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Monster Media 1996 #14
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Monster Media No. 14 (April 1996) (Monster Media, Inc.).ISO
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bbs_lord
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lnet0205.zip
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LORDNET.DOC
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1996-02-05
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Sons Of Salami Software Presents:
┌─┐ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ ┌───┐ ┌─┐ ┌─────┐ ┌─────┐
│ │ │ ┌──┐ │ │ ┌──┐ │ └┐ ┌─┐ │ │ └┐ │ │ │ ┌───┘ └─┐ ┌─┘
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ └──┘ │ │ │ │ │ │ ├┐ └┐│ │ │ └─┐ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ ┌─┐ ┌┘ │ │ │ │ │ │└┐ └┤ │ │ ┌─┘ │ │
│ └──┐ │ └──┘ │ │ │ │ └┐ ┌┘ └─┘ │ │ │ └┐ │ │ └───┐ │ │
└────┘ └──────┘ └─┘ └──┘ └──────┘ └─┘ └───┘ └─────┘ └─┘
Documentation Revised and Updated By: Dan O'Connor - NC National LordNet
Tj Delmarco - CO-NC National LordNet
Joseph Masters - Author of LordNet
Table of Contents
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.........................Legalities
2.........................What is LordNet?
3.........................Requirements
4.........................First Time Installation
5.........................INBOUND.EXE and OUTBOUND.EXE
6.........................Routing - ROUTE.CFG
7.........................Bulletins
8.........................Alternate Addresses
9.........................UPDATE.ZIP
10.........................Site Format Conversion
11.........................Commonly Asked Questions
12.........................Registrations
13.........................Special Thanks
14.........................Technical Support/Getting Updates
[1] Legalities...
LordNet is (C) Copyright 1995 Joseph Masters and Sons Of Salami Software
Group. All Rights Reserved.
[2] What is LordNet?
LordNet is an LORD IGM thats allows you to "interlink" your LORD game with
other BBS'S or leagues - ANYWHERE!!
[3] Requirements
LordNet requires:
1) Legend Of The Red Dragon v3.25+ -REGISTERED-
2) A Frontend Mailer (Such as FrontDoor, Intermail, Binkleyterm, etc.)
3) Around 20K of disk space for each BBS that you are linked to
[4] First Time Installation...
(A) If you are joining an existing net:
1) Unzip the LORDNET.ZIP archive into a directory of your choice.
-NOTE- If you have have multiple hard drives or partitions and you
experience problems with LordNet, try running LordNet on the
same drive as your frontend mailer.
2) Get a copy of the SITE.DAT file from your Network Coordinator (the
person in charge of the net you are joining) and copy it to the
directory that you unzipped the LordNet archive.
*** For 1.2L, the NC can AUTO-SEND the SITE.DAT file after you've
set everything up. If your NC is running 1.2L and is going
to send the SITE.DAT out to you, skip this step. However,
you will not be able to enter LordNet until you get it. ***
3) Change to the directory that you unzipped the lordnet archive to and
run "LORDNET.EXE CONFIG"
4) Choose <E>dit Local Configuration
5) Say "YES" to create the directories, and the *'d entries below
WILL NOT HAVE TO BE FILLED OUT!
Modify the fields... Here are the explanations:
NAME - Your Name
BBS NAME - Your BBS Name
LORD PATH - The drive and directory of your LORD game.
*LNET PATH - The drive and directory that you unzipped the lordnet
archive to.
*LNET IN - The directory where all of the INBOUND files will be
processed. Make sure that this is set to its own
directory or LordNet will not work.
*LNET OUT - The directory where the OUTBOUND file will be stored.
Make sure that this is set to its own directory or
LordNet will not work.
*LNET DATA - The directory where where the LordNet data will be
stored. Make sure that this is set to its own
directory or LordNet will not work. This should be a
subdirectory off your lordnet directory.
NETMAIL - The directory where your incoming and outgoing netmail
is stored. This should be the netmail directory of
your frontend mailer.
FILES - The incoming files directory. This should be the
incoming files directory of your frontend mailer.
-NOTE- If you have a secure mail session with the
uplink (You have a password setup) then you will have
to set this to the secure files directory of your
frontend mailer.
MAIN NODE - This is the node number that you will be using in
lordnet. This is usually your fidonet node.
REG # - This is the number that you will receive when you
register LordNet.
LOST ATTACK - The amount of days after an infestation has failed
until your money will be refunded.
NPC's - This toggles whether or not your game will allow NPC's
(Computer Players)
6) Quit back to the main menu. Choose <I>nstall Lordnet. This will
make the necessary changes into your 3RDPARTY.DAT of your LORD game
so that LordNet will appear off you <O>ther places menu in LORD.
