Tabby is Michael Connick's interface to FidoNet and Alternet. This document will hopefully make setup and installation somewhat easier for you as you study both this and the documents that accompany Tabby.
In this document, anything with a "•" next to it is something that will be input for some operation to get Tabby up & running. That way if you want to just look for the stuff to plug into Tabby from this document, that is where to look.
• Upon receiving Tabby, you should install the following applications into the same folder as Red Ryder Host.
TabbyNet TabbyNet SendNews
TabbyNet SendMail Scheduler
TabbyNet DeliverMail ArcMail Extract
BusyOut Tabby Maint
Tabby Robot
These Applications can be located in Tabby Util Folder :
Tabby Node Compiler
MacArc
You will need a copy of the latest nodelist for Fidonet or anetlist for Alternet. You will need one to get up and running, or both if you wish to participate in both. If you do not have ready access to either list, let me know in the FreeSoft RT or GEnie Mail To MACINFO and I'll see what I can do about getting one to you. The nodelist is large, about 230K+ stuffed with Stuffit. So its no small file transfer. They cannot be posted in the RT area due to IFNA copyrights. The anetlist is smaller, about 40K, with far fewer participating systems at this time. Also a good percentage of Alternet systems are still participating in Fidonet, so there is duplication, the difference is their Zone and Net/Node numbers.
Since you do not have an official node number, and you cannot receive one without being up and running, you need to get Tabby working for you. So what you will want to do here is from the nodelist, (which is a large text file) locate the "Net" you are in. You can do this by searching for a listing with your area code. You will be looking for the "Host", which is usually identified as such for your "Net." For example, I am in Zone 1, Net 204, and my Node is 555. I had to contact the Host at 204/0 to get my node number. After I had Tabby up and running. to receive my node number and have it placed into the nodelist.
Just so you know, Zone 1 is the U.S.A., Zone 2 is Britian, and Zone 3 is Australia. So unless you are out of the USA, we are all Zone 1 for Fidonet. If you join Alternet, you are Zone 7.
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If you have a nodelist, you will want to compile it into your "Tabby Nodes" file. This file is what Tabby uses to call the systems you POLL, and send NetMail to. This is also placed in the same Folder as TabbyNet and Red Ryder Host.
• Launch the Node Compiler.
• Select "Set Options" for the Node Compiler under the File Menu as follows:
• Do you need to Dial "1" for long distance? Yes, check the checkbox. If no make sure the checkbox is not checked.
• Enter your Local Area Code.
• Enter your Local Net number. (Mine is 204, enter yours?)
• Select the Zones you wish to support. Chances are you will not want to support Foreign Zones, check the checkboxes 1 & 7. "1" is FidoNet-USA, "7" is AlterNet-U.S.A.
• Click OK.
• Quit the Node Compiler There is a problem where the default settings to DO NOT get saved until you quit and then re-launch the Node Compiler.
• Verify your Default Settings are correct and click OK.
• Select Compile nodes from the File Menu
• Click Ok to the Dialog that tells you Tabby Nodes must be in same folder as TabbyNet
• Save the Tabby Nodes file.
• Select the nodelist to compile.
• Click Ok when done, Quit the node compiler.
• Make sure to move the Tabby Nodes file to your Host folder if it is not there already.
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Tabby Maint is the Second application (It can be first if you wish)you will want to use. It configures Tabby to do its work for you. The first thing you need to do is enter your node number. After you locate the Net you should be in.
• Launch "Tabby Maint" (You'll be here a little while)
• Select "Node Addr" from the File Menu.
• Enter into "Zone/Net:Node" dialog your Temporary node number, for example, 1:204/9999.
• Click OK!
The "9999" is a temporary node number for you to use "only" to send Netmail to your Host sysop. Unless you know specifically who your Host sysop is from the nodelist, send your mail to him as "Sysop", he'll get it. Then you want to explain your that you are a new RRH Tabby Sysop and you are using the following (204/9999) as a temporary node number and give the Host Sysop complete information about your BBS :
BBS Name
location: City, State
phone number with area code
max baud rate supported, If HST, specify as it is noted in the nodelist.
Sysop's Name (you) as it appears in your userlog.
You support Continuous Mail or CrashMail as its called.
Make sure there is not a node in your Net using "9999." Once the Host receives your mail, he will reply to you to verify that you really can send and receive mail, then issue you a node number that will be published in a subsequent nodelist.
I scanned the nodelist and found only 2 occurances of 9999 being used as a node number, so make sure that the Net you are in is not using it. You can POLL for Echomail while you are waiting for a node number, however you cannot post any new messages or replies until you receive a node number, since your Net ID becomes a part of your Origin line that you will learn about later, and you cannot distribute Echomail without a valid node number, though you can receive it and have it read only.
