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-
- .TOPIC:
- Interfacing with WWIV-type Networks
-
- ╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
- ║ CHAPTER 12 ANNEX C INTERFACING WITH WWIV-TYPE NETWORKS ║
- ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
-
-
- Requirements
- ════════════
- It should be pointed out that in order to interface VBBS
- with WWIVNet and WWIVLink (or other WWIVtype networks), you
- should register VBBS as soon as possible. Multinet access in
- the demo version is limited to 60 days, after which time
- all network interface utilities with the exception of VNet,
- become inoperable. By registering, you are guaranteed that
- network access will not be interrupted, so please do register
- VBBS as soon as possible to avoid any inconvenience.
-
- VWW4.EXE is the interface utility designed especially for
- VBBS which carries out the net interface function for every
- WWIV-type network, including WWIVNet, WWIVLink, and
- ICENet. Before setting up the interface, however, you should be
- aware that many subs from these networks are now being gated to
- VirtualNET. Thus, it may not even be necessary for you to carry
- out this interface at all if that is what you are after.
-
- Now, if you already have VWW4.EXE in hand and want to continue
- with the interface installation, be aware that you MUST also
- have a WWIVnet or WWIV-type node number in order to net. You
- must also set up the appropriate WWIV network files according
- to instructions from your AC/GC.
-
- WWIVNet network policy requires registration of the WWIV
- network software within 60 days. After this period ,
- unregistered sysops are automatically dropped from the WWIV
- bbslist. The WWIV network files may be registered separately
- for $20, and we urge all sysops that wish to have access to
- all WWIV-type subs to register this software. Contact your
- local WWIV AC for more information. As for WWIVLink sysops,
- no such registration requirement currently exists and separate
- network software is available.
-
-
- VBBS 6.12 Documentation--12-C-2
-
- Installation
- ════════════
- Step 1 - Run option 7, Networks Configuration in VConfig
- and choose the appropriate slot to configure.
- Here you will see the following:
-
- 1. Node Number:
- 2. Data Directory:
- 3. Mode:
- 4. EXE Directory:
- 5. Dialout Init String:
-
- U. Uninstall this Network
-
- Step 2 - Enter your WWIVnet node number in the first field.
-
- Step 3 - In the next field, enter the full path to the WWIVNet
- DATA directory (e.g. c:\wwiv\data).
-
- Step 4 - For Mode, select NET for WWIVNet-type networks, or
- LINK for WWIVLink-type networks.
-
- Step 5 - For the entry to the EXE (executeable) directory,
- specify the complete path to where the WWIV network
- executeable files are located (e.g. c:\wwiv).
-
- Step 6 - For your Dialout Init String, leave this blank for now,
- unless you are using a version of WWIV prior to WWIV
- 4.20. Later on when testing your WWIV connect with the
- multinet engine, it may be necessary for you to include
- the WWIV modem init string in this space if you fail to
- connect properly. This string would be the same one
- chosen from the WWIV modems.mdm file. Again, make sure
- you connect properly to your WWIV server independently
- from VBBS before attempting the interface here.
-
- Step 7 - After Vconfiguring the NETWORK option above, unzip the
- VWW4.exe file in your root VBBS directory and read the
- technical information given in the VWW4.DOC . It should
- be noted that the multinet engine in VBBS 6 is
- automatic and requires no batch files, but batch files
- may be used for convenience and flexibility depending
- upon your setup.
-
- Step 8 - You must now create an ANSWER.NET file based on the
- information provided in the MULTINET.DOC file. This
- should be placed in your VBBS DATA subdirectory.
- For a VBBS that is on WWIVNet, the ANSWER.NET file
- would look as follows:
-
- !
- ?78=2
- ?32=2
-
- For a VBBS on WWIVNet and WWIVLink, the ANSWER.NET
- would contain:
- VBBS 6.12 Documentation--12-C-3
-
-
-
- !
- ?78=2
- ?32=2
- ?76=3
-
- Please refer to other parts of the documentation for
- more details. Just as an explanation, the ?78 above
- refers to the N N N sign that WWIVNet sends as an
- incoming identifier. The ?76 is an L L L that WWIVLink
- uses. These are ascii characters 78 and 76,
- respectively.
-
-
- Step 9 - Copy NETWORKS.LST from the zip package to the VBBS NET
- subdirectory.
