

                       SETTING UP SGA-NET ON VIRTUAL BBS
                       ---------------------------------
                      by Bryan Erickson 30:301/214@SGA-Net



  INTRO
  -----

  Myself, being one of the originators of SGAnet -- the predecessor of 
  SGA-Net -- and the first sysop to attempt to run it on VBBS, has written 
  this guideline to help make it easier for you to do than it was for me.  
  Good luck... it's really quite simple if you follow the guidelines listed 
  here.



  REQUIREMENTS
  ------------

  You don't really need much, just a working VBBS setup, the utility known
  as VFIDO and a current version of the SGA-Net nodelist.  If you desire to 
  be in the BRE League 301, you will need a copy of the game (preferably 
  registered!)  You will also find that a high-speed modem will be quite 
  beneficial to networking with any network.  You will also need to define 
  an open "slot" in your networks list.  (See "Needed Directories & Files" 
  section below)


  VFIDO INTERFACE
  ---------------

  So what is this VFIDO thingy?  Well, it's the utility that VBBS requires 
  to network with "type-4 networks".  SGA-Net uses a netmail message format
  that is known as Hudson.  Hudson echomail/netmail messages are files 
  numbered sequentially with a .MSG extension.  VFIDO provides the EMSI 
  handshaking that works with mailers such as FrontDoor, complete with 
  passwords and such.  It then converts these hudson type packets to the 
  format used by VBBS.  I would strongly suggest the version of VFIDO you 
  use be 6.00.04 or 6.00.01!  There was a version included with VBBS v6.1 
  (VFIDO6.10.00) that works very poorly with the EMSI handshaking and should 
  be avoided!

  VFIDO600.04 is a zipped file and needs to be "unzipped".  The internal 
  file VFIDO.EXE should be copied into your VBBS main Directory (typically 
  C:\VBBS).


  NEEDED DIRECTORIES AND FILES
  ----------------------------

  - Place VFIDO in your MAIN directory. (Typically C:\VBBS)

  - Create a subdirectory called SGANET under your MAIN directory.
    (Typically C:\VBBS\SGANET)

  - Create subdirectories called NETMAIL and OUTBOUND 
    (if not already existing)
    (Typically C:\VBBS\NETMAIL and C:\VBBS\OUTBOUND)

  - In your DATA directory (typically C:\VBBS\DATA), you find a file named
    NETWORKS.LST that you will need to edit slightly.  Find the line in the
    file corresponding to your open network slot.  Edit that line to read as
    follows:

    15,4,SGA-Net

    This means it is slot #15, network type 4 and named SGA-Net.  If your 
    slot number is not 15, simply substitute your slot number where the 15 
    is.  Make sure the line doesn't conflict with another line with the same 
    slot number.

  - Create a file named LOCALNET.xx (where xx= slot number, i.e. LOCALNET.15)
    Put "SGA-Net" on the first line and "4" on the second line.
    Put this file in your DATA directory.

  - Obtain a copy of the file "VFIDO.FON" from me if you are going to be a
    client of mine in the Dallas area.  Read the VBBS doc file "MULTINET.DOC"
    for the full explanation of this file.  Place it in your DATA directory.
    (Typically C:\VBBS\DATA)  This is a file that determines which numbers
    are to be dialed as long distance (use the area code, etc.)

  - Put the nodelist file (SGANODE.xxx) in your NETMAIL directory.


  CONFIGURATION (VCONFIG)
  -----------------------

  - In the "Main Configuration" section (1), screen #3,
    set "FIDOnet detection" ("K" in VBBS v6.10) to "Yes".

  - In the "Network Configuration" section (7), fill in the sections
    under your SGA-Net slot to look like this:

    1. Fido Address:       30:301/214      <-- Make this YOUR SGA-Net node!!
    2. NetMail Directory:  C:\VBBS\NETMAIL
    3. OutBound Directory: C:\VBBS\OUTBOUND
    4. Archiver:           PAK
    5. UnArchiver:         PAK
    6. FIDO Front-End:     Standalone
    7. Nodelist:           SGANODE
    8. Zones:              30-30

  - Now hit "D" for configuring the dial list.
    Hit "1" and enter your SERVERS SGA-Net node #.
    Hit "2" and enter your SERVERS phone number.
    Hit "4" if it is listed as "TSYNCH", make sure it says "EMSI (FSC-0056)
    Do not enter a session password unless overwise instructed by your 
    server!
    Exit this menu by hitting the <ESC> key.

  - Now hit "R" for configuring routing.
    Hit "A" to add one line and then hit "E" to edit that line.
    On the line enter "30:301/214 30:*/*", this will route all SGA-Net 
    messages to your server (if your server is NOT 30:301/214, then change 
    this node number to that of your server.)


  COMPILATIONS
  ------------

  - Whenever ANY changes are made to the configuration of this network, you
    will need to "recompile" that information.  To do this, go to the VBBS 
    main directory and enter the command: VFIDO /C NETWORKID=15
    The networkID # is the same as the slot number you used while 
    configuring.  If slot #15 is not what you used, then use the appropriate 
    number instead.

  - Also, you need to compile the nodelist.  This also should be done every 
    time you receive an updated SGA-Net nodelist file.  To do this, go to 
    the VBBS main directory and enter the command: VFIDO /A NETWORKID=15
    Follow the same guidlines as above for slot numbers other than 15.



  SETTING UP NETMAIL AND ECHOMAIL AREAS
  -------------------------------------

  - First of all, you may find that you will be known under a REAL name on
    the SGA-Net nodelist and if you are currently using a "handle" on the 
    BBS you will not receive netmail addressed to your real name.  This can 
    be fixed quickly by doing the following procedure:

      A) Go to your User Editor and change your handle to your real name.
         Don't worry, this is only temporary.

      B) Go to your DATA directory and delete the file "USER.KEY".

      C) Force VBBS to create a new USER.KEY file by writing a message to
         yourself under your real name via SGA-Net.  If you did this right,
         there should now be a new USER.KEY file.

      D) After the new USER.KEY file appears, you may go into the user editor
         and return your handle to your previous handle. You should now
         receive netmail sent to your real name, even though you are using a
         handle on the BBS and VirtualNet.

  - To setup the message bases, follow this procedure:

      A) Go into VCONFIG and hit "3" for "Database Configuration".

      B) Go to "Message Bases" and the topic area where you want SGA-Net.

      C) Hit the F1 key and select "Add a New Database"

      D) Enter your desired setup for maximum messages, QWK #, etc.
         Set "Handle/Real name/Anon." to REAL NAME please.

      E) After the base is created, go into that base's
         "Networks Configuration"  (This should be the "G" key)

      F) Hit "A" for add and enter both the the echo TAGNAME *and* your 
         SERVERS SGA-Net node number. Example:  SGA_GENERAL 30:301/214

      G) Repeat steps B though F for all desired echoes.  Make sure that 
         your server knows which ones you've selected!

      H) Compile the new information by running VFIDO /C NETWORKID=15.


  Guess what... your ready!  If there are any more problems or questions,
  feel free to contact me via Email at The KoZmiK KaTHouSe!

  Bryan Erickson (real name) or KoZmiK KaTman (handle)
  30:301/214 SGA-Net, 1214009 VirtualNet, 1:124/8024 FIDOnet,
  1214004 AdultNet, 35:214/204 IBBSnet, or 1214005 RPGnet.





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