The AUTHOR DIRECT File Distribution 
Network are fairly minimal and straight forward. While they are simple, they 
are also necessary and strictly enforced.

1) You must use the network-compatible software to connect to your hub. 
Obtaining any necessary software (i.e. downloading it), and any associated 
costs for obtaining it (i.e. long distance connect charges), will also be your 
responsibility.

2) You will be responsible for any necessary long distance transfer costs 
between you and your hub, in order to transfer the network-distributed files.

3) You must poll your hub a minimum of 2 times per week. This is to give the 
authors a guarantee that their files will arrive at the distribution sites in 
a timely manner.

4) You must abide by any polling schedules that your hub establishes. In order 
to insure that everyone will be able to connect with their Hubs, the Hubs may 
wish to establish polling "windows" for their downlinks. In other words, your 
hub may need to dictate certain days of the week, and/or certain hours of the 
day that you are allowed to use. This is up to the individual hub.

5) You must abide by any cost-recovery plan (CRP) that is implemented by your 
hub. These fees are designed to help offset the hubs' costs for obtaining the 
files and making them available to you. The network has established limits on 
these fees, based on the number of End Nodes which the Hub is supporting. Hubs 
with 0-20 End Nodes are allowed to charge a maximum of $2/month per node, Hubs 
with 21-40 End Nodes may charge a maximum of $1.50/month per node, and Hubs 
with 41 or more End Nodes may charge a maximum of $1/month per node. (The 
number of End Nodes will not include any "Local Hubs" which are obtaining 
their feed via Planet Connect).

6) You are *NOT* allowed to establish any automatic "feed" from this network 
to any other BBS systems or other File Distribution systems. This is a very 
tightly structured network, and you are not allowed to "feed" the files to any 
other systems without prior arrangements with the network. You are free to 
post public announcements, stating the availability of the files, and other 
sysops are free to call your system and obtain files from you (either by 
downloading or File REQuesting them). But, you are not allowed to provide 
automated feeds of network-distributed files to non-network systems.

7) You *MUST* understand that blanket distribution rights are granted by the 
authors, for distribution via BBS systems ONLY. These blanket distribution 
rights do *NOT* automatically apply to distribution via other forms (i.e. disk 
sales, CD-ROM, rack sales, etc). If you plan to distribute these files via any 
method other than BBS download, you are required to abide by any limitations 
and requirements specified by the author in their distribution license.

8) You must remove any older versions of files when new versions are recieved. 
Many of the automated processing utilities contain such features. If your 
processing software contains such a feature, you are required to activate it. 
If your software does not have such a feature, you are required to perform 
regular, routine maintenance (once/month, minimum) to remove duplicate and 
older versions of files.

9) If you become disassociated with the network, and then later want to 
participate again, you will be required to go through the entire process as if 
you were a new member. This will involve establishing a new node ID, and you 
will be required to pay the processing fee as any other new participant.


--------------------
THE APPLICATION FORM
--------------------

The application form is pretty simple, and must be filled out completely. It 
may be submitted in electronic form, or via mail. You must complete the form 
using a text editor or word processor (be sure to save it as a standard ASCII 
file). See information in the "Submitting the Application" section at the end 
of this document for instructions on submitting your completed application.

The first portion of the form contains contact information for you, including 
your name, your BBS name (or company name if you are a Disk Vendor), mailing 
address, and voice phone number. You should also include any CompuServe or 
INTERNET addresses that you might have.

The next portion applies only to BBS sysops, and contains information 
regarding your BBS system, including BBS software, BBS phone numbers, maximum 
modem speeds (please list the maximum "modem" speed, and *NOT* the comm port 
speed), and modem compatibilities. 

The next portion is only necessary if you are already using FidoNet-based 
software, or are participating in a FidoNet-technology based network. You 
should list the various network names, and your associated network addresses.

The next portion asks if you have a specific hub site that you wish to obtain 
a feed from (i.e. if someone in your local calling area is an acting AD hub 
site, you should request that your feed be established with that hub). 
Indicate the name of the sysop and the BBS system that you wish to feed from.

Also, there is a utility in this package called MAKEREQ.EXE, which will help 
us build a network nodelist entry for you, based on the information in this 
section. There is an accompanying instruction file called MAKEREQ.DOC which 
contains information on using the MAKEREQ utility. Please note that the output 
from the MAKEREQ utility must be *appended to* the completed AD-NODxx.FRM - do 
not submit just  the output from the utility, as it does not contain all of 
the information that we need.


--------------------------
SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION
--------------------------
Once you have completed the application form, and appended the output from the 
MAKEREQ utility, and if you are going to submit the file using methods #1 or 
#2 below - the resulting file *MUST* be renamed to avoid conflicts with other 
applications being submitted. The filename is to be changed to that of the 
primary telephone number of your BBS. For example, if your primary BBS phone 
number is 317-784-2147, then your application form must be renamed to 
784-2147.APP. Applications that are recieved as AD-NODxx.APP will not be 
accepted!

The application may be submitted in electronic form, in any of the following 
manners:

  1) Sent via FidoNet Netmail to 1:231/290,
  2) Send via FidoNet File Transfer to 1:231/290,
  3) Posted as a private message to the sysop on our BBS at 317-784-2147,
  4) Attached to a private message to the sysop on our BBS at 317-784-2147.

-or-

  5) As a last resort, you may mail a printed copy of the form to us at:

        Author Direct FDN
        Richard Holler
        PO Box 657
        Beech Grove IN 46107-0657

Once your application has been received, it will be processed and a network 
address will be assigned for you. It will be *your* responsibility to contact 
the Network HQ site to retrieve this information (since we have done away with 
the one-time startup fee, we do not have the funds to deliver this information 
to you at our own cost).

     If your application was delivered via FidoNet, the network information 
     will be placed "on hold" for you at 1:231/290, under the address that 
     the application was submitted from.

     If your application was delivered as a message via the RoadHouse BBS,
     the network information will be posted as a private message to you on
     the same BBS.

     If your application was sent via USMail, we will post the network 
     information as a private message to you on the RoadHouse BBS.

It will be your responsibility to contact the network HQ site and pick up this 
information. Please allow 5 working days for processing.


If you do not already have the necessary software, you can download it from 
The RoadHouse BBS. It is your responsibility to obtain the necessary software. 
You can login to The RoadHouse, and use the name AUTHOR DIRECT, and a password 
of NETWORK to go directly to the file area where the necessary files are 
located. There is a file there called BINKLEY.INF which lists the files 
needed, and also contains detailed instructions for setting it up. If you need 
help configuring the software, you can call Richard Holler at the numbers 
listed below.


If you have any questions regarding this network, please don't hesitate to 
contact: 

Richard Holler  
The RoadHouse BBS       
P.O. Box 657            
Beech Grove IN 46107-0657       
(317) 782-9903 [voice]  
(317) 784-2147 [BBS]    
FidoNet 1:231/290       
RIME ->5056             
CompuServe 73567,1547   
INTERNET: 73567.1547@compuserve.com