-
- Step 10 - If you are interfacing with both WWIVnet and WWIVLink,
- you MUST maintain separate directories for NET and
- LINK as mentioned previously. The same holds true for
- any other WWIV-type networks you subscribe to. In each
- directory make sure that all of the WWIV network files
- are in their proper places. Make sure you have run
- Vconfig's Network option and set the path correctly
- to where the respective networkx.exe files are
- located.
-
- NOTE :
-
- You will also have to maintain the DATA subdirectories in each
- of these to create the necessary NNxxxx.net and Nxxxx.net
- or NNALL.NET files needed later to subscribe and to host subs
- on WWIVNet. If you are converting totally over to VBBS from WWIV
- and would like to delete unnecessary/unwanted WWIV files, a list
- of the required WWIV files is available from support sites. Erasure
- of unwanted files, however, should be the very last step you
- take in the conversion process after verifying successful
- net connections. As an alternative to deletion, we suggest that
- you simply zip up the unnecessary files and keep them in a safe
- place in the event you need them to reconfigure something in
- WWIV itself later.
-
- Step 11- Run VConfig again and choose the Databases (option 3).
- Choose Sort Databases to allow the program to set up.
- Now choose the Compile Networks option. It is important
- to note than whenever ANY changes are made in the
- Network option or in Database entries, this must be
- followed by the Sorting and Compiling options above
- for the changes to take effect.
-
- This complete the network installation procedure.
-
- VBBS 6.12 Documentation--12-C-4
-
- Installing Message Bases
- ════════════════════════
- Assuming you have placed VWW4.exe in your main VBBS
- directory and vconfigured the networks properly,
- then installing a message base is a fairly simple process.
- Follow the instructions given in the main documentation
- regarding adding databases.
-
- In the database entry for a sub, note that option G is for
- Networks Configuration. Choosing this will bring up
- a screen which allows you to A)dd D)elete E)dit a
- network.
-
- Pressing A) to add a network brings up a screen where you
- can choose the appropriate network. For a sub carried on
- WWIVNet, you would choose entry 2, for example.
-
- Doing so will bring up another prompt as follows:
-
- WWIVNet Network Conference Identifier:_
-
- Simply enter the subtype number of the message base you
- want, and press enter.
-
- Exit out of the database to the main database menu and
- once again, choose Sort Databases and Compile Networks.
-
- Please note that if a message base is being gated to
- VirtualNET from any other network, you have the option
- of subscribing to it as a VirtualNET sub or as a sub
- from another network, but NOT both. Doing so will result
- in duplicate posts.
- NOTE:
-
- If you are subscribing to a Net or Link sub for the first
- time, you must follow the normal procedure of requesting
- the sub from the host and setting up the appropriate
- NNxxx.NET files or NNALL.NET file in the proper data directory.
- In addition this version of VBBS also supports WWIV's auto
- request sub feature (req.exe) using the VREQ utility available.
- It also accepts type 20 messages (subs.pub) using the VWWIV
- utility.
-
-
- Hosting a WWIV Sub
- ══════════════════
- If you are currently hosting a WWIV message base, be assured
- that the same procedure above works for hosts. Again, simply
- enter the appropriate subtype when asked for the Network
- Conference Identifier. Don't forget that you must maintain your
- distribution list through you Nxxxx.NET file as usual. Subs
- flagged for validation may be validated from the SysOp SubMenu.
-
- VBBS 6.12 Documentation--12-C-5
-
- Gating Subs to Other Networks
- ═════════════════════════════
- If you are currently hosting a sub on WWIVNet or another
- network, you probably will be interested in 'gating' your sub
- into VirtualNET or other networks to expand your subscriber
- base. This is easily accomplished by adding additional networks
- to your database entry. Entering more than one network and
- respective Network Conference Identifier (subtype, sub number,
- echo,area,etc.) effectively 'gates' that database.
-
- NOTE:
-
- If you are running VBBS as a chain, we do not recommend that you
- attempt gating due to the mechanics of the multinet engine. If
- you wish to gate to multiple networks, we strongly recommend
- that you run VBBS as your main bbs software for simplicity's
- sake.
-
- Please refer to the network portion of the documentation for
- how to set up a hosted VirtualNET sub, sub numbers,etc.
-
- Forcing a Callout
- ═════════════════
- Please note that the VWW4 software is fully automatic, and will
- callout and receive calls from your server depending upon your
- main settings for Threshold and Polling in Vconfig. However, you
- most likely will wish to force callouts to your server from
- the WFC screen from time to time. To do so, you should Type 'N'
- from the Control Panel. First, this will bring up all the
- Networks you currently belong to. Select the appropriate network
- followed by the appropriate system (server). This will force
- the system to call a particular node.
