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1994-08-28
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REDIST - Message Re-distribution Server
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This REDIST software is designed to run using v5.15 or later of the F6FBB
software. It has been tested on the releases of version 5.15a, 5.15b and 5.15c
and will almost certainly work with any of the version 5.14 and 5.15 releases.
It is not designed to run with any other BBS software as it directly accesses
the FBB initialisation file.
I have recently heard that Hank, W0RLI, is releasing a REDIST compatible server
for use with his BBS. Unfortunately this server does not (at the moment)
update my master database, so it's not possible to know which W0RLI-type BBSs
have installed the server. The only thing I know is that there are more BBSs
supporting REDIST than I know about!
I hope that most FBB-type (and W0RLI-type) BBSs will install this server. If
it is widely installed it will hopefully become widely used. If it is used
correctly then it may help to reduce the number of 'ALL @ EU' and 'ALL @ WW'
bulletins that are sent by people trying to address a small area of Europe or
the world. If it reduces the volume of such bulletins in even just a small way
then it will have served it's purpose.
Setting up the software
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1) Copy REDIST.EXE into the \FBB\BIN directory. I have asssumed that \FBB\BIN
is in your DOS PATH statement. The program will run from any directory in the
DOS PATH, but the F6FBB software must be running in the \FBB directory for the
software to find the INIT.SRV file. I think this is a requirement of the
F6FBB software anyway, so I don't think it will be a problem.
2) Create a file called REDIST.CFG in the \FBB directory. The file can have a
number of lines and the format of each line is described below.
Each line in the config file begins with a string which defines the contents
of the line. The lines do not need to be in the sequence shown above and the
software sensibly handles missing lines (I hope!). The meaning for each line
is as follows :
LOCBBS= The address to be used when a messages is addressed to
LOCAL= the LOCBBS, LOCAL, REGION or NATION servers.
REGION= LOCBBS can be used to re-direct bulletins to another
NATION= BBS if the host BBS is a specialist BBS with very few
users.
Each line can contain one or more @ field addresses. A
copy of the bulletin will be sent to each address in the
list. Use commas to seperate the addresses.
Lines must not be longer than 128 characters.
LOCBBS_DESC= A line of text describing the LOCBBS, LOCAL, REGION
LOCAL_DESC= or NATION areas.
REGION_DESC= Descriptions must not be longer than 32 characters.
NATION_DESC=
DEFAULT_TO= Allows a default TO field to be specified. Some
areas do not permit messages to ALL and this allows
the host BBS sysop to define what field should be used
as a default if the user does not supply one in the subject
line. The TO field should be a maximum of 6 characters.
MAIL_IN= Forces the software to output the redistributed messages to
the file named in this line. This overrides the value
obtained from the MAIL.IN setting in INIT.SRV. This can be
used to allow the messages to be further processed by other
servers/software prior to being added to the real FBB MAIL.IN
file. This parameter will rarely need to be used.
MAIL_SYSOP= New optional parameter in v2.04.
This option allows the sysop to choose if he/she wants to be
mailed each time the REDIST server is used. This parameter
can take values of Y/YES or N/NO. If an incorrect value is
entered or the line is not included in the config file then
the software will default to sending the sysop a message.
An example REDIST.CFG is shown below :
-------Example REDIST.CFG--------------------------------------------------
LOCBBS=GB7FCI
LOCBBS_DESC=Blackpool
LOCAL=#NW,GB7LAN
LOCAL_DESC=North West England
REGION=#ZONEA
REGION_DESC=Northern England
NATION=GBR
NATION_DESC=Great Britain
DEFAULT_TO=INFO
MAIL_IN=C:\MAIL\REDIST.MAI
MAIL_SYSOP=Y
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
If the following message was addressed to a BBS with the above REDIST.CFG
file...
SP LOCAL @ GB7FCI
A test message
Just a small test of the LOCAL server at GB7FCI.
Bye, Chris
/EX
...then copies of the message would be sent as bulletins to 'INFO @ #NW' and
'INFO @ GB7LAN' and placed in a file called C:\MAIL\REDIST.MAI. A brief
message would also be sent to the sysop informing her/him that the server has
been activated.
The choice of bulletin group addresses is left up to the sysop, but please try
to choose sensible addresses. The LOCAL group is intended to cover small
local areas, which may be just a few BBSs or perhaps an area of a few hundred
square miles. The REGION group is intended to cover regions of a country, in
the UK the RSGB zones are probably appropriate and maybe US States might be a
sensible size. The NATION group is intended to cover an entire country.
If you want to ignore any of the LOCAL, REGION or NATION addresses, then just
repeat the addresses for one of the other servers. If you omit the definition
for the LOCAL, REGION or NATION servers from the config file the LOCBBS server
address will be used by default. For example, if you don't have any address
at your BBS that would be sensible as a REGION, then you might put something
like this in REDIST.CFG file :
LOCAL=#NW
REGION=#NW
NATION=GBR
The addresses used in the REDIST.CFG file can be hierarchical addresses if
required, but each one must be less than 32 characters long and the whole line
must also be less than 128 characters.
3) Edit INIT.SRV to include entries to call REDIST for LOCBBS, LOCAL, REGION
and NATION messages. Change the text describing the server as appropriate.
The entries are the same as any other server, ie.
LOCBBS REDIST Readdress a message as a bulletin @ GB7FCI
LOCAL REDIST Readdress a message as a #NW bulletin
REGION REDIST Readdress a message as a #ZONEA bulletin
NATION REDIST Readdress a message as a GBR bulletin
It is essential that the names used to call the server remain as LOCBBS,
LOCAL, REGION and NATION. The server uses these names to look up the
details in REDIST.CFG and the program will fail if the incorrect names are
used in INIT.SRV.
4) Put a copy of the REDIST.USR and REDIST.BBS files in your BBS user files
directories and also let your users know that the facility is available. The
more people who know about and use the facility the more widely it will spread.
If it's used at a lot of BBSs then the choice of destinations will be far
better.
5) From the \FBB directory run REDIST from DOS with a parameter of /UPDATE, eg
C:\FBB> REDIST /UPDATE
This will send an update of your REDIST server details to me so that I can
update my master database.
Comments
~~~~~~~~
1) The server sends a message to REDIST @ GB7FCI.#16.GBR.EU when it is first
used, when you use the /UPDATE parameter from DOS, when a new version of the
software is installed and on its first run after any change to the REDIST.CFG
file. This is controlled by a file created by the server called REDIST.###.
Please allow this message to be forwarded to me as it allows me to maintain a
database of BBSs supporting the server. The message activates a server at my
BBS which automatically updates the database of BBSs supporting the server.
This database has been used to create the REDIST.BBS file found in this
distribution set.
2) The server creates a new forwarding header for the originating users BBS.
This allows any replies to the distributed bulletin sent using the SR command
to be directed to the correct user. This will prevent any extra work on your
behalf in re-addressing the replies. I believe that the created header should
be compatible with most BBS software. Please advise me if you find any
problems with the new header.
3) If your entry in REDIST.BBS or any listings that I distribute is incorrect,
you can run REDIST from DOS with the /UPDATE parameter to send an update to my
BBS at any time.
If you find any errors or have problems with the software, please mail me.
Also please let me know if you have any suggestions for improvements to the
server.
(C) Copyright 1993 & 1994 Chris McMahon, G6FCI @ GB7FCI.
This software can be freely distributed for use by radio amateurs for
non-commercial purposes. This documentation may be included in articles or
books produced for amateur radio purposes as long as the author is ackowledged.