*** If you don't have a SITE.DAT, this won't work! Do this after
you get it! ***
7) Run <T>he Generator to create your ROUTE.CFG file. If you're just
calling the NC, just accept the defaults, and it'll work it out.
If you *MUST* know what's with the ROUTE.CFG, refer to the routing
section in this documentation.
8) Edit the BULLETIN.CFG file in your lordnet directory. This file
defines where LordNet will create and store it's bulletins. Please
refer to the BULLETINS section of the documentation for the proper
setup of the bulletins.
(B) If you are creating a new net:
[PLEASE READ NC.DOC!]
[5] INBOUND.EXE and OUTBOUND.EXE
A) What are they?
INBOUND.EXE and OUTBOUND.EXE are the heart and soul of LordNet. These
two programs process the data that LordNet uses. INBOUND.EXE decompresses the
inbound data from your uplink and places it in the correct directories.
OUTBOUND.EXE creates the new data for your uplinks (and downlinks - if you are
a hub) and places it in the correct directories and creates the proper files
so that your frontend mailer can send it off or place it on hold for a system.
B) When should I run them?
INBOUND.EXE should be run whenever you receive the lordnet data files
from your uplinks and/or downlinks. OUTBOUND.EXE should be run at least once
per day...usually in your nightly maintenance. Some nets run this whenever
someone is finished playing LORD. Please contact your uplink or LordNet NC
for the proper times at which to run this. OUTBOUND.EXE creates a packet
and netmail every time it is run at the moment. However, 1.2L will be
upwardly compatible with future versions that don't create packets every
time.
[6] Routing - ROUTE.CFG
** This section is partially outdated because of the creation of
The Generator. However, it's here! :) **
A) What is it?
This tells your OUTBOUND.EXE where your Lordnet data files will be sent
or placed on hold for pick up. This is how LordNet utilites hubs so
that one site doesn't have to send out lord data to all the others
directly.
B) What are the commands that can be used in the ROUTE.CFG file?
There are a total of six commands that can be used in the ROUTE.CFG
file. They are as follows:
1) NORMAL
2) CRASH
3) HOLD
4) LOCAL
5) UP
6) DOWN
The NORMAL, CRASH, HOLD and LOCAL commands are used to tell the
OUTBOUND.EXE on where to send/hold lordnet's data. These commands take
TWO (2) parameters. The first parameter is the site number that you wish to
route and the second parameter is the site number that you wish to route that
data to. The names of these commands correspond with the status of the
netmail that LordNet will create for you frontend mailer, so use them
accordingly. Example:
- You are a network coordinator and you have a hub with the site number 2,
and a site with the site number 3. You wish to route site #3's data
through site #2. You want to CRASH the data to site #2.
CRASH 3 2
DOWN *
In this example, you CRASH site #3's data to site #2.
- You are a network coordinator and you have a hub with the site #5 and 3
other sites that are routed through that hub. They have the numbers
6,7,8. You want to put the data on hold and have site #5 poll for the
data.
HOLD 6 5
HOLD 7 5
HOLD 8 5
HOLD 5 5
DOWN *
In this example, you put site 6,7,8, and 5's data on hold so that site
5 can poll you for the data.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ -NOTE- The order in which you place the commands in the ROUTE.CFG is very │
│ important. The commands at the TOP of the file take precedence over the │
│ commands below it. │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
The LOCAL command is the same as NORMAL, CRASH, and HOLD except for
the fact that it does not use netmail. The primary use for this command
would be to link to games of LORD on one BBS together via LordNet.
The UP and DOWN commands define who your uplinks and/or downlinks
are. Unlike the other four commands (NORMAL, CRASH, HOLD, and LOCAL) these
commands only use ONE (1) command. You would use the command followed by the
number of the site that you wish to declare as your uplink/downlink. Example:
- You are a hub in a lordnet and your site number is 3. You are hubbing for
a site with the number 4. Your uplink has a site number of 1 and he is
crashing all data to you. You are crashing to your downlinks.