- NOTE:
- WWIVNet and WWIV-type callouts are completely automated if you
- are running VBBS as your main program. Be sure to set your
- Threshold level and Polling frequency in Vconfig. Note that the
- settings of these levels apply generically to all networks,
- (e.g. the same threshold and polling configurations apply to
- VirtualNET, WWIVNet, and WWIVLink packets). Setting the
- threshold level to 0 effectively tells the software never to
- dial out automatically, so be sure to change this. For different
- calling schedules, appropriate utilities such as POLLUTIL.ZIP
- and VWW4-CHK.ZIP are available to customize your setup.
-
-
- VWW4 Activity Log
- ═════════════════
- All net connections made by VWW4 are also listed in the VWW4.LOG
- file which can be found in your main WWIV directory. We suggest
- setting up a function key to be able to view this from the VBBS
- WFC screen using the Control Panel option in Vconfig. For
- example, a bat file called VWW4LOG.BAT could be created and
- placed in your VBBS directory with the following command line:
-
- CD\WWIV
- VLIST VWW4.LOG
- CD\VBBS
- VBBS 6.12 Documentation--12-C-6
-
-
- If you are interfacing with both WWIVNet and WWIVLink, then a
- second batch file similar to the above would need to be created
- pointing to your Link directory, and a second function key set
- up in the Control Panel.
-
- Viewing WWIV's net logs may be done in the same fashion using
- the Control Panel. Simple script mods are also available to view
- all pending lists from the internal Sysop Menu in VBBS.
-
- Analyzing the BBSList
- ═════════════════════
- VBBS creates a listing of systems belonging to various networks
- that is used for routing mail. You will need to compile this
- information for WWIV the first time you set up so that it may be
- viewed from inside of the board. Subsequent updates are made
- automatically. Note that when WWIV calls in with new bbslists,
- these will be compiled normally and no special maintenance is
- necessary.
-
- To make a new indexed list of WWIV boards for use by VBBS,
- please delete the existing BBSDATA.IDX file from your WWIV data
- subdirectory first. Then, from the WWIV main directory type:
- NETWORK3 /Y . This will produce new a new idx file.
-
- Now, generate a new bbslist index for VBBS. Change to the root
- VBBS directory where VWW4 is located and type:
-
- VWW4 B NETWORKID=2 for the WWIVNet list, or
- VWW4 B NETWORKID=3 for the WWIVLink index
-
- You should now have succesfully created the new bbslist index
- file that VBBS uses. This is located in your VBBS Data
- subdirectory.
-
- The procedure is similar for generating bbs listings for other
- WWIV-type networks. Be aware of the importance of specifying the
- correct Network Identifer Number in the above command line
- NETWORKID= . Refer to the list of networks available in
- VConfig's Network options if you need to refresh your memory on
- what network the appropriate network number is.
-
- VWW4 Command Line Switches
- ══════════════════════════
- The Virtual MultiNet Engine (VME) handles WWIVtype networks
- seamlessly. However, VWW4 functions may be called up from batch
- files also, thus providing a flexible means for you to customize
- your setup.
-
- VME will run the VWW4 as needed automatically, providing the
- proper NETWORKID= and PORT= parameters. Running from a command
- line, however, you must specify the following three command
- line parameters:
- VBBS 6.12 Documentation--12-C-7
-
-
- VWW4 <command letter> NETWORKID=<net #> PORT=<COM port #>
-
- The command letter tells VWW4 what to do:
-
- Command Letters are:
-
- B Bundle mail for WWIV (Update WWIV packets and bbslists)
- U Unbundle mail from WWIV and store in VBBS databases
- D#### Dial WWIV System #, do transfer, and unbundle if
- successful
- A Answer WWIVnet call, do transfer, and unbundle if
- successful.
-
- The NETWORKID= parameter tells VWW4 which network to process.
- WWIVnet is net #2, WWIVLink is net #3, ICEnet is net #6, and if
- new WWIVnet based nets appear, they will have net numbers
- assigned to them as well. Check NETWORKS.LST for the current
- network list.
-
- The PORT= parameter must be included when using VWW4 to answer,
- or dial a network call. This specifies a COM port number.
-
- An example of forcing bundling from the command line would
- look like this:
-
- VWW4 B NETWORKID=2 PORT=2
-
- This would bundle the mail for WWIVNet for processing on comport
- 2.
-
- Please refer to the extended VWW4 documentation included
- with the VWW4.EXE file itself for more detailed information
- about converting from WWIV to VBBS.
-
-
-