Ok, you have entered a node number. Next item on the menu is AKA Nodes, you do not need to worry about entering anything in here unless you plan to actively participate in more than one network. This can be somewhat confusing until you get fairly familiar with Tabby and networking, so I would not do anything with this for now. Leave it alone.
The next selection is "Events" This selection determines what applications will be run during the course of a NetMail event. You can use multiple events if you wish, as Tabby does write to the RRH Config file to setup the time for a subsequent event. We'll cover a couple of examples.
In the Event's dialog, you need to enter a starting and ending time, in 24 hour/military time. Lets enter a sample event that starts at 1:00 AM and ends at 2:00 AM.
• Select "Events" from the File Menu.
• START: 0100
• END: 0200
• Click the "Normal" Radio Button. In the "Programs:" box, you will want to place the following application names, in this specific order, separated by a comma, no spaces, as entered below:
(If you did not receive BusyOut, I'll have it posted in the RT)
When you have done this Click the "ADD" button. This will have created your first Event. If you click on the Event time displayed in the smaller box in the dialog, Tabby Maint will display what you entered again, and if you need to make modifications, edit appropriately and click the "Change" Button.
If you wish to add other events, you can edit a current event, and click ADD instead of starting from scratch, this saves time and prevents errors since you are editing an already working Event. (hopefully) Tabby writes to the Config file and resets the time that Host uses to determine netmail launch time, so you can run multiple events.
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Ok, we have an Event that runs from 1-2 AM. Now you need to "Schedule" what Tabby will do during this event. A schedule must be contiguous, ie 0100-0130 then 0130-0200. If the schedule has a break in it, 0100-0120, 0130-0200, Tabby will quit at 0120 and re-launch RR Host so it needs to be contiguous. It is here where we decide what Tabby will do, and who Tabby will call during the Event.
• Select "Schedule" from the File Menu and we'll create a simple schedule for Tabby to run for one hour to match the "Event"
•Enter the following:
• Start: 0100
• End: 0200
• Click the Following Radio buttons: All, Tabby, and Both, and click the ADD button.
Chances are you will want to support Continuous Mail, or CrashMail. This is where another node can call you anytime while RR Host is running and leave you Netmail or Echomail and return to Host when its complete.
• Enter the following into Schedule Dialog:
• Start: 0000
• End : 2400
• Click the following Radio buttons: BBS and Both and click ADD.
Ok, we now have schedules for Crashmail and a single event from 1-2 AM that tells Tabby to place any calls for out going Netmail, and nothing else.
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This Schedule is an example of settings to Poll a node for Echomail during a netmail "Event" Similiar to the one that was created above. You do not need to do this until you receive a node number and get ready to receive EchoMail and make the arrangements to do so.
• Enter the following into the Schedule Dialog:
• Start: 0100
• End: 0130
• Click the following Radio buttons: Tabby, Both, & POLL, And in one of the Nodes Boxes, place for example 204/555 Which would tell Tabby to POLL me for Echomail starting at 1 AM and continuing until 1:30 AM, since I could be busy, you allocate enough time for a few attempts. And click the ADD button.
Tabby Does not redial instantly, it pauses between redials anywhere from 1 - 3 minutes to allow for other systems to call you if you have those arrangements or receive netmail.
• Next enter the following into the Schedule dialog.
• Start: 0130
• End: 0200
• Click the following Radio Buttons: Tabby, Both, & POLL, In one of the Node Boxes enter the Node number of another node that you have arranged to pickup EchoMail. And click the ADD button.
You have to make arrangements with the sysop of the node that you POLL to pickup selected echos. You also arrange what time is good to poll him/her too. So you do not conflict with the his/her systems schedule. And Vice Versa, if someone wants to POLL you, you need to inform them of what time is good for them to POLL you and setup for the Echos that you carry that they wish to receive from you.
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Next is "Routing"
Routing tells Tabby how to place the calls that it makes, or how to deal with nodes that POLL you.
• Select Routing from the File Menu.
• In the "Routing" dialog enter node numbers as needed for the following situations. There will be an entry for each system you POLL, or POLL's you. Or systems that you want to send Netmail to directly. (I'll use my node number as an example node.)
• Enter 204/555, click the HOLD Radio Button, Click ADD.
This will setup a situation where any NetMail or EchoMail that is sent to me will be held in a "SendMail" file until I call you to pick it up.
• Enter 204/555, Click the Direct Radio Button, Click ADD.
This will setup Tabby so that that any Netmail sent to my system from yours will be sent directly to me, and not routed thru a hub or Host.
• Enter 204/555, Click the POLL radio button, Click ADD.
This will setup Tabby in conjuction with a Schedule to POLL me and call me directly.
You will only need ONE of the above settings for each and every node, depending on whether they are POLLING you, or you are POLLING them. Or if you just want to make sure that NetMail is sent directly to them instead of being routed thru a Hub or Host.
