How to setup up Telegard for NetMail
                      By The Organ Grinder
                      Swashnet Node 23:1/0
                     Fidonet Node 1:104/319


*Introduction*

Quite simply, I'm writing this because I see a need.  Many SysOps are
trying to run trying to setup thier board to run Netmail and Echo Mail
via Front Door.  Within the ZIP you have just recieved, there SHOULD
be all of the files needed (with editing) to setup your board with FD
1.99C.  Many times in here you will see reference to SWASHNET.  It is
used in here as an example of a private net, as opposed to a public
net like Fidonet.  If you want information on Swashnet, unzip the file
SWASHNET.ZIP.  If not, go ahead and delete it.

The problem with Net Mail is NOT that it is very difficult, the
problem is that there is not a SINGULAR REFERENCE to help.  Netmail
consists of MANY different utilities, and ECHOMAIL requires even more.

There is always some confusion to most new members in what the
differences are.  In a nutshell, Netmail is shared messages between
SysOps on a one on one basis.  Sort of like Private Mail between
SysOps.  If I send a message, I have to know WHO to send it to, and
WHERE.  It isn't read by thousands of other people, and normally none
except the person you sent it to.

Echo Mail is the sharing of Message Bases.  Under Telegard, you can't
echo private messages, so they are all public.  All of your messages
in your Echo Areas are sent out to someone else, and processed into
their message bases.

In this package, we are ONLY going to be covering how to set up for
NetMail.  In a few weeks I'll have ready what it takes for EchoMail.

*Getting FD Up and Running*

Here is what you need to have that IS NOT included in this package to
do Netmail;

FD199C.ZIP  Front Door version 1.99 C

ARCA.EXE      ARCA by SEA
              (If you are going to run FIDO-NET.  Private nets allow either
               PKZIP are PKPAK...Better yet, get them all and run GUS.EXE)

TG25.ZIP      IF you don't have this yet, you are getting out of order,
              get Telegard up first, THEN worry about Netmail.

X00.SYS       Whatever version you choose to use.  You can also use
              OPUSCOM and other FOSSIL drivers, but you DO need a
              FOSSIL of SOME type.

NODELIST.A??  A FidoNet Nodelist is optional, but will give you places
              to call OTHER than Swashnet, and usually some in your area
              code.  Once you are up, you can F'Req (file request) it
              from The Discordian Society as NODELIST  I will then send
              you the latest version.  Be aware, this file is around
              500+K long.

Quit simply, first unzip FD199C to a directory called whatever you
would like.  All of these examples assume C:\FD is used for Front
Door, and C:\BBS is used for Telegard.  Then place ALL of the files
you got with this in that directory.

Now, you will need to run SETUP.EXE.  It SHOULD have came with FD.
Go through each screen.  FOR NOW look for information that would be
specific to YOU.  Don't make changes you think you SHOULD until you
get it up and running.  Some of the things you will need to edit are;
your Initialization strings for your modem.  Read the FD docs to setup
 your modem.  Make SURE you are giving verbals, and don't echo.
your maximum baud rate (leave locking TURNED OFF FOR NOW!  Don't go
 trying to solve 2 problems at once!  Hint: Don't use the recommended
 setup for the HST.  Change B to B1 and remove &G.  Better yet, set
 your switches right and use NRAM, and your intialization will be ATZ|)
your user name (don't give it a password for now.  It is too much of a
 pain.  After all, users don't have access to this the way we
 currently are going to set this up).
your path (if you have used something OTHER than C:\FD)

Next we edit a text files.  FDNODE.CTL will need to be gone over.
FOR NOW, don't change the pvtlist.  Without a nodelist, you can't get
FD up, and this is just an attempt to get you that far.  Do go in and
change your areacode to the appropriate one, and read over the stuff
in there to get a general idea of what is going on.  LOOK at
ROUTEFD.CTL.  Don't mess with it YET.  Also, for the sake of
understanding things take a look at SWASHNET.PVT  It is very simple,
and you are more than welcome to use it as you wish.  IF you want to
be a member, once your up, send netmail to 23:1/0

ALSO, look over EXEBBS.BAT.  This is the actual file that will load
your bbs.  For now there is a lot of extra programs you don't
need/have setup.  Don't worry about them, they will just tell you
'FILE NOT FOUND' and go on.  The important part is changing the the
right directory, and running BBS -B%1 .  I'll explain where %1 comes
from in just a minute.

For NETMAIL, you ALMOST setup and ready to go.  In your FD directory,
run FDNC.  This is the nodelist compiler.  It takes the SWASHNET.PVT
and turns it into keyed databases.  If an error message is given, you
probably changed something you shouldn't have.  Try starting over from
scratch.