CRASH 4 4
DOWN 4
UP 1
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ -HOT TIP- You can use a * as a wildcard for ALL when routing data. │
│ This can be useful when you want to declare everyone as │
│ a downlink. Example: │
│ │
│ CRASH 2 3 CRASH * * CRASH * 3 │
│ CRASH 3 3 DOWN * DOWN * │
│ HOLD 4 4 │
│ DOWN * │
│ │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
To check the routing, run LORDNET.EXE CONFIG from your LordNet directory
and choose <R>outing Check. This will show you who is routed to who, who
your uplinks/downlinks are and what status the netmail created will be.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ -HOT TIP- If you have a site that has been deleted and he/she is assigned │
│ to a hub far down in the net structure and you don't want to │
│ have everyone redo their ROUTE.CFG's, then you may use the │
│ LOCAL command to route that nodes data to yourself without using │
│ any netmail. Example: │
│ │
│ - Site #23 has been deleted and you want to route that site to youself. │
│ You are site #1. │
│ │
│ LOCAL 23 1 │
│ │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
[7] Bulletins
The bulletins of LordNet are what allow your users to view the scores
of your BBS in combination with all of the other BBS'S in the LordNet that
you belong to. Without setting up bulletins, the <S>cores Menu in the LordNet
game will not work correctly. To setup bulletins, edit the BULLETIN.CFG file
in your lordnet directory.
Here is the explanation of what the BULLETIN.CFG should look like.
Line 1 - Maximum number of players to be listed in the bulletins.
Line 2 - ANSI player bulletin path & name
Line 3 - ASCII player bulletin path & name
Line 4 - ANSI BBS (Total) bulletin path & name
Line 5 - ASCII BBS (Total) bulletin path & name
Line 6 - ANSI BBS (Average) bulletin path & name
Line 7 - ASCII BBS (Average) bulletin path & name
This is also explained in the BULLETIN.CFG file.
Example BULLETIN.CFG:
150
C:\DOORS\LORDNET\SCOR18.ANS
C:\DOORS\LORDNET\SCOR18.ASC
C:\DOORS\LORDNET\TEMP.ANS
C:\DOORS\LORDNET\TEMP.ASC
C:\DOORS\LORDNET\TEMP2.ANS
C:\DOORS\LORDNET\TEMP2.ASC
-NOTE- You MUST run LORDNET.EXE BULL in order for these bulletins to be
created. You may run this whenever you want..whether it be in your
nightly maintenance, whenever somebody finishes playing LORD, or when
you receive the LordNet data.
[8] Alternate Addresses
The Alternate Addresses function may be accessed by running LORDNET.EXE
CONFIG and choosing <A>lternate Addresses Config off the Main Menu. This is
for local sites who have alternate addresses other than the lordnet
coordinator's and wish to join a lordnet. Example:
- The Lordnet Coordinator has a Fidonet address and you don't. You may
establish a local address so you may send and recieve files between both
sites.
[9] UPDATE.ZIP
A) What is it?
The UPDATE.ZIP is a file that the network coordinator uses to
distribute files to the members of his/her net. An example would include
lordnet program updates. This allows the network coordinator the freedom of
not having to contact each individual site. The UPDATE.ZIP will automatically
overwrite all of the files in the lordnet directory at each site.
B) How do I use it?
If you're an NC, you should read NC.DOC! However, if you're a
downlink, it will automatically pass through you!
[10] Site Format Conversion
This can be accessed by running LORDNET.EXE CONFIG and choosing
<S>ite Format Conversion. It's purpose is to show the conversion between
the site number and the data file. Example:
LNxxLLyy.Znn
LN - Identifies as LORDNET
xx - Site TO, in the SITE FORMAT
LL - League TAG, in the SITE FORMAT
yy - Site FROM, in the SITE FORMAT
nn - Number from 01 to 99.
So, what _is_ the SITE FORMAT? Well, it's like hexadecimal, but instead of
ending on F, it ends on V. Therefore, 1 is still 1 (actually it's 01), but
10 is A (or 0A). This allows me to run over 3 digits in a 2 digit space.
Use the SITE FORMAT CONVERSION to "see" what your package is. You
could write a simple DOS batch file to separate packets, if you wanted.
You may print this info out which will show all the sites and their
conversion.
[11] Commonly Asked Questions
Question: I receive a run-time error when I hit the install button..Why is
this?
Answer: Make sure that all of your directories are set correctly in the
<E>dit Local Configuration menu off of the LORDNET.EXE CONFIG
program. 99% of the time...this will solve your problem.
The other 1% of the time... try moving your 3rdparty.dat file
away from the LordNet directory, and then combine it with the
one LordNet will create.
Question: LordNet will run locally, but my users can not see it..why?
Answer: Make sure that the fossil driver is set correctly in the
LORDCFG.EXE program in your LORD directory. For some reason,
on some systems, LordNet wants a fossil. Set it up in LORDCFG
as a REGULAR FOSSIL driver.
Question: I'm running LANtastic, and I've done the DOATTRIB.BAT file,
but when updates come in, it gets a runtime error -- what should
I do?
Answer: I recommend you turn the LORDTXT.DAT back to a non-read-only file,
and it won't give runtimes again - maybe just change it back before
inbound, and then change back to READ ONLY after inbound.
Question: What is the league tag?
Answer: Your league tag is the ID for your league. It defaults to the ZONE
of your Number One BBS. It's only really useful to change it if
you're running two different leagues off the same address. And
remember to tell all your nodes that you're using something
different in there!
Question: How do I run LordNet locally (just on my BBS, between 2+ games)?
Answer: Read the LOCAL.DOC included with this archive!
Question: I'm the #1 BBS. How do I send the SITE.DAT, TEAM.DAT, and
UPDATE.ZIP files down to my hubs?
Answer: If you used <T>he Generator, they should be going already!
Question: I get some weird kind of address in the TO: space of my
messages that LordNet creates.
Answer: Go to your LordNet directory, delete the ALTCFG.DAT file,
run LORDNET CONFIG, and then run the Alternate Addresses
Configuration.
Other problems? Free feel to drop me a line!
[12] Registration
You may register LordNet many ways! Here's the complete list:
* 900 Number
In my opinion, this is the best way. To do this, call The Basement
BBS, go into the Sons of Salami Support Area, and enter the
Registration Retriever/Online Registrations Door. This will give
you the 900 number to call (you need to be able to access my BBS
to get the code). Then, call the 900 number voice, get the code,
and enter it into my BBS. That's all there is to it!
A shorter way to do this in the evenings and on weekends is to
call me voice at 704.628.4631, get the 900 number from me, call
it, and then give me the code back. Either way is fine with me.
* Credit Card
Seth Able is taking credit cards for all my products. The voice
line is 503.391.4274, 10 AM to 6 PM PST. You can also fax the
REGISTER.NOW form to him. His fax number is 503.391.0140.
You can also EMAIL the form. However, all that info is in the
REGISTER.NOW text file!
* Check/MO
You can also register with a check or money order, just fill out
the REGISTER.FRM file! Read NETREG.FRM for deals on netwide
registrations! NETREGs are only available if you use the
Check/MO option!
Here is what you get with REGISTERED LordNet:
- Romantic Mail
- Team Attacks
- NC Menu enhanced
IGM CTL Booth
Forest Fights/User Fights Setting
Bank Transfer Setting
UPDATE.ZIP usage
Netwide Resets
Kicker
Netwide Announcements
- Brigades
- More than 3 player attacks daily
- LORDNET UPDATE PROGRAM!
If you are registering, are an NC, and have a fido address, PLEASE
fill out the LNETUP.FRM file, and send it back to me! I'll
add you immediately! (Explanation is also in that file).
[13] Special Thanks
The amount of people I'm going to thank on this product is larger than
any other list, please, if you see/hear one of these people, think of
the time and effort they've put into this product:
* The Most-Owing praise, Seth Able Robinson, who did the 2 am test/bash,
got me started with programming, endorsed this product, released
structs, came up with the ever-popular IGM format... the list goes on.
* My FANTASTIC beta team members, the people who spent hours and hours
and hours of free time (and hours of BBS down time) for almost nothing.
- Mark Pringle (WWLN)
- Larry Jeans' Net
- Dan & TJ (National LordNet)
- Steve Newman & Glen O'Gorman (LinearNet)
- Dave Davis
- Jerry Gresham
- Mike Patriche
- Tom Barstow
- Carson Hub
- Joe Corder
- Dan Kirk
* The awesome DOC writers (wow, you can write 'em!) TJ and Dan (NC of
National LordNet!)
* My 2 fantastic RIP artists, from Tombstone Productions (the best in
the business, guys!)
- Richard Robbins (Menu Set/Border)
- Carole Hanig (ANsI Opening + RIP Opening screens)
* Bob Dalton, Scott Baker, and Steve Lorenz, the genuises behind DDPlus
* The guys at TurboPower for their wonderful AsyncProfessional
* And all the users who tried LordNet and reported bugs!
[14] Need Technical Support or File Updates?
Email to Dalton on my BBS (704)628-9908...
(Should get answered in a day or two...)
Voice Call (You'll get best answer, and immediate results).
- I don't accept Collect Calls.
(704)628-4631
6pm-10pm (weekdays)
All Day (weekends) - depends on whether I'm at home or not! :)
Best time would be around 9 pm on any day.
If you leave a message on my machine (which you should do!), your
call should get answered on that day if you called before 10pm.
Email to jmasters@thebasement.com or trent@usa.pipeline.com
(I'd prefer if you'd mail it to the latter)
The Official Sons of Salami Software Web Site!
http://www.zianet.com/files/users/weenie/sos/
The Official LordNet Web Site!
http://www.zianet.com/files/users/weenie/lordnet/
-For Additional 3rd Party Support-
Fidonet Netmail: Tj Delmarco - 1:3618/8
Dan O'Connor - 1:3618/18