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Next is the "Origin Name". This is where you place up to 45 characters that will Identify the Origin of the message. It is appended to each EchoMail Message that you will send. Along with your Net ID.
• Select Origin Name from the file Menu.
• Enter up to 45 Characters that ID your system, like its name, Phone #...etc
• Click OK.
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Last but not least is EchoMail Areas. This Identifies which Message sections you assigned to be an EchoMail area.
• Select EchoMail Areas from the File Menu.
• In Category, enter "5" (or the appropriate Message section for your system of course)
This is Message Section number in RRH that corresponds to the EchoMail section you wish to place there.
• In Echo Area, enter TABBY (ALL CAPS FOR EACH ECHO AREA NAME)
• In Nodes: Enter 204/555 (For example) which is the node number of the node that is sending you that Echo. Other node boxes allow you to pass on that particular Echo to other nodes from your site. Usually they are set to HOLD in routing. Then when they POLL you, they will get the EchoMail when Processed for them by SendNews & SendMail.
• Click ADD.
• Enter 255 into Category.
• Enter "UNKNOWN" as the Echo area. NO NODES WILL BE SPECIFIED FOR THIS AREA.
UKNOWN always goes to the highest message section, available, and is where EchoMail that Tabby does not have an Echo area for will go. Sometimes due to Pilot error, you can get Echo messages that you do not want, and thats where
they will go. Create a Message section for this at 255.
• Click ADD.
• Enter other Categories & Echo Areas to specified RRH message sections.
• Click Done. When you've added all Echo areas you plan to receive, the message sections they are going to be delivered to, and the node numbers you will be picking them up from.
Important NOTE: Do not create any EchoMail areas above Message Section 99, There seems to be a problem in Tabby that seems to restrict SendNews processing to the RRH Message sections lower than 100. This problem maybe corrected shortly, but for now just avoid using message sections higher than 99 for Echomail.. I don't think this will be to hard to do.
You of course need to use MsgEdit to Configure RRH to setup a message section for each Echo area you plan to carry. And of course Menus for Posting and reading the Echo message sections.
You will probably want to receive the TABBY Echo for sure, as it is the Echo that sends your Feedback and questions to Michael Connick. The RRH Echo is the Echo that will be chatting about RRH & RR etc is another you may want to pick up.
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NETMAIL
You need to create a Private NETMAIL area. You will have 2 Private Mail areas, one for local mail for your users and a Network mail section for specified user, and yourself. Since NetMail can cost $$ to send (LD Phone calls), you may want to restrict access to those that you trust to send netmail. Usually the need for Private Netmail for users is low. So only a few may ever want or really need access to send Private Netmail, though you may want to let them read and reply to Netmail should they recieve some for whatever reason.
• Configure a new RRH message section to "Network Private" in MsgEdit, and copy your existing Mail Menu, rename it to Netmail if you wish(your preference of course) and edit the send and receive mail commands optional data to the new Private NetMail message section number.
• Place this section number into a Text file called "RRHNetMail" and place it in the same folder as TabbyNet SendMail and RRH. TabbyNet SendMail uses this file to locate the Private Netmail section to look for mail to send and TabbyNet Delivermail where to place received private mail. This is Important, Tabby will NOT run without this.
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Config file settings.
• In ConfigEdit, in the Network Mail Dialog, click the Check Box activating Network Mail.
• Enter the pathname to "TabbyNet" either by typing, or select from Dialog button.
• Enter the time to enter Netmail in 24 hour Military time. For our Example above it would be 01:00 :00.
• Click OK and remember to save your changes.
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Well that should do it, hopefully this document will help you get Tabby up and running with a minimum of problems. You can always ask question in the Freesoft RT if you have problems with Tabby that are urgent and we'll see if we can figure them out.
Other applications can be added to an "Event" if you wish, they do have to be "Tabby" compatible however. The current list of Tabby compatible applications are:
"Tabby Log Processor. This application archives the Tabby Log into a File called Tabby Log.arch, so that the Tabby Log only contains the prior evenings event log of what Tabby did, and did not do during its previous Netmail session. " This is in the RT's Software Library. (Posted in the RT already)
"Mehitabel" from Peter Johnson. (Shareware) This application will automatically backup your message base to specific parameters defined by you, ie the number of messages per section you wish to maintain before old messages are marked for deletion and removed during the backup routine. Contact PETERJ
"Bulletin Generator" by Michael Connick, that you can run to create a system message (System?.Msg) configurable in ResEdit, that displays a variety of information about past events from supplied data files for each month. This can be set to run just before Red Ryder Host. (Posted in the RT already)
"FSP" (Shareware) Tom Konantz's File Section Processor does work with Tabby, though as of this writing is not completely Tabby compatible. Will assist in managing your file sections automatically. Contact T.KONANTZ
Tabby Compatable means being able to look for a Launch.next file and launching the next application in the file. There maybe a little more to it than this, but this is the crux of it.