Lastly, TRY to run FD.  IF you havn't created all of the directories
needed for FD, it will let you know which ones you need to create.
Don't sweat the small things, we are ALMOST done, so just make the
directory and don't put anything in there.  Keep running FD and
eventually, it will come up with a screen that says waiting for
caller.

Now the REALLY hard part.  Making sure it works.  Next, wait for a
caller, and make sure you are loading the BBS correctly, and that your
modem is answering the phone right.  Once that is done, you can now
send net mail to any of the LISTED systems.  To do so, press ALT E and
you will be in the message editor.  It will say something like no
messages found.  Press the insert key, and your on your way.  When it
asks for TO: hit carrage return once.  It will show you 2 entries.
Test and YOUR BBS.  IF you want, you can send me mail, or at this
point, start editing things like the nodelist to include people you
know that are local (that have Netmail already setup).  IF you send to
me, please include your BBS phone number, or I won't be able to
acknowledge that I got it (I don't know where to call you at...).  So,
your now up.  Congratulations.

*Concepts (What did you just do)*

But we are not done yet, and we need to cover the concepts of what I
have done here!  You STILL need to look over the docs for FD, and
unless your going to ONLY be a member of Swashnet, probably either
incorporate Fido's NODELIST.??? or create your own.  If your going to
create your own, good luck.

How it all works.  Upon bootup, exectute everything that you normally
did in your batch file to run BBS.EXE, but replace it (change the
directory as well) to RUNFD.BAT.  Include all the SET commands and
that stuff BEFORE you do RUNFD.BAT.  The execution scheme as like this

RUNFD.BAT
  FD.EXE
  DOBBS.BAT
    EXEBBS.BAT
      BBS.BAT

So, where does DOBBS.BAT come from (it wasn't in the distribution
package).  Front Door creates it.  DOBBS's format is:
eXEbbS (baudrate) (com port) (time left) (/ARQ if exists)
Telegard (right now) only uses the baudrate switch.  Thus, when your
run DOBBS, it in turn runs EXEBBS.  EXEBBS runs BBS -B(baudrate) and
life is good.  You CAN create a much more complex batch file that
includes different errorlevels for different speeds (must change SETUP
as well), but this works with ANY speed, ANY modem, LOCKED OR NOT.
Besides, it is much easier to comprehend this way.

To include a Fidonet NODELIST.??? (the ??? is a day number since the
begining of the year.  i.e. NODELIST.089) just include it in the FD
directory, and run FDNC again.  Nothing more to change.  Real simple!

Feel free to start playing with the locked baud rate if you want.
Just a hint for you though, at least it has worked well for me, and
that is do NOT turn on force baud rate.  Also, you will need to edit
all of your protocols and REMOVE %B (or at least change it to be an
ESTIMATED time) in there.  Telegard works fine (actually GREAT) at a
locked baud rate of 38400 (I'm running that at TDS now).  The HARDEST
part about FD and locked baud rate is getting your modem to work right.
On HST modems, ALWAYS START OFF WITH AT&F and build up from there.
Another simple hint, X00 b,1,38400 locks COM2 not COM1!

*What this does, and what it doesn't*

Well, there are some things this does, and some it doesn't.  I'm going
to attempt to explain why I have not included these things.  MOST of
them are due to get FD UP AND RUNNING so that you can then play around
with it.  GET IT WORKING, THEN ATTEMPT TO SCREW IT UP.

WHAT IT DOES
  Gets FD up and running.
  Allows you to SEND Netmail.
  Allows you to RECIEVE Netmail.
  Will send all callers out to Telegard with CORRECT baud rates.

WHAT IT DOESN'T DO
  IT IS NOT a Locked Baud Rates
  IT DOES NOT handle ECHO MAIL or ARCED OR ZIPPED PACKETS
  THERE ARE NO FILE REQUESTS
  Users are NOT able to send Net Mail from your system
  Events for Telegard.  IF you want a NIGHTLY EVENT, you must set it up
    in BOTH TG and FD.  I'm working on a program that will change that!

*Conclusion*

If everything went right, you now have FD up and running.  Of course,
you still have to read the documentation, BUT, with any luck, we have
cut out a great amount of frustration that is invovled.  You now have
TIME to figure out what all the terms are, and all of that.  Hopefully,
I should have a HOW2ECHO.ZIP out and ready to download by April 15th,
1990 that will modify what we have so far, and take you into the realm
of EchoMail.

We've only just begun...

TOG
the
GOG
GOD
4/